Lactoferrin acts as an adjuvant during influenza vaccination of neonatal mice

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Neonatal Health
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Current health policies prevent influenza vaccination in newborns, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in infants under six months.
• Dysfunctional dendritic cells and vaccine failures are observed in neonates, highlighting a need for novel immunomodulatory strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of bovine lactoferrin as an adjuvant for inducing an antibody response against influenza in neonatal mice.
• To compare the efficacy of lactoferrin combined with influenza antigen against a traditional aluminum hydroxide (ALUM) adjuvant.

Main Methods:

• Three-day-old mice were subcutaneously administered H1N1 hemagglutinin with either bovine lactoferrin or ALUM.
• Control groups received hemagglutinin alone, lactoferrin alone, or ALUM alone.
• Antibody production was assessed using ELISA, and neutralizing antibody titers were determined via plaque assays after 21 days.

Main Results:

• Lactoferrin plus hemagglutinin induced antibody levels comparable to hemagglutinin plus ALUM.
• Both treatment groups demonstrated significant H1N1 virus neutralization at a 1:20 dilution.
• No anaphylaxis was observed in neonates receiving lactoferrin when challenged four weeks later, indicating safety.

Conclusions:

• Bovine lactoferrin serves as a safe and effective adjuvant for generating an influenza-specific antibody response in neonatal models.
• Lactoferrin shows promise in overcoming neonatal vaccine failures and improving protection against influenza in young infants.