Novel vaccination strategies for the control of mucosal infection

Enteric disease remains one of the greatest causes of mortality and morbidity in both human and veterinary species. There has been a remarkable lack of success in vaccination to control mucosal disease and it is therefore apparent that novel strategies are required to achieve effective mucosal immunity. Basic studies described in this paper have addressed problems associated with antigen handling and the induction of an immune response in the intestine, and the subsequent dissemination of effector cells and molecules to intestinal and extra-intestinal submucosal regions. Effective induction of IgA responses is dependent on T-cell help and requires cognate interactions between T cells and B cells within organized gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). The delivery of an IgA antibody response to mucosal sites is also a T cell dependent but antigen driven process. The normal route by which antigen is taken up by GALT is via the epithelial surface but antigen presented in this way via villus epithelial cells generates predominantly a suppressor response. Strategies designed to overcome this effect include the use of powerful adjuvants (such as cholera toxin, muramyldipeptide and phorbol esters), the use of immunogenic carriers, or delivery via liposomes, microspheres or genetically engineered viral or bacterial vectors. Alternatively, the feasibility of accessing GALT via the serosal surface by administration of intraperitoneal antigen in oil emulsion has been explored and a vaccine formulation (Auspharm (patent pending)) has been developed which is suitable for IP delivery in commercial applications.