Influenza virosomes are an efficient delivery system for respiratory syncytial virus-F antigen inducing humoral and cell-mediated immunity

Vaccine. 2002 Oct 4;20(29-30):3436-42. doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(02)00353-5.

Abstract

In the present study we investigated the efficacy of a new potential vaccine constituted of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-F protein associated with influenza virosomes (RSV-F/IRIV) in combination with the mucosal adjuvant Escheriagen (Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin), administered intranasally (i.n.) to BALB/c mice. After an intramuscular "priming" with influenza virus vaccine, group A of mice was i.n. immunized with of RSV-F/IRIV+heat-labile toxin (HLT), groups B and C were inoculated i.n. with F-RSV+HLT and IRIV+HLT, respectively. The results showed that the virosomal delivery system greatly potentiate immune responses in animals. All mice immunized with the RSV-F/IRIV+HLT developed a mucosal IgA response and a high level of serum IgG. A balanced Th1/Th2 cytokine profile was observed in mice immunized with RSV-F/IRIV+HLT, while a Th2 response was observed in mice immunized with RSV-F+HLT. Histological analysis of lung tissue of RSV challenged mice did not reveal a vaccine-enhanced pulmonary eosinophilia. These results show that i.n. immunization of BALB/c mice with RSV-F/IRIV in combination with HLT can be considered a promising approach for the development of an efficacious human vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Bacterial Toxins / administration & dosage
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Enterotoxins / administration & dosage
  • Escherichia coli Proteins*
  • Female
  • Immunity, Mucosal
  • Immunization
  • Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines / immunology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Viral Proteins / immunology*
  • Virosomes / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Cytokines
  • Enterotoxins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines
  • Viral Proteins
  • Virosomes
  • heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli