Synergistic action of cholera toxin B subunit (and Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin B subunit) and a trace amount of cholera whole toxin as an adjuvant for nasal influenza vaccine

Candidate Multi-Epitope Vaccine against Corona B.1.617 Lineage: In Silico Approach

Various mutations have accumulated since the first genome sequence of SARS-CoV2 in 2020. Mutants of the virus carrying the D614G and P681R mutations in the spike protein are increasingly becoming dominant all over the world. The two mutations increase the viral infectivity and severity of the disease. This report describes an in silico design of SARS-CoV-2 multi-epitope carrying the spike D614G and P681R mutations. The designed vaccine harbors the D614G mutation that increases viral infectivity, fitness, and the P681R mutation that enhances the cleavage of S to S1 and S2 subunits. The designed multi-epitope vaccine showed an antigenic property with a value of 0.67 and the immunogenicity of the predicted vaccine was calculated and yielded 3.4. The vaccine construct is predicted to be non-allergenic, thermostable and has hydrophilic nature. The combination of the selected CTL and HTL epitopes in the vaccine resulted in 96.85% population coverage globally. Stable interactions of the vaccine with Toll-Like Receptor 4 were tested by docking studies. The multi-epitope vaccine can be a good candidate against highly infecting SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Insights

Probiotics microorganisms exert their health-associated activities through some of the following general actions: competitive exclusion, enhancement of intestinal barrier function, production of bacteriocins, improvement of altered microbiota, and modulation of the immune response. Among them, Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 has become one of the most promising probiotics and it has been described to possess potential beneficial effects on inflammatory processes and immunological alterations. Different studies, preclinical and clinical trials, have evidenced its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and elucidated the precise mechanisms of action involved in its beneficial effects. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of the effect on host health, mechanisms, and future therapeutic approaches.

Nonthermal plasma as part of a novel strategy for vaccination

Vaccination has been one of the most effective health intervention mechanisms to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases. Vaccines stimulate the body's protective immune responses through controlled exposure to modified versions of pathogens that establish immunological memory. However, only a few diseases have effective vaccines. The biological effects of nonthermal plasma on cells suggest that plasma could play an important role in improving efficacy of existing vaccines and overcoming some of the limitations and challenges with current vaccination strategies. This review summarizes the opportunities for nonthermal plasma for immunization and therapeutic purposes.

Emerging Role of Mucosal Vaccine in Preventing Infection with Avian Influenza A Viruses

Avian influenza A viruses (AIVs), as a zoonotic agent, dramatically impacts public health and the poultry industry. Although low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) incidence and mortality are relatively low, the infected hosts can act as a virus carrier and provide a resource pool for reassortant influenza viruses. At present, vaccination is the most effective way to eradicate AIVs from commercial poultry. The inactivated vaccines can only stimulate humoral immunity, rather than cellular and mucosal immune responses, while failing to effectively inhibit the replication and spread of AIVs in the flock. In recent years, significant progresses have been made in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the vaccine antigen activities at the mucosal surfaces and the development of safe and efficacious mucosal vaccines that mimic the natural infection route and cut off the AIVs infection route. Here, we discussed the current status and advancement on mucosal immunity, the means of establishing mucosal immunity, and finally a perspective for design of AIVs mucosal vaccines. Hopefully, this review will help to not only understand and predict AIVs infection characteristics in birds but also extrapolate them for distinction or applicability in mammals, including humans.

Intranasally administered protein coated chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating influenza H9N2 HA2 and M2e mRNA molecules elicit protective immunity against avian influenza viruses in chickens

Chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) represent an efficient vaccination tool to deliver immunogenic antigens to the antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which subsequently stimulate protective immune responses against infectious diseases. Herein, we prepared CNPs encapsulating mRNA molecules followed by surface coating with conserved H9N2 HA2 and M2e influenza proteins. We demonstrated that CNPs efficiently delivered mRNA molecules into APCs and had effectively penetrated the mucosal barrier to reach to the immune initiation sites. To investigate the potential of CNPs delivering influenza antigens to stimulate protective immunity, we intranasally vaccinated chickens with empty CNPs, CNPs delivering HA2 and M2e in both mRNA and protein formats (CNPs + RNA + Pr) or CNPs delivering antigens in protein format only (CNPs + Pr). Our results demonstrated that chickens vaccinated with CNPs + RNA + Pr elicited significantly (p < 0.05) higher systemic IgG, mucosal IgA antibody responses and cellular immune responses compared to the CNPs + Pr vaccinated group. Consequently, upon challenge with either H7N9 or H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIVs), efficient protection, in the context of viral load and lung pathology, was observed in chickens vaccinated with CNPs + RNA + Pr than CNPs + Pr vaccinated group. In conclusion, we show that HA2 and M2e antigens elicited a broad spectrum of protection against AIVs and incorporation of mRNAs in vaccine formulation is an effective strategy to induce superior immune responses.

Current and New Approaches for Mucosal Vaccine Delivery

Mucosal surfaces are the interface between the host’s internal milieu and the external environment, and they have dual functions, serving as physical barriers to foreign antigens and as accepting sites for vital materials. Mucosal vaccines are more favored to prevent mucosal infections from the portal of entry. Although mucosal vaccination has many advantages, licensed mucosal vaccines are scarce. The most widely studied mucosal routes are oral and intranasal. Licensed oral and intranasal vaccines are composed mostly of whole cell killed or live attenuated microorganisms serving as both delivery systems and built-in adjuvants. Future mucosal vaccines should be made with more purified antigen components, which will be relatively less immunogenic. To induce robust protective immune responses against well-purified vaccine antigens, an effective mucosal delivery system is an essential requisite. Recent developments in biomaterials and nanotechnology have enabled many innovative mucosal vaccine trials. For oral vaccination, the vaccine delivery system should be able to stably carry antigens and adjuvants and resist harsh physicochemical conditions in the stomach and intestinal tract. Besides many nano/microcarrier tools generated by using natural and chemical materials, the development of oral vaccine delivery systems using food materials should be more robustly researched to expand vaccine coverage of gastrointestinal infections in developing countries. For intranasal vaccination, the vaccine delivery system should survive the very active mucociliary clearance mechanisms and prove safety because of the anatomical location of nasal cavity separated by a thin barrier. Future mucosal vaccine carriers, regardless of administration routes, should have certain common characteristics. They should maintain stability in given environments, be mucoadhesive, and have the ability to target specific tissues and cells.

CpG ODN G9.1 as a novel nasal ODN adjuvant elicits complete protection from influenza virus infection without causing inflammatory immune responses

This study examined the protective efficacy of and immune response to a nasal influenza vaccine combined with a novel mucosal oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) adjuvant, CpG ODN G9.1 (G9.1), in a model of infection limited to the upper respiratory tract (URT) and a model of infection in the lower respiratory tract (LRT). Mice were nasally primed with an A/California/7/2009 (Cal7) split vaccine (X179A) plus G9.1 and were then nasally given a booster with X179A alone. When mice were challenged with either a large (infection of the LRT) or small (infection limited to the URT) volume of live Cal7 influenza virus, mice nasally given G9.1 combined with X179A had a markedly higher rate of protection against infection limited to the URT. Moreover, this group of mice promptly recovered from an infection of the LRT. When mice were subcutaneously (s.c.) given X179A as a current form of vaccination, they had no protection from an infection limited to the URT but they did recover from an infection of the LRT. The patterns of protection were closely correlated with influenza virus-specific mucosal secretory IgA (SIgA) or serum IgG antibody (Ab) responses. Thus, SIgA Abs responses play an important role in protection from an infection limited to the URT while influenza virus-specific serum IgG Ab responses help to protect from an infection of the LRT. A finding of note is that lungs from mice nasally given G9.1 had low levels of type I IFN-associated protein- and transcription factor-specific mRNA expression. These results suggest that nasal G9.1 can be used as an effective and safe mucosal adjuvant for influenza vaccines since this nasal vaccine system elicits both mucosal SIgA and serum IgG Ab responses that provide complete protection without inducing potent inflammatory responses.

Intranasal inactivated influenza vaccines for the prevention of seasonal influenza epidemics

INTRODUCTION

Intranasal influenza vaccines are expected to confer protection among vaccine recipients by successful induction of mucosal immune response in the upper respiratory tract. Though only live attenuated influenza virus vaccines (LAIVs) are licensed and available for intranasal use in humans today, intranasal inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs) are currently under reconsideration as a promising intranasal influenza vaccine.

AREAS COVERED

This review addresses the history of intranasal IIV research and development, along with a summary of the studies done so far to address the mechanism of action of intranasal IIVs.

EXPERT COMMENTARY

From numerous in vitro and in vivo studies, it has been shown that intranasal IIVs can protect hosts from a broad spectrum of influenza virus strains. In-depth studies of the mucosal antibody response following intranasal IIV administration have also elucidated the detailed functions of secretory IgA (immunoglobulin A) antibodies which are responsible for the mechanism of action of intranasal vaccines. Safe and effective intranasal IIVs are expected to be an important tool to combat seasonal influenza.

Mucosal Immune Response in Nasal-Associated Lymphoid Tissue upon Intranasal Administration by Adjuvants

The nasal administration of vaccines directed against diseases caused by upper respiratory tract infections of pathogens, such as the influenza virus, mimics the natural infection of pathogens and induces immunoglobulin A (IgA) production in the nasal cavity to effectively protect viral entry. Therefore, the development of a nasally administered vaccine is a research objective. Because the antigenicity of influenza split vaccines is low, nasal inoculation with the vaccine alone does not induce strong IgA production in the nasal cavity. However, the addition of adjuvants activates the innate immune response, enhancing antigen-specific IgA production and the T-cell response. Although the development of suitable adjuvants for nasal vaccinations is in progress, the mechanism by which adjuvants promote the immune response is still unclear. In this review, we discuss the mucosal immune response, especially in the nasal-associated lymphoid tissue, induced in response to the intranasal inoculation of an influenza vaccine and adjuvants in animal models.

Molecular characterization of the recombinant protein RmLTI-BmCG-LTB: Protective immunity against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

The bovine tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is found in several tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This parasite transmits pathogens that cause disease, such as babesiosis (Babesia bovis and B. bigemina) and anaplasmosis (Anaplasma marginale). Tick infestations cause enormous livestock losses, and controlling tick infestations and the transmission of tick-borne diseases remains a challenge for the livestock industry. Because the currently available commercial vaccines offer only partial protection against R. (B.) microplus, there is a need for more efficient vaccines. Several recombinant antigens have been evaluated using different immunization strategies, and they show great promise. This work describes the construction and immunological characterization of a multi-antigen chimera composed of two R. (B.) microplus antigens (RmLTI and BmCG) and one Escherichia coli antigen (B subunit, LTB). The immunogenic regions of each antigen were selected and combined to encode a single polypeptide. The gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli. For all of the experiments, two groups (treated and control) of four Angus heifers (3-6 months old) were used. The inoculation was performed via intramuscular injection with 200 μg of purified recombinant chimeric protein and adjuvated. The chimeric protein was recognized by specific antibodies against each subunit and by sera from cattle inoculated with the chimera. Immunization of RmLTI-BmCG-LTB cattle reduced the number of adult female ticks by 6.29% and vaccination of cattle with the chimeric antigen provided 55.6% efficacy against R. (B.) microplus infestation. The results of this study indicate that the novel chimeric protein is a potential candidate for the future development of a more effective vaccine against R. (B.) microplus.

Therapeutic Potential of Cholera Toxin B Subunit for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases of the Mucosa

Cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) is a mucosal immunomodulatory protein that induces robust mucosal and systemic antibody responses. This well-known biological activity has been exploited in cholera prevention (as a component of Dukoral^® vaccine) and vaccine development for decades. On the other hand, several studies have investigated CTB's immunotherapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease and asthma. Furthermore, we recently found that a variant of CTB could induce colon epithelial wound healing in mouse colitis models. This review summarizes the possible mechanisms behind CTB's anti-inflammatory activity and discuss how the protein could impact mucosal inflammatory disease treatment.

Intranasal Administration of Whole Inactivated Influenza Virus Vaccine as a Promising Influenza Vaccine Candidate

The effect of the current influenza vaccine, an inactivated virus vaccine administered by subcutaneous/intramuscular injection, is limited to reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with seasonal influenza outbreaks. Intranasal vaccination, by contrast, mimics natural infection and induces not only systemic IgG antibodies but also local secretory IgA (S-IgA) antibodies found on the surface of the mucosal epithelium in the upper respiratory tract. S-IgA antibodies are highly effective at preventing virus infection. Although the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) administered intranasally can induce local antibodies, this vaccine is restricted to healthy populations aged 2-49 years because of safety concerns associated with using live viruses in a vaccine. Instead of LAIV, an intranasal vaccine made with inactivated virus could be applied to high-risk populations, including infants and elderly adults. Normally, a mucosal adjuvant would be required to enhance the effect of intranasal vaccination with an inactivated influenza vaccine. However, we found that intranasal administration of a concentrated, whole inactivated influenza virus vaccine without any mucosal adjuvant was enough to induce local neutralizing S-IgA antibodies in the nasal epithelium of healthy individuals with some immunological memory for seasonal influenza viruses. This intranasal vaccine is a novel candidate that could improve on the current injectable vaccine or the LAIV for the prevention of seasonal influenza epidemics.

Intranasal Inactivated Influenza Vaccines: a Reasonable Approach to Improve the Efficacy of Influenza Vaccine?

Influenza is a contagious, acute respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. The mucosal lining in the host respiratory tract is not only the site of virus infection, but also the site of defense; it is at this site that the host immune response targets the virus and protects against reinfection. One of the most effective methods to prevent influenza is to induce specific antibody (Ab) responses in the respiratory tract by vaccination. Two types of influenza vaccines, intranasal live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vaccines and parenteral (injectable) inactivated vaccines, are currently used worldwide. These vaccines are approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration. Live attenuated vaccines induce both secretory IgA (S-IgA) and serum IgG antibodies (Abs), whereas parenteral vaccines induce only serum IgG Abs. However, intranasal administration of inactivated vaccines together with an appropriate adjuvant induces both S-IgA and IgG Abs. Several preclinical studies on adjuvant-combined, nasal-inactivated vaccines revealed that nasal S-IgA Abs, a major immune component in the upper respiratory tract, reacted with homologous virus hemagglutinin (HA) and were highly cross-reactive with viral HA variants, resulting in protection and cross-protection against infection by both homologous and variant viruses, respectively. Serum-derived IgG Abs, which are present mainly in the lower respiratory tract, are less cross-reactive and cross-protective. In addition, our own clinical trials have shown that nasal-inactivated whole virus vaccines, including a built-in adjuvant (single-stranded RNA), induced serum hemagglutination inhibition (HI) Ab titers that fulfilled the EMA criteria for vaccine efficacy. The nasal-inactivated whole virus vaccines also induced high levels of nasal HI and neutralizing Ab titers, although we have not yet evaluated the nasal HI titers due to the lack of official criteria to establish efficacy based on this parameter. Data suggest that adjuvant-combined nasal-inactivated vaccines have advantages over the current injectable vaccine because the former induce both S-IgA and serum IgG Abs. In addition, nasal-inactivated vaccines seem to be superior to the LAIV vaccines, because non-infectious preparations could be used in high-risk groups. Thus, the development of intranasal inactivated vaccines is recommended, because such vaccines are expected to improve the efficacy of influenza vaccines.

Facile Method for the Production of Recombinant Cholera Toxin B Subunit in E. coli

Herein, we report an Escherichia coli-based expression and purification method of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (CTB). The CTB gene (E. coli codon optimized) is cloned into commercial pET-22b(+) vector using standard molecular biology techniques and the resulting vector is transformed into BL21(DE3) electrocompetent cells. The bacterial cells are grown and induction with isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) results in accumulation of CTB in the culture medium. CTB is purified from the culture medium using a simple two-step chromatography process: immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) followed by ceramic hydroxyapatite (CHT). CTB is purified to >95 % homogeneity with a yield of over 10 mg per liter of culture. Depending on the application, endotoxin is removed using a commercially available endotoxin removal resin to <1 EU/mg.

Nasal and pulmonary vaccine delivery using particulate carriers

INTRODUCTION

Many human pathogens cause respiratory illness by colonizing and invading the respiratory mucosal surfaces. Preventing infection at local sites via mucosally active vaccines is a promising and rational approach for vaccine development. However, stimulating mucosal immunity is often challenging. Particulate adjuvants that can specifically target mucosal immune cells offer a promising opportunity to stimulate local immunity at the nasal and/or pulmonary mucosal surfaces.

AREAS COVERED

This review analyzes the common causes of respiratory infections, the challenges in the induction of mucosal and systemic responses and current pulmonary and nasal mucosal vaccination strategies. The ability of various particulate adjuvant formulations, including lipid-based particles, polymers and other particulate systems, to be effectively utilized for mucosal vaccine delivery is discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

Induction of antibody and cell-mediated mucosal immunity that can effectively combat respiratory pathogens remains a challenge. Particulate delivery systems can be developed to target mucosal immune cells and effectively present antigen to evoke a rapid and long-term local immunity in the respiratory mucosa. In particular, particulate delivery systems offer the versatility of being formulated with multiple adjuvants and antigenic cargo, and can be tailored to effectively prime immune responses across the mucosal barrier. The opportunity for rational design of novel subunit particulate vaccines is emerging.

Cholera toxin B: one subunit with many pharmaceutical applications

Cholera, a waterborne acute diarrheal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, remains prevalent in underdeveloped countries and is a serious health threat to those living in unsanitary conditions. The major virulence factor is cholera toxin (CT), which consists of two subunits: the A subunit (CTA) and the B subunit (CTB). CTB is a 55 kD homopentameric, non-toxic protein binding to the GM1 ganglioside on mammalian cells with high affinity. Currently, recombinantly produced CTB is used as a component of an internationally licensed oral cholera vaccine, as the protein induces potent humoral immunity that can neutralize CT in the gut. Additionally, recent studies have revealed that CTB administration leads to the induction of anti-inflammatory mechanisms in vivo. This review will cover the potential of CTB as an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory agent. We will also summarize various recombinant expression systems available for recombinant CTB bioproduction.

Cross-reactivity of immunoglobulin A secreted on the nasal mucosa in mice nasally inoculated with inactivated H1N1 influenza A viruses in the presence of D-octaarginine-linked polymers

We evaluated cross-reactivity of immunoglobulin A (IgA) secreted on the nasal mucosa in mice that were nasally inoculated 4 times with a mixture of inactivated H1N1 influenza A viruses and poly(N-vinylacetamide-co-acrylic acid) (PNVA-co-AA) bearing d-octaarginine at 7-day intervals. Three viral strains (A/Puerto Rico/8/34, A/New Caledonia/20/99 IVR116, and A/Solomon Islands/03/2006) and D-octaarginine-linked polymers with different molecular weights were used as antigens and their carriers, respectively. Secretion of intranasal IgA was barely observed when the inactivated virus alone was administered. The polymer induced the production of intranasal IgA specific to the inoculated viruses, irrespective of the viral strain and molecular weight of the polymer. The respective antibodies cross-reacted to recombinant hemagglutinin proteins of not only the viral strain used for immunization but also other H1N1 strains, including A/Puerto Rico/8/34 strain whose hemagglutinin proteins are diverse from those of other strains. Mice with high reactivity of IgA to the inoculated viruses tended to acquire clear cross-reactivity to other viral strains. Notably, IgA induced by inactivated H1N1 A/New Caledonia/20/99 IVR116 strain with the strongest immunogenicity between 3 antigens in the presence of the polymer cross-reacted to recombinant hemagglutinin proteins of the A/Brisbane/10/2007 and A/Viet Nam/1194/2004 strains, which are categorized into H3N2 and H5N1, respectively. Our polymer is a potential candidate for an efficient antigen carrier that induces mucosal IgA having cross-reactivity to antigenically drifted variants, irrespective of the subtype of viral strains.

Structure, Organization, and Development of the Mucosal Immune System of the Respiratory Tract

The respiratory tract is served by a variety of lymphoid tissues, including the tonsils, adenoids, nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT), and bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT), as well as the lymph nodes that drain the upper and lower respiratory tract. Each of these tissues uses unique mechanisms to acquire antigens and respond to pathogens in the local environment and supports immune responses that are tailored to protect those locations. This chapter will review the important features of NALT and BALT and define how these tissues contribute to immunity in the upper and lower respiratory tract, respectively.

Cell-penetrating peptide-linked polymers as carriers for mucosal vaccine delivery

We evaluated the potential of poly(N-vinylacetamide-co-acrylic acid) modified with d-octaarginine, which is a typical cell-penetrating peptide, as a carrier for mucosal vaccine delivery. Mice were nasally inoculated four times every seventh day with PBS containing ovalbumin with or without the d-octaarginine-linked polymer. The polymer enhanced the production of ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and secreted immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the serum and the nasal cavity, respectively. Ovalbumin internalized into nasal epithelial cells appeared to stimulate IgA production. Ovalbumin transferred to systemic circulation possibly enhanced IgG production. An equivalent dose of the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), which was used as a positive control, was superior to the polymer in enhancing antibody production; however, dose escalation of the polymer overcame this disadvantage. A similar immunization profile was also observed when ovalbumin was replaced with influenza virus HA vaccines. The polymer induced a vaccine-specific immune response identical to that induced by CTB, irrespective of the antibody type, when its dose was 10 times that of CTB. Our cell-penetrating peptide-linked polymer is a potential candidate for antigen carriers that induce humoral immunity on the mucosal surface and in systemic circulation when nasally coadministered with antigens.

Immunomodulatory properties of subcellular fractions of a G+ bacterium, Bacillus firmus

Mucosal immunization with non-living antigens usually requires the use of an adjuvant. The adjuvant activity of Bacillus firmus in the mucosal immunization of mice was described by our laboratory previously. In the present study, subcellular localization of B. firmus activities was followed. After mechanical disintegration, subcellular components of bacterium were fractionated by differential centrifugation and salting out. Bacterial cell walls, cytoplasmic membrane fraction, soluble cytoplasmic proteins, and ribosomal fractions were isolated. Their effect on the mouse immune system was studied. Lymphocyte proliferation and immunoglobulin formation in vitro were stimulated by bacterial cell wall (BCW), cytoplasmic membrane (CMF), and ribosomal fractions. BCW and CMF increased antibody formation after intratracheal immunization of mice with influenza A and B viruses, and increased protection against subsequent infection with influenza virus. The BCW fraction even induced intersubtypic cross-protection: Mice immunized with A/California/7/04 (H3N2) + BCW were resistant to the infection by the highly pathogenic A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus.

Protection against multiple influenza A virus subtypes by intranasal administration of recombinant nucleoprotein

Vaccination is a cost-effective way to control the influenza epidemic. Vaccines based on highly conserved antigens can provide protection against different influenza A strains and subtypes. In this study, the recombinant nucleoprotein (rNP) of the A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) influenza virus strain was effectively expressed using a prokaryotic expression system and then purified with a nickel-charged Sepharose affinity column as a candidate component for an influenza vaccine. The rNP was administered intranasally three times at 3-week intervals to female BALB/c mice in combination with an adjuvant (cholera toxin B subunit containing 0.2% of the whole toxin). Twenty-one days after the last immunization, the mice were challenged with homologous or heterologous influenza viruses at a lethal dose. The results showed that intranasal immunization of 10 μg rNP with adjuvant completely protected the immunized mice against the homologous influenza virus, and immunization with 100 μg rNP in combination with adjuvant provided good cross-protection against heterologous H5N1 and H9N2 avian influenza viruses. The results indicate that such a vaccine administered intranasally can induce mucosal and cell-mediated immunity, thus having the potential to control epidemics caused by new emerging influenza viruses.

Zymosan enhances the mucosal adjuvant activity of poly(I:C) in a nasal influenza vaccine

The synthetic double-stranded RNA polyriboinocinic polyribocytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] is a potent mucosal adjuvant in mice immunized intranasally with an inactivated influenza vaccine. In an attempt, to increase the effectiveness of a nasal poly(I:C)-combined vaccine, the effect of zymosan, a cell wall extract from Saccharomyces cervisiae was investigated, on the adjuvant activity of poly(I:C) in BALB/c mice. The addition of zymosan (10 microg) as an adjuvant in mice which were immunized intranasally with a poly(I:C) (1-5 microg)-combined vaccine (1 microg) enhanced the ability of the mice to mount an effective immune response to a lethal dose of influenza virus, and resulted in a synergistic increase in secretory IgA and serum IgG antibody levels. To define the mechanism by which zymosan enhanced the adjuvant activity of poly(I:C), bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs) were cultured in the presence of poly(I:C) and/or zymosan. There was a synergistic increase in cytokine production (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-beta) in BM-DCs, together with an increase in the expression of co-stimulatory molecules (CD86 and CD40) in response to co-treatment with poly(I:C) and zymosan. This synergistic effect on cytokine production was mimicked by co-treatment with poly(I:C) and a Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) ligand, which represented one of the components of zymosan. The results of the current study suggest that one of the mechanisms by which zymosan enhances the adjuvant activity of poly(I:C) is through increased cytokine production by DCs involving the synergistic activation of poly(I:C)-induced TLR3- and zymosan-induced TLR2-mediated signaling pathways. J. Med. Virol. 82:476-484, 2010. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Incorporation of membrane-bound, mammalian-derived immunomodulatory proteins into influenza whole virus vaccines boosts immunogenicity and protection against lethal challenge

Background

Influenza epidemics continue to cause morbidity and mortality within the human population despite widespread vaccination efforts. This, along with the ominous threat of an avian influenza pandemic (H5N1), demonstrates the need for a much improved, more sophisticated influenza vaccine. We have developed an in vitro model system for producing a membrane-bound Cytokine-bearing Influenza Vaccine (CYT-IVAC). Numerous cytokines are involved in directing both innate and adaptive immunity and it is our goal to utilize the properties of individual cytokines and other immunomodulatory proteins to create a more immunogenic vaccine.

Results

We have evaluated the immunogenicity of inactivated cytokine-bearing influenza vaccines using a mouse model of lethal influenza virus challenge. CYT-IVACs were produced by stably transfecting MDCK cell lines with mouse-derived cytokines (GM-CSF, IL-2 and IL-4) fused to the membrane-anchoring domain of the viral hemagglutinin. Influenza virus replication in these cell lines resulted in the uptake of the bioactive membrane-bound cytokines during virus budding and release. In vivo efficacy studies revealed that a single low dose of IL-2 or IL-4-bearing CYT-IVAC is superior at providing protection against lethal influenza challenge in a mouse model and provides a more balanced Th₁/Th₂ humoral immune response, similar to live virus infections.

Conclusion

We have validated the protective efficacy of CYT-IVACs in a mammalian model of influenza virus infection. This technology has broad applications in current influenza virus vaccine development and may prove particularly useful in boosting immune responses in the elderly, where current vaccines are minimally effective.

Mouse models for the study of mucosal vaccination against otitis media

Otitis media (OM) is one of the most common infectious diseases in humans. The pathogenesis of OM involves nasopharyngeal (NP) colonization and retrograde ascension of the pathogen up the Eustachian tube into the middle ear (ME). Due to increasing rates of antibiotic resistance, there is an urgent need for vaccines to prevent infections caused by the most common causes of bacterial OM, including nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Current vaccine strategies aim to diminish bacterial NP carriage, thereby reducing the likelihood of developing acute OM. To be effective, vaccination should induce local mucosal immunity both in the ME and in the NP. Studies in animal models have demonstrated that the intranasal route of vaccination is particularly effective at inducing immune responses in the nasal passage and ME for protection against OM. The mouse is increasingly used in these models, because of the availability of murine reagents and the existence of technology to manipulate murine models of disease immunologically and genetically. Previous studies confirmed the suitability of the mouse as a model for inflammatory processes in acute OM. Here, we discuss various murine models of OM and review the applicability of these models to assess the efficacy of mucosal vaccination and the mechanisms responsible for protection. In addition, we discuss various mucosal vaccine antigens, mucosal adjuvants and mucosal delivery systems.

Oral intake of Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 enhances the effects of influenza vaccination

OBJECTIVE

We studied the coadjuvant capability of oral consumption of the breast-milk-isolated strain Lactobacillus fermentum (CECT5716) for an anti-influenza vaccine.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled human clinical trial including 50 volunteers (31 male and 19 female) was performed to address the immunologic effects of an intramuscular anti-influenza vaccine in adults (33.0 +/- 7.7 y old). Fifty percent of volunteers received an oral daily dose of methylcellulose (placebo) or probiotic bacteria (1 x 10(10) colony-forming units/d) 2 wk before vaccination and 2 wk after vaccination.

RESULTS

Two weeks after vaccination there was an increase in the proportion of natural killer cells in the probiotic group but not in the placebo group. The vaccination induced an increase in T-helper type 1 cytokine concentrations and in T-helper and T-cytotoxic proportions in both groups; however, the probiotic group showed a significant higher induction in some of these parameters. Regarding the humoral effects, induction of antibody response in the placebo group could not be detected. In the case of the probiotic group, a significant increase in antigen specific immunoglobulin A was detected. Although an increase in total immunoglobulin M was observed, changes in anti-influenza antigen specific immunoglobulin M were not observed. The incidence of an influenza-like illness during 5 mo after vaccination (October to February) was lower in the group consuming the probiotic bacteria.

CONCLUSION

Oral administration of the strain L. fermentum CECT5716 potentates the immunologic response of an anti-influenza vaccine and may provide enhanced systemic protection from infection by increasing the T-helper type 1 response and virus-neutralizing antibodies.

Development of a mucosal vaccine for influenza viruses: preparation for a potential influenza pandemic

Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza A virus has caused influenza outbreaks in poultry and migratory birds in Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe, and there is concern that it could cause a new pandemic. This fear of an emerging pandemic of a new influenza strain underscores the urgency of preparing effective vaccines to meet the pandemic. One way to mitigate current concerns is to develop an influenza vaccine that is fully functional against drift influenza viruses. In our current situation, in which we cannot predict which strain will cause a pandemic, cross-protective immunity using potential and novel mucosal vaccines plays a particularly important role in preventing the spread of highly pathogenic influenza virus.

Induction of cell signaling events by the cholera toxin B subunit in antigen-presenting cells

Cholera toxin (CT) is one of the most effective and widely studied mucosal adjuvants. Although the ADP-ribosylating A subunit has been implicated in augmenting immune responses, the receptor-binding B subunit (CT-B) has greater immunogenicity and may be a repository of adjuvant activity without potential toxicity. In order to elucidate mechanisms of immune modulation by CT-B alone, primary B cells and macrophages were assessed for responses to CT-B in vitro, as measured by the expression of cell surface markers, cellular signaling events, and cytokine secretion. Increased phosphorylation of multiple signaling molecules, including Erk1/2 and p38, was detected. CT-B also induced transactivation of the transcription elements cyclic AMP-responsive element and NF-kappaB, the latter of which was inhibited by phosphotyrosine inhibition. While specific inhibition of MEK1/2 did not reduce CT-B induction of cell surface marker expression, it did attenuate CT-B-mediated interleukin-6 secretion. These data show that CT-B induces a set of signaling events related to cellular activation, surface molecule expression, and cytokine production that has potential implications for elucidating CT-B adjuvant activity in the absence of enzymatically active holotoxin.

Intranasal administration of adjuvant-combined recombinant influenza virus HA vaccine protects mice from the lethal H5N1 virus infection

Attenuated recombinant H5N1 influenza virus was constructed to develop a safe H5N1 influenza vaccine. The immunogenicity and protective effect of the vaccine prepared from haemagglutinin-modified recombinant H5N1 influenza virus was evaluated in mice intranasally co-administered with cholera toxin B subunit containing a trace amount of holotoxin (CTB*), synthetic double-stranded RNA, poly (I:C) or chitin microparticles (CMP) as adjuvants. Intranasal administration of recombinant H5 HA split vaccine with CTB* or poly(I:C) and/or CMP elicited an immunological response with both anti-H5 HA IgA in the nasal wash and anti-H5 HA IgG antibody in the serum, and showed a protective against lethal H5N1 A/Hong Kong/483/97 (HK483) infection. We also demonstrated that intranasal co-administration of antigen with both poly (I:C) and CMP enhanced the expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3, TLR7 in the spleen. These results indicate that poly (I:C) and CMP are highly effective as mucosal adjuvants for use with the nasal H5N1 vaccine.

Modified Pulmonary Surfactant Is a Potent Adjuvant That Stimulates the Mucosal IgA Production in Response to the Influenza Virus Antigen

The intranasal administration of influenza hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine with Surfacten, a modified pulmonary surfactant free of antigenic c-type lectins, as a mucosal adjuvant induced the highest protective mucosal immunity in the airway. The intranasal immunization of mice with HA vaccine (0.2 microg)-Surfacten (0.2 microg) selectively induced the neutralizing anti-HA IgA, but not IgG, and conferred nearly maximal protection in the airway, without inducing a systemic response. In contrast, intranasal inoculation of vaccine with 0.2 microg of the potent mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin B* (CT-B*), prepared by adding 0.2% native CT to the B subunit of CT, induced both anti-HA IgA and IgG in the airway and in the serum. The intranasal administration of HA vaccine alone induced a limited amount of mucosal IgA against influenza virus. Although the s.c. administration of HA vaccine prominently induced serum IgG and IgA, Surfacten and CT-B* did not enhance their induction, and the concentrations of Abs leaking into the airways were insufficient to prevent viral multiplication. The intranasal administration of HA-Surfacten stimulated the expression of MHC class II, CD40, and CD86 molecules in the CD11c-positive cells isolated from the nasal mucosa, but not the expression of cells from the lungs or spleens. Lymphocytes isolated from the airway mucosa after intranasal HA-Surfacten immunization prominently induced TGF-beta1 which, compared with inoculation without Surfacten, promoted an Ag-specific mucosal IgA response. Surfacten alone, however, did not induce TGF-beta1. Our observations suggest that Surfacten, by mimicking the natural surfactant, is an effective mucosal adjuvant in the process of airway immunization.

Synthetic double-stranded RNA poly(I:C) combined with mucosal vaccine protects against influenza virus infection

The mucosal adjuvant effect of synthetic double-stranded RNA polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] against influenza virus was examined under intranasal coadministration with inactivated hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine in BALB/c mice and was shown to have a protective effect against both nasal-restricted infection and lethal lung infection. Intranasal administration of vaccine from PR8 (H1N1) with poly(I:C) induced a high anti-HA immunoglobulin A (IgA) response in the nasal wash and IgG antibody response in the serum, while vaccination without poly(I:C) induced little response. Intracerebral injection confirmed the safety of poly(I:C). In addition, we demonstrated that administration of poly(I:C) with either A/Beijing (H1N1) or A/Yamagata (H1N1) vaccine conferred complete protection against PR8 challenge in this mouse nasal infection model, suggesting that poly(I:C) possessed cross-protection ability against variant viruses. To investigate the mechanism of the protective effect of poly(I:C), mRNA levels of Toll-like receptors and cytokines were examined in the nasal-associated lymphoid tissue after vaccination or virus challenge. Intranasal administration of HA vaccine with poly(I:C) up-regulated expression of Toll-like receptor 3 and alpha/beta interferons as well as Th1- and Th2-related cytokines. We propose that poly(I:C) is a new effective intranasal adjuvant for influenza virus vaccine.

Protection against influenza virus infection by intranasal administration of hemagglutinin vaccine with chitin microparticles as an adjuvant

Chitin in the form of microparticles (chitin microparticles, CMP) has been demonstrated to be a potent stimulator of macrophages, promoting T-helper-1 (Th1) activation and cytokine response. In order to examine the mucosal adjuvant effect of CMP co-administered with influenza hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine against influenza infection, CMP were intranasally co-administered with influenza HA vaccine prepared from PR8 (H1N1) virus. Inoculation of the vaccine with CMP induced primary and secondary anti-HA IgA responses in the nasal wash and anti-HA IgG responses in the serum, which were significantly higher than those of nasal vaccination without CMP, and provided a complete protection against a homologous influenza virus challenge in the nasal infection influenza model. In addition, CMP-based immunization using A/Yamagata (H1N1) and A/Guizhou (H3N2) induced PR8 HA-reactive IgA in the nasal washes and specific-IgG in the serum. The immunization with A/Yamagata and CMP resulted in complete protection against a PR8 (H1N1) challenge in A/Yamagata (H1N1)-vaccinated mice, while that with A/Guizhou (H3N2) and CMP exhibited a 100-fold reduction of nasal virus titer, demonstrating the cross-protective effect of CMP and influenza vaccine. It is suggested that CMP provide a safe and effective adjuvant for nasal vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine.

Construction and characterization of bivalent Shigella flexneri 2a vaccine strains SC608(pCFAI) and SC608(pCFAI/LTB) that express antigens from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

An invasive strain of Shigella flexneri 2a (SC608) has been developed as a vector for the expression and delivery of heterologous antigens. SC608 is an aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (asd) derivative of SC602 (icsA iuc), a well-characterized live attenuated vaccine strain which has undergone several clinical trials in human volunteers. When administered orally at a single 10(4) (CFU) dose, SC602 is both immunogenic and efficacious against shigellosis. Using asd-based plasmid vectors, we designed SC608 to express the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) fimbrial subunit CfaB (CFA/I structural subunit) alone or in combination with the E. coli B subunit of heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB). The expression of each heterologous protein in SC608 was verified by immunoblot analysis. Each strain was comparable to the parent strain, SC602, in a HeLa cell invasion assay. After intranasal immunizations of guinea pigs, serum and mucosal immune responses were detected against both Shigella lipopolysaccharide and heterologous ETEC antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and ELISPOT analysis. All immunized animals were subsequently protected against a challenge with wild-type S. flexneri 2a in a keratoconjunctivitis Sereny test. Serum antibodies generated against LTB and CfaB demonstrated antitoxin and agglutination activities, respectively. These results suggest that CfaB and LTB expressed in SC608 retain important conformational epitopes that are required for the generation of antibodies that have functional activities. These initial experiments demonstrate that a fully invasive Shigella vaccine strain can be engineered to deliver antigens from other diarrheal pathogens.

Protection against influenza virus infection by intranasal administration of C3d-fused hemagglutinin

For the induction of mucosal immune responses by intranasal vaccination, cholera toxin B subunits (CTB) and Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin (LT) are often administered as mucosal adjuvants in order to enhance immune responses to mucosally co-administered bystander antigens. However, these toxin also are the causative agents of diarrhea. There is a demand for the establishment of an effective and safer adjuvant or vaccine that elicits mucosal immunity, but does not require the use of CTB or LT adjuvants. In order to induce protective mucosal immune responses in the nasal area against influenza virus infection, we have examined the recombinant protein composed of the complement component, C3d, which is fused to the secreted form of hemagglutinin (sHA-mC3d3) in the influenza-BALB/c mouse model. The fusion protein sHA-mC3d3, the secretory form of hemagglutinin, and the transmembrane form of HA (tmHA) from the influenza virus were intranasally administered to the mice with or without CTB containing a trace amount of holotoxin (CTB*) as an adjuvant. After intranasal administration of these proteins with CTB*, all mice produced nasal IgA and serum IgG antibodies (Abs) against the viral HA. In addition, viral infection was completely inhibited in these mice. In contrast, in the absence of the adjuvant, only sHA-mC3d3-induced locally secreted IgA and serum IgG Abs and provided complete protection against the influenza virus challenge. Thus, C3d fused to the influenza HA antigen is an effective and safe tool for mucosal vaccination.

Secretory IgA antibodies provide cross-protection against infection with different strains of influenza B virus

This study examined whether secretory IgA (S-IgA) antibodies (Abs) could confer cross-protective immunity against infection with influenza B viruses of antigenically distinct lineages. Wild-type or polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR)-knockout (KO) mice were immunized by infection with different B viruses or by intranasal (i.n.) administration with different inactivated vaccines. Four weeks later mice were challenged with either the B/Ibaraki/2/85 virus, representative of the B/Victoria/2/87 (B/Victoria)-lineage, or B/Yamagata/16/88 virus, representative of the B/Yamagata-lineage. Three days after challenge, nasal wash and serum specimens were assayed for IgA and IgG Abs specific for challenge viral antigens and for protection against challenge viruses. In wild-type mice, B/Ibaraki (or B/Yamagata) cross-reactive IgA Abs were detected at higher levels when infected or immunized with homologous-lineage viruses and at lower levels when infected or immunized with heterologous-lineage viruses. There was a correlation between the amount of nasal cross-reactive IgA Ab and the efficacy of cross-protection with a homologous-lineage virus. In mice lacking the pIgR, nasal cross-protective IgA Abs were only marginally detected in vaccinated mice and an accumulation of IgA in the serum was observed. This reduction of nasal IgA was accompanied by inefficient cross-protection against the B/Ibaraki (or B/Yamagata) virus infection. These results suggest that challenge viral-antigen cross-reactive S-IgA in nasal secretions induced by i.n. infection or vaccination is involved in providing cross-protection against challenge infection with virus within either the B/Victoria- or B/Yamagata-lineage.

Mucosal co-administration of cholera toxin and influenza virus hemagglutinin-DNA in ponies generates a local IgA response

We have previously demonstrated that equine influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) DNA vaccination protects ponies from challenge infection, and induces protective IgGa and IgGb responses. However, this approach does not induce a nasal IgA response. The objective of this study was to examine the value of cholera toxin (CT) administration as an adjuvant for intranasal HA DNA vaccination, and to measure protection 3 months after DNA vaccination. After an immunogenic dose of CT was determined, ponies were immunized on two occasions by intranasal administration of HA DNA and cholera toxin, or HA DNA alone. Ponies in both groups received two additional HA DNA particle mediated vaccinations at skin and mucosal sites. Antibody responses, and protection from challenge infection 3 months after the last vaccination were studied and compared to an influenza virus naive control group. Ponies in both vaccination groups produced virus-specific IgG antibodies in serum following vaccination and showed clinical protection from challenge infection 3 months after the last vaccination. Co-administration of CT plus HA DNA vaccination induced a nasal IgA response. In addition, analysis of antibody titers in nasal secretions indicated local production of nasal IgGb, which was amplified by CT administration.

Frequent nasal administrations of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB)-containing tetanus and diphtheria toxoid vaccines induced antigen-specific serum and mucosal immune responses in the presence of anti-rCTB antibodies

Vaccination via a mucosal route is a very attractive means for immunization, because both local and systemic immune responses are inducible and vaccines can be administered easily and safely from infants to elderly persons. For developing widely applicable mucosal vaccines using recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) as a safe adjuvant, we examined whether frequent nasal administrations of rCTB-containing same and different vaccines could induce antigen-specific immune responses without induction of systemic tolerance and suppression by pre-existing anti-rCTB immunity. Ten repetitive nasal administrations to mice of tetanus toxoid (TT) + rCTB or diphtheria toxoid (DT) + rCTB raised and maintained high levels of antigen- and rCTB-specific serum IgG including high levels of tetanus/diphtheria antitoxin titres and raised nasal, salivary, lung, vaginal and fecal secreted IgA, suggesting that the regimen did not induce systemic tolerance to TT/DT and rCTB. Mice successively received repetitive five doses of TT as the first antigen and subsequent five doses of DT as the second antigen, and vice versa, raised serum IgG to the second antigen at various levels including low but sufficient protective levels of antitoxin titres and induced mucosal IgA in the lungs, the vaginas and feces, but hardly in the nasal secretions and salivas. After an interval of 22 weeks between the dosage of the first and second antigens, mice induced serum IgG to the second antigen at high levels and mucosal IgA in all sites. In conclusion, anti-TT and -DT serum and mucosal antibody responses induced by repeated intranasal immunization using rCTB adjuvant lasted for a long period, and for improving the effectivity of vaccination, different rCTB-containing vaccines should be administered at appropriate intervals.

Roles of anti-hemagglutinin IgA and IgG antibodies in different sites of the respiratory tract of vaccinated mice in preventing lethal influenza pneumonia

The roles of IgA and IgG antibodies (Abs) against hemagglutinin (HA) in the prevention of lethal influenza pneumonia in vaccinated mice were examined in terms of distribution and concentration of the Abs in the mucus or the serous fluid in different sites of the respiratory tract (RT), mucosa of the nose, trachea, bronchi and bronchioli and the alveolar epithelia of pulmonary acinus. First, the surface areas of the tracheal, bronchial and bronchiolar mucosa and alveolar epithelia were measured to be 20, 260 and 217, 433 mm(2), respectively, using serial tissue sections of the trachea and lungs. Then, the volumes of the tracheal mucus, the bronchial and bronchiolar mucus and the serous fluid of alveolar epithelia were estimated to be 0.2, 2.6 and 21.7 mm(3), respectively, by calculating each from the surface area and an assumed thickness of the mucus layer (0.01 mm) or that of the serous fluid (0.0001 mm). Next, anti-HA IgA and IgG Ab responses in the nasal wash, the trachea-lung wash and the trachea wash were measured in BALB/c mice immunized intranasally with an adjuvant-combined A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus vaccine and challenged with a lethal dose of the virus. Then the values of Ab responses were converted to the mucus and serous fluid Ab concentration based on two premises that the serum Abs diffuse at a constant rate to the surface of the tracheal, bronchial and bronchiolar mucosa, and that the active transepithelial transport of IgA Abs does not work in the alveolar epithelia. Results showed that 21.4 microg/ml IgA Abs and 3.6 microg/ml IgG Abs in the tracheal mucus (19.1 and 0.3% of the trachea-lung wash IgA and IgG Ab amounts, respectively), 5.9 microg/ml IgA Abs and 3.6 microg/ml IgG Abs in the bronchial and bronchiolar mucus (66.0 and 3.4% of the trachea-lung wash IgA and IgG Ab amounts, respectively) and about 0.1 microg/ml IgA Abs and 12.3 microg/ml IgG Abs in the serous fluid of alveolar epithelia (14.9 and 96.3% of the trachea-lung wash IgA and IgG Ab amounts, respectively) were present in the vaccinated mice, at which concentrations influenza pneumonia was prevented. Thus, 96.3% of anti-HA IgG Abs in the trachea-lung wash work on the alveolar epithelia, whose surface area is about 800 times larger than that of tracheal, bronchial and bronchiolar mucosa and seem to play a more important role than the mucosal IgA Abs in the prevention of lethal influenza pneumonia.

Characterization of protective immune responses induced by nasal influenza vaccine containing mutant cholera toxin as a safe adjuvant (CT112K)

Immune responses induced by a nasal influenza vaccine with a mutant cholera toxin (CT112K), known to be a safe adjuvant, were characterized in BALB/c mice to confirm the most suitable regimen of this vaccine for humans. Mice received a primary intranasal administration of the adjuvant (0.1 micro g)-combined PR8 vaccine (0.1 micro g) and a secondary administration of the PR8 vaccine alone (0.1 micro g) 4 weeks later. Two weeks after the secondary immunization, the mice were infected with a nonlethal or a lethal dose of PR8 viruses. Nasal and lung wash virus titers 1 or 3 days after infection indicated that complete protection could be provided by secondary immune responses, which had an immediate effect of preventing infection 2 weeks after the secondary immunization. In this two-dose regimen, high levels of secondary IgA, IgG and IgM antibody-forming cell (AFC) responses were induced in the nasal-associated lymphoid tissue and the spleen. In parallel with the AFC responses, high levels of nasal wash anti-PR8 HA IgA, and lung and serum IgG antibody (Ab) responses were induced 2 weeks after the secondary immunization. The two-dose regimen also induced accelerated delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, which exhibited almost the same peak height as that in the case of the primary response. In addition, the two-dose regimen induced a low memory cell activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, detected by in vitro culture of spleen cells. Thus, the immediate effect of preventing infection was mainly provided by the secondary Ab responses. Moreover, the levels of nasal wash IgA Abs correlated well with cross-protection against infection with variant viruses in the upper respiratory tract (RT). These results suggest that the major protective factors among Ab and T cell-mediated immune responses, which are induced by the two-dose regimen using CT112K-combined vaccines, are the cross-reactive IgA Abs in the upper RT and the less cross-reactive IgG Abs in the lower RT, and that the two-dose regimen is a suitable vaccination condition for humans.

Antibody responses and protection against influenza virus infection in different congenic strains of mice immunized intranasally with adjuvant-combined A/Beijing/262/95 (H1N1) virus hemagglutinin or neuraminidase

Antibody (Ab) responses and protection against influenza virus infection in mice immunized intranasally with hemagglutinin (HA) or neuraminidase (NA) purified from the A/Beijing/262/95 (A/Beijing) (H1N1) virus were compared among B10 congenic mouse strains. Mice were immunized intranasally with 0.1, 0.3 or 1microg of HA or NA together with the cholera toxin adjuvant, and then boosted intranasally with 0.3 microg of the adjuvant-combined HA or NA 4 weeks later. Two weeks after the second immunization, the mice were challenged by an infection of the upper respiratory tract with the homologous virus. After 3 days, nasal wash and serum specimens were collected for virus and Ab titration. The HA immunization induced HA-specific IgG Ab responses against A/Beijing HA, which depended on the H-2 haplotype of the strain: The B10.A (H-2(a)), B10.D2 (H-2(d)), B10.BR (H-2(k)) and B10 (H-2(b)) strains were the highest, high, intermediate and low responders, respectively. The nasal IgA responses were induced in the B10.A, B10.D2 and B10.BR strains, but not in the B10 strain. In parallel with Ab responses, the B10.A, B10.BR and B10.D2 strains were conferred significant protection at any dose of primary immunization, but the B10 strain was provided protection only at 1microg of HA. On the other hand, the NA immunization induced NA-specific Ab responses, which depended on the the H-2 haplotype of the strain: the B10.A, B10.D2, B10 and B10.BR strains were the highest, high, intermediate and low responders, respectively. In parallel with Ab responses, all the strains were conferred significant protection at any dose of primary immunization. These results indicate that the MHC-restricted responsiveness of mice to HA is different from that to NA, suggesting that the use of high-HA dose or NA as a component of the nasal influenza A (H1N1 subtype) virus vaccine improves the protective efficacy against influenza among low responder populations.