Studies on Anti-Viral Mucosal Immunity with the Lipoidal Amine Adjuvant Avridine

摘要

Enteric priming is effective in initiating a specific secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) response in non-intestinal as well as local sites. If the concept of the Common Mucosal Immune System also applies to respiratory mucosal immunity, enteric immunization could be utilized to advantage in vaccination against airborne pathogens which impinge upon the conjunctiva, nasopharynx, respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Oral vaccines are also more likely to be accepted by the public than intranasal or aerosol vaccines of concerns about possible allergic, inflammatory and sclerotic effects of antigenic aerosols in the lungs. Recent studies showed that parenteral immunization with inactivated viral vaccines was ineffective in protecting rodents from aerosol challenge with virulent virus, although similarly vaccinated animals were completely protected from parenteral challenge with the same dose of virus. The immunomodulator, Avridine, enhances uptake and retention of viral antigens in Peyer's patches, resulting in enhanced specific s-IgA levels in intestinal secretions; therefore, we initiated the present studies to test the protective effects of Avridine on aerosol or subcutaneous exposure to the ZH-501 strain of Rift Valley Fever (RFV) virus.