Development of Mucosal Vaccines
Mucosal Vaccines
Category: Immunology | Vaccines
Mucosal Vaccines
from Rajesh Ravindran and Bali Pulendran writing in Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies
The term "mucosal vaccination" has traditionally been used to describe strategies in which a vaccine is administered via the mucosal route. Unlike parenteral vaccination, mucosal vaccines do not require the use of needles, thus enabling vaccine compliance and reducing logistical challenges and the risks of acquiring blood borne infections. However, despite the great success of mucosal vaccines such as the polio vaccine, several formidable challenges hinder the effective elicitation of immunity against pathogens that invade mucosal sites. First, in humans the mucosal surfaces of the gut, lung, oral cavity and reproductive tracts are estimated to cover an area of 400 square meters, and thus represent the largest portal of entry for pathogens. Second, the acidic environments of many mucosal sites, and the delineation of mucosal sites by the epithelial barrier, pose challenges to the effective delivery of vaccines. Third, the mucosal immune system is faced with a somewhat schizophrenic challenge of having to launch robust immunity against mucosal pathogens, whilst restraining immune reactivity to commensals and food antigens. Fourth, the induction of the appropriate type of immune response is critical for effective protection against different pathogens. Fifth, the accurate quantitation of mucosal T and B cell responses pose unique challenges. Despite these challenges, recent advances in our understanding of the innate immunity and its regulation of adaptive immunity at mucosal sites, are beginning to offer new insights into strategies that result in immune protection at mucosal surfaces. In particular, several recent studies demonstrate that parenteral vaccination with the appropriate adjuvants can induce migration of antigen-specific T and B lymphocytes to mucosal sites. These advances promise to accelerate the development and testing of new mucosal vaccines against many diseases including HIV/AIDS. Most infectious agents that infect humans do so via mucosal sites, principally the digestive, respiratory and genitourinary tracts. Immune defenses at mucosal surfaces therefore constitute a very vital part of the overall protective responses against these invading pathogens. Vaccines that are administered via the oral routes most proficiently induce the mucosal immune responses. In contrast, parenterally administered vaccines are generally poor inducers of mucosal immunity and are therefore less efficient against infections originating at mucosal surfaces (Rajesh Ravindran and Bali Pulendran). However, only a few mucosal vaccines have been approved for human use (Table 1, Rajesh Ravindran and Bali Pulendran)). However, progress in research aimed at understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the mucosal system is presently accelerating, allowing us to design innovative strategies for the development of mucosal vaccines.
Further reading: Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies
from Rajesh Ravindran and Bali Pulendran writing in Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies
The term "mucosal vaccination" has traditionally been used to describe strategies in which a vaccine is administered via the mucosal route. Unlike parenteral vaccination, mucosal vaccines do not require the use of needles, thus enabling vaccine compliance and reducing logistical challenges and the risks of acquiring blood borne infections. However, despite the great success of mucosal vaccines such as the polio vaccine, several formidable challenges hinder the effective elicitation of immunity against pathogens that invade mucosal sites. First, in humans the mucosal surfaces of the gut, lung, oral cavity and reproductive tracts are estimated to cover an area of 400 square meters, and thus represent the largest portal of entry for pathogens. Second, the acidic environments of many mucosal sites, and the delineation of mucosal sites by the epithelial barrier, pose challenges to the effective delivery of vaccines. Third, the mucosal immune system is faced with a somewhat schizophrenic challenge of having to launch robust immunity against mucosal pathogens, whilst restraining immune reactivity to commensals and food antigens. Fourth, the induction of the appropriate type of immune response is critical for effective protection against different pathogens. Fifth, the accurate quantitation of mucosal T and B cell responses pose unique challenges. Despite these challenges, recent advances in our understanding of the innate immunity and its regulation of adaptive immunity at mucosal sites, are beginning to offer new insights into strategies that result in immune protection at mucosal surfaces. In particular, several recent studies demonstrate that parenteral vaccination with the appropriate adjuvants can induce migration of antigen-specific T and B lymphocytes to mucosal sites. These advances promise to accelerate the development and testing of new mucosal vaccines against many diseases including HIV/AIDS. Most infectious agents that infect humans do so via mucosal sites, principally the digestive, respiratory and genitourinary tracts. Immune defenses at mucosal surfaces therefore constitute a very vital part of the overall protective responses against these invading pathogens. Vaccines that are administered via the oral routes most proficiently induce the mucosal immune responses. In contrast, parenterally administered vaccines are generally poor inducers of mucosal immunity and are therefore less efficient against infections originating at mucosal surfaces (Rajesh Ravindran and Bali Pulendran). However, only a few mucosal vaccines have been approved for human use (Table 1, Rajesh Ravindran and Bali Pulendran)). However, progress in research aimed at understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the mucosal system is presently accelerating, allowing us to design innovative strategies for the development of mucosal vaccines.
Further reading: Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies