Strong local and systemic protective immunity induced in the ferret model by an intranasal virosome-formulated influenza subunit vaccine.
The proliferation of influenza viruses causes costly, recurrent, annual epidemics. Current vaccines, mainly administered parenterally, have been shown to be suboptimal in terms of efficacy, particularly where local IgA responses are concerned. Recent investigations of virosomes as delivery systems for viral HA and NA antigens have demonstrated an improved immune response. This paper investigates the efficacy of a novel virosome-based intranasal influenza vaccine by its ability to reduce disease symptoms and its effect on viral shedding in nasal secretions of immunised ferrets. The use of ferrets in the study of influenza vaccines is based on the good comparability between ferret and human response to the disease. Intranasal, as opposed to parenteral, administration of a trivalent virosome-based subunit vaccine adjuvanted with HLT provides an almost total prevention of virus shedding combined with a high level of immunological protection against homologous virus challenge. The ease of application of an intranasal vaccine may have positive repercussions in the adoption of influenza vaccinations, particularly in 'at-risk' groups.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Retroscreen Virology, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London, Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, 327 Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK.
Rob
R
Lambkin
John S
JS
Oxford
Seb
S
Bossuyt
Alex
A
Mann
Ian C
IC
Metcalfe
Christian
C
Herzog
Jean-François
JF
Viret
Reinhard
R
Glück
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000276:immunology*; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000821:virology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D022701:Virosomes / Q000276:immunology*; D017201:Virus Shedding
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D022701:Virosomes