Adjuvant strategies required for targeting mucosal tissues

摘要

In recent years, as a result of decreasing public confidence in vaccination programmes, focus has moved towards the development of safer vaccines, with greater efficacy and convenience of use. Furthermore, the ability to promote a quicker protective response in the face of pandemics or biological warfare has driven the need for novel vaccine technologies; many targeting mucosal surfaces. There are several reasons for choosing the mucosal route: pathogenic organisms gain entry to the body and colonize via mucosal surfaces [1], mucosa contain the highest concentration of lymphocytes [2] and it is believed that both systemic and mucosal protection can be achieved with mucosal administration [3].