title: Nasal immunization with group B streptococci can induce high levels of specific IgA antibodies in cervicovaginal secretions of mice.
abstract: We have studied the cervicovaginal antibody responses in mice, by ELISA, following mucosal immunizations with group B streptococci (GBS) serotype III/R4. Immunizations were carried out either: (1) rectally with GBS alone; (2) rectally with GBS plus cholera toxin (CT); (3) nasally with GBS alone; (4) nasally with GBS+CT; or (5) nasally under general anesthesia with GBS+CT. Nasal immunizations with GBS alone led to at least tenfold higher levels of specific IgA-antibodies to GBS in cervicovaginal secretions than with any other immunization. These mucosal antibody levels were higher than after rectal immunizations, and 2-17 times higher than the corresponding IgA antibody levels in sera. Markedly lower cervicovaginal antibody levels were found in mice which had received GBS together with CT as a mucosal adjuvant than in mice immunized by the same routes with GBS alone. Our observations indicate that a nasal vaccine consisting of GBS might induce sufficient antibody levels to protect against genital colonization of these bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Broegelmann Research Laboratory for Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hordnes
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tynning
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haneberg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jonsson
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000285:Administration, Rectal; D000818:Animals; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000276:immunology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000276:immunology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D002772:Cholera Toxin