Intravaginal and intranasal immunizations are equally effective in inducing vaginal antibodies and conferring protection against vaginal candidiasis.
Oophorectomized, estrogen-treated rats were immunized by the intravaginal or intranasal route with a mannoprotein extract (MP) or secreted aspartyl proteinases (Sap) of Candida albicans, with or without cholera toxin as a mucosal adjuvant. Both routes of immunization were equally effective in (i) inducing anti-MP and anti-Sap vaginal antibodies and (ii) conferring a high degree of protection against the vaginal infection by the fungus. These data suggest that appropriate fungal antigens and adjuvant can be used to protect against candidal vaginitis, by either route.
De Bernardis
Flavia
F
Department of Bacteriology and Medical Mycology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Boccanera
Maria
M
Adriani
Daniela
D
Girolamo
Antonietta
A
Cassone
Antonio
A
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005657:Fungal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007114:Immunization; D051381:Rats; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology*
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D005657:Fungal Vaccines; D002772:Cholera Toxin