Transcutaneous immunization by merely prolonging the duration of antigen presence on the skin of mice induces a potent antigen-specific antibody response even in the absence of an adjuvant.
Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) is a promising needle-free technique for vaccination. In this method, strong adjuvants, such as the cholera toxin, are generally crucial to elicit a robust immune response. Here, we showed that prolonged antigen presence on the skin of mice during TCI could effectively enhance the immune response. Substantial antigen-specific antibodies were produced in the sera of mice even after non-adjuvanted TCI when the antigen presence was for longer than 16 h. This non-adjuvanted TCI method was applied using the tetanus toxoid, and potent tetanus toxoid-specific antibodies were successfully induced in the sera of mice; they survived a lethal tetanus toxin challenge with no clinical signs. Thus, non-adjuvanted approach might be a possible option for TCI, and this method might improve the safety and practicality of transcutaneous vaccination.
Naito
Seishiro
S
Department of Safety Research on Blood and Biological Products, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan. snaito@nih.go.jp
Maeyama
Jun-ichi
J
Mizukami
Takuo
T
Takahashi
Motohide
M
Hamaguchi
Isao
I
Yamaguchi
Kazunari
K
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013742:Tetanus / Q000517:prevention & control; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D010047:Ovalbumin