Equine Encephalitis: Biodegradable Vaccine Microspheres For Systemic And Mucosal Immunization

Life Sciences & Biotechnology Update, Feb, 2001

This (University of Alabama) study shows that: (1) pulse-release microsphere vaccines, consisting of antigen and adjuvant, are an effective and efficacious method for inducing protective immune responses; (2) the approach requires less antigen, fewer immunizations, and convenient safe methods for delivery; (3) a single multivalent vaccine will be effective in inducing a protective response against the EE viruses.

The specific aims of the studies are to: (1) determine the effectiveness of microencapsulated EEE and WEE virus compared to VEE virus in potentiating protective immune responses against aerosol and systemic challenge; (2) determine the effectiveness of the adjuvants monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and the B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB) in augmenting protective immune responses induced by microencapsulated antigens; (3) determine if intranasal immunization is as effective as oral or intratracheal in inducing protective immune responses against systemic and aerosol challenge with infectious agents.

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