title: Transcutaneous immunization of healthy volunteers with an attenuated Listeria monocytogenes vaccine strain and cholera toxin adjuvant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attenuated Listeria monocytogenes vaccine strains have been administered intravenously (Le et al., Maciag et al.) and orally (Angelakopoulos et al., Johnson et al.) to humans. Here, one was given transcutaneously with cholera toxin adjuvant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight healthy volunteers were studied (5 active, 3 placebo). Safety was assessed by physical exam and labs. Systemic immunological responses were measured by ELISA and IFN-gamma ELISpot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4/5 active volunteers had cellular responses to listerial antigens. 5/5 active volunteers showed humoral responses to cholera toxin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An attenuated L. monocytogenes vector was safely administered transcutaneously. Topical administration appeared at least as immunogenic as previously studied oral delivery.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Eypper
authors.forename: Paul V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Eva I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Purro
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hohmann
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D057968:Transdermal Patch; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002772:Cholera Toxin