Intestinal immune response to cholera toxin: dependence on route and dosage of antigen for priming and boosting

The influence in immunization with cholera toxin of the route and antigen dose on intestinal antibody formation and protective immunity against experimental cholera was studied in mice. Administration by either the intravenous or oral route induced effective priming as well as boosting of mucosal immunity, with the effects on intestinal immunoglobulin A antitoxin synthesis and protective antitoxic immunity showing excellent concordance. A strong antigen dose dependence was found for both priming and boosting of the local immunity, irrespective of route. Very efficient high-dose priming did, however, partially decrease the dose dependence of the booster response and, conversely, a high booster dose partly overcame the relative inefficiency of low-dose priming. The results suggest that the amount of antigen reaching the immunocompetent cells in the gut rather than the route of administration per se determines the mucosal immunizing effect.