Influenza virosomes are an efficient delivery system for respiratory syncytial virus-F antigen inducing humoral and cell-mediated immunity.
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.
Cusi
M G
MG
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Via Laterina, 8-53100, Siena, Italy. cusi@unisi.it
Zurbriggen
R
R
Correale
P
P
Valassina
M
M
Terrosi
C
C
Pergola
L
L
Valensin
P E
PE
Glück
R
R
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005260:Female; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007114:Immunization; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D022701:Virosomes / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D016207:Cytokines; D004768:Enterotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines; D014764:Viral Proteins; D022701:Virosomes; C027538:heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli