Collection and processing of mucosal secretions from mice

The major route of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) worldwide, like other agents of sexually transmitted disease, is via mucosal surfaces of the genital tract through sexual exposures (1-4). It has been hypothesized that immune responses at these sites may be important determinants of protection against HIV-1 (1,2,5). Development of HIV-1 vaccines which elicit local mucosal immune responses may be critical for an effective preventive vaccine. Specific mucosal immune responses elicited after different routes of mucosal immunization in rodents have been examined previously (6-16). Nasal and oral immunization routes have elicited strong mucosal responses to HIV-1 peptides and whole proteins in mice (7,11,17,18,24). Induction of mucosal and systemic immunity to SIV and HIV-1 antigens in primates has also been obtained using a variety of mucosal routes of vaccine administration (19-22).