Mucosal Vaccination Strategies for Women

Abstract

Women were immunized orally, rectally, or vaginally with a recombinant cholera toxin B-containing vaccine to determine which of these mucosal immunization routes generate the greatest levels of antibody in the female genital tract and rectum. ELISA was used to measure concentrations of cholera toxin B-specific IgA and IgG antibody in serum and secretions before and after three immunizations. Each immunization route similarly increased specific IgG in serum and specific IgA in saliva. Only the vaginal route increased IgA antibodies in genital tract secretions and could be shown to induce a local IgG response. However, vaginal immunization failed to produce antibody in the rectum. In a similar fashion, rectal immunization elicited highest concentrations of locally derived IgA and IgG antibody in the rectum but was ineffective for generating antibody in the genital tract. The data suggest that local immunization may induce the greatest immune responses in the female genital tract and rectum of humans.

Sublingual vaccination with influenza virus protects mice against lethal viral infection

“…Several recent studies have focused on development of mucosal vaccines capable of effectively inducing both mucosal and systemic immune responses, thereby resulting in two layers of host protection (2). Also, because the route of vaccine administration has a significant effect on the outcome of immune responses, a number of studies have attempted to develop mucosal vaccine delivery routes (3)(4)(5). In humans, the strongest response is elicited in mucosal tissues directly exposed to Ags, with the second strongest occurring in adjacent mucosa (5).…”

Differential Induction of Mucosal and Systemic Antibody Responses in Women After Nasal, Rectal, or Vaginal Immunization: Influence of the Menstrual Cycle

“…To determine which mucosal vaccination routes might be most effective for induction of immune responses in the female genital tract and rectal mucosa, we previously compared the oral immunization (O imm ), rectal immunization (R imm ), and vaginal immunization (V imm ) routes for their ability to induce cholera toxin B subunit (CTB)-specific IgA Ab in secretions of women who were immunized three times at biweekly intervals with cholera vaccine (7,8). Results indicated that local R imm was more effective than O imm or V imm for induction of specific IgA in the rectum (7,8).…”

“…Results indicated that local R imm was more effective than O imm or V imm for induction of specific IgA in the rectum (7,8). Conversely, local V imm was found more effective than O imm or R imm for generating mucosal IgA Ab in cervical and vaginal secretions (7,8).…”

“…Results indicated that local R imm was more effective than O imm or V imm for induction of specific IgA in the rectum (7,8). Conversely, local V imm was found more effective than O imm or R imm for generating mucosal IgA Ab in cervical and vaginal secretions (7,8). However, it was noted that women in the V imm group developed local Ab responses that differed tremendously in magnitude (8), possibly because vaccine was administered at alternating follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.…”

“…Conversely, local V imm was found more effective than O imm or R imm for generating mucosal IgA Ab in cervical and vaginal secretions (7,8). However, it was noted that women in the V imm group developed local Ab responses that differed tremendously in magnitude (8), possibly because vaccine was administered at alternating follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. It has been reported that biweekly V imm of women on days 10 and 24 of the menstrual cycle is better than random biweekly V imm for induction of specific IgA Ab in cervical secretions (9).…”