The gastrointestinal mucosa contains an intact immune system that protects the host from pathogens and communicates with the systemic immune system. Absorptive epithelial cells in the mucosa give rise to malignant tumors although the interaction between tumor cells and the mucosal immune system is not well defined. The pathophysiology of colorectal cancer has been elucidated through studies of ...

in induction of systemic and mucosal immunity, particulate antigens are more effective than soluble antigens possibly because they are more efficiently endocytosed by mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (malt) m cells. in this study, we determined the systemic and mucosal immune responses in rabbits following intranasal immunization of tetanus toxoid tt and cpg-odn encapsulated within plga nanos...

We developed highly expressing clade B and AE DNA and envelope protein (Env) vaccines for evaluation in mice and macaques as DNA prime/protein boost regimens. High levels of Env-specific antibodies were induced in mice, albeit with limited neutralizing activity in vitro. A combined clade B and AE regimen induced high titer Env-specific antibody in two pigtail macaques that neutralized several s...

The intestinal mucosal immune system is challenged with bacteria, viruses, and parasites, in addition to food and environmental antigens, that require dynamic immune responsiveness for homeostasis. One central signaling pathway is JAK-STAT, which regulates the adaptive and innate immune arms of mucosal immunity as well as epithelial repair and regeneration. Adaptive immunity includes lymphocyte...

The oral cavity is the beginning of the aero-digestive tract, which is covered by mucosal epithelium continuously under the threat of invasion of pathogens, it is thus protected by the mucosal immune system. In the early phase of our scientific efforts for the demonstration of mucosal immune system, dental science was one of major driving forces due to their foreseeability to use oral immunity ...

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) most frequently initiates infection at a mucosal surface; thus mucosal immune responses are likely to be important in defense against HSV infection. We have examined the effects of eliciting mucosal as well as systemic immune responses on protection against genital challenge infection with virulent HSV-2 in mice immunized with a replication-defective mutant of HSV-2. ...