Cutting edge: mucosal application of a lyophilized viral vector vaccine confers systemic and protective immunity toward intracellular pathogens.
A major problem of current vaccines is storage stability, often requiring strict maintenance of cold chains. In the course of the eradication of smallpox, a freeze-dried vaccinia virus (Dryvax), which proved to be very stable, was used to overcome this limitation. However, Dryvax needs to be reconstituted before usage and is administered using a bifurcated needle, procedures that pose a number of additional health risks. We report in this study that a stable, lyophilized, modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vaccine can be directly applied to the nostrils of mice without previous reconstitution. This direct mucosal application induced systemic Ab and T cell responses comparable to those achieved by i.m. administration. Importantly, mucosal application of lyophilized MVA induced long-lasting protective immunity against lethal bacterial and viral challenges. These data clearly demonstrate the potency of a simple needle-free vaccination, combining the advantages of mucosal application with the stability and efficiency of lyophilized MVA.
Kastenmuller
Wolfgang
W
Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany. kastenmullerw@niaid.nih.gov
Gasteiger
Georg
G
Stross
Leon
L
Busch
Dirk H
DH
Drexler
Ingo
I
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D004355:Drug Stability; D005260:Female; D005612:Freeze Drying; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000235:genetics; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated