The generation of effective levels of antigen-specific immunity at the mucosal sites of pathogen entry is a key goal for vaccinologists. We explored topical vaginal application as an approach to initiate local antigen-specific immunity, enhance previously existing systemic immunity or re-target responses to the mucosae. To deliver a protein vaccine formulation to the vaginal mucosal surface, we...

One of the advantages of dry influenza vaccines over conventional liquid influenza vaccines is that they can be used for alternative routes of administration. Previous studies showed that spray freeze-drying is an excellent technique to prepare vaccine containing powders for pulmonary delivery (J.P. Amorij, V. Saluja, A.H. Petersen, W.L.J. Hinrichs, A. Huckriede, H.W. Frijlink, Pulmonary delive...

It is well known that mucosal tissues contain the largest surface area of the human body and are the front line of natural host defense against various pathogens. In fact, more than 80% of infectious disease pathogens probably gain entry into the susceptible human hosts through open mucosal surfaces. Human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1), a mainly sexually transmitted virus, also primar...

The global health community is beginning to understand the burden of norovirus-associated disease, which has a significant impact in both developed and developing countries. Norovirus virus like particle (VLP)-based vaccines are currently under development and have been shown to elicit systemic and mucosal immune responses when delivered intranasally. In the present study, we describe the use o...

Clostridium botulinum and Bacillus anthracis produce potent toxins that cause severe disease in humans. New and improved vaccines are needed for both of these pathogens. For mucosal vaccine delivery using lactic acid bacteria, chromosomal expression of antigens is preferred over plasmid-based expression systems, as chromosomal expression circumvents plasmid instability and the need for antibiot...

The growing amount of information regarding mucosal immunology in animals resulted from a need to better understand the pathogenesis of diseases entering the body through mucosa surfaces, including the respiratory tract. The second reason for such studies is associated with a search for alternative ways of vaccine application, including delivery to the mucosa of the respiratory tract. This revi...

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of severe respiratory tract infections worldwide. An effective RSV vaccine requires the induction of mucosal immunity which is a major hurdle. Development of polymeric nanoparticle delivery systems is one of the strategies to overcome this hurdle. PLGA, a biodegradable copolymer is FDA approved and chitosan, a mucoadhesive polym...

Infections of the respiratory and GI tracts are among the most common diseases of piglets worldwide and cause substantial economic loss to swine producers. Effective immunity to these infections needs a specific response at the surface of the tract (Bozic et al., 2002). However vaccine formulation and delivery to these surfaces remains a major challenge. Recent evidence of this type of immune r...