A synthetic charged glycolipid is described comprising a sulfated saccharide group covalently linked to the tree sn-1 hydroxyl group of the glycerol backbone of an archaeal core lipid via a beta linkage. The synthetic charged glycolipids include compounds of formula I wherein n is 0 or 1； R is hydrogen or hydroxyl； and Y is hydrogen or a sulfate group, at least one Y being a sulfate group； and including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The sulfated glycolipid produces stable archaeosomes at a mol% ratio of from 100:0 to 30:70 (sulfated glycolipid: uncharged glycolipid) and which induce a protective immune response, including CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses. Archaeosomes comprising the sulfated glycolipids described have desirable adjuvant properties, particularly when mixed with uncharged glycolipid at a mol% ratio of about 50:50.
