Patent ID: 8211463

Claim:
A method of administering an adjuvant to a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of providing to said subject a glycolipid of the general formula (I): wherein R 1 is independently selected from the group of hydrogen, and substituted or unsubstituted C 1 to C 6 alkyl- or C 1 to C 6 acyl-group; one of R 2 , and R 3 is hydrogen where R 2 is a substituted or unsubstituted α-D-glycopyranosyl, α-D-galactopyranosyl, 4′-O-(α-D-glycopyranosyl)-α-D-glycopyranosyl, 4′-O-(α-D-glycopyranosyl)-α-D-galactopyranosyl, 4′-O-(α-D-galactopyranosyl)-α-D-galactopyranosyl, or 4′-O-(α-D-galactopyranosyl)-α-D-glycopyranosyl when R 3 is hydrogen; R 3 is a substituted or unsubstituted α-D-glycopyranosyl, α-D-galactopyranosyl, 4′-O-(α-D-glycopyranosyl)-α-D-glycopyranosyl, 4′-O-(α-D-glycopyranosyl)-α-D-galactopyranosyl, 4′-O-(α-D-galactopyranosyl)-α-D-galactopyranosyl, or 4′-O-(α-D-galactopyranosyl)-α-D-glycopyranosyl when R 2 is hydrogen; R 4 is wherein R 5 is independently any one of a substituted or unsubstituted C 5 to C 30 alkyl- or alkenyl or salts or solvates thereof, wherein said glycolipid is provided in a form suitable for mucosal administration.