Potent, long lasting systemic antibody levels and mixed Th1/Th2 immune response after nasal immunization with malaria antigen loaded PLGA microparticles

• Published in: Vaccine 2004-03, Vol.22 (11), p.1423-1432
• Main Authors: Carcaboso, A.M, Hernández, R.M, Igartua, M, Rosas, J.E, Patarroyo, M.E, Pedraz, J.L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan - analysis; Antibodies, Protozoan - immunology; Antigens, Protozoan - administration & dosage; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; Applied microbiology; Aqueous solutions; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical trials; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human protozoal diseases; Immune response; Immune system; Immunity, Cellular - immunology; Immunization; Immunogenicity; Immunoglobulin E - analysis; Immunoglobulin E - biosynthesis; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Immunoglobulin G - biosynthesis; Infectious diseases; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Lactic Acid; Malaria; Malaria Vaccines - administration & dosage; Malaria Vaccines - immunology; Medical research; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microbiology; Microparticles; Microspheres; Nasal vaccine; Parasitic diseases; Particle Size; Peptides; Polyglycolic Acid; Polymers; Protozoal diseases; SPf66; Studies; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th2 Cells - immunology; Tropical diseases; Vaccines; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Vector-borne diseases
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2003.10.020

The immunogenicity of the synthetic malaria vaccine SPf66 has been recently improved by the application of new adjuvants as QS-21 saponin or poly- d, l-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) polymers. The search for less invasive administration routes made us test the immunogenicity of SPf66-loaded microparticles by the nasal route in Balb/c mice. We report here that the intranasal administration of the adequate PLGA vaccine formulations greatly improves and maintains higher antibody levels compared to the conventional alum adjuvant and to the administration of the particles by other routes (subcutaneous, oral). Systemic immune responses were characterized as mixed Th1/Th2-type: IFN-γ and IgG2a isotype were found as signs of Th1 activation, whilst IgE and IgG1 secretions indicate Th2 response. Since both types of response have been associated to protective immunity in malaria, we postulate that this new approach supposes an advantage over the traditional adjuvants and routes.