Most currently available vaccines consist of killed or
live-attenuated pathogens delivered by injection. Despite their success in
preventing disease, there are compelling conceptual technical and economical
reasons to seek alternatives. Subunit vaccines that target the mucosal immune
system are considered by many as such alternatives. For example recent
breakthroughs suggest that vaccines can be produced in edible tissues of
transgenic plants which can then be orally immunogenic. However, to be
effective, mucosal subunit vaccines may need to be co-administered together with
an "adjuvant" - a non-specific immunostimulatory agent that would enhance an
immune response.
Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered a
very potent immunostimulatory, orally-active peptide that can be used as an
oral/mucosal adjuvant.
This peptide has been shown to act as a lectin to bind
Galactosyl Ceramide on the surface of mucosal epithelial cells. This peptide
also can functionally neutralize HIV transcytosis through epithelial cells. The
immunogenicity of this peptide has been studied in mice by oral immunization of
the peptide solely or together with cholera toxin B subunit (CTB). Such
administration resulted in significantly higher titers of anti-CTB antibodies as
compared to mice that were given CTB alone. This result is quite remarkable as
it indicates that the peptide could be a novel mucosal adjuvant
Potential Applications
- Vaccines
- Mucosal adjuvant
Benefits and Advantages
- Oral ingestion
- Viable, safe, and effective alternative to injection
- Does not require medically trained
personnel
Download original PDF
For more information about the inventor(s) and their
research, please see
Dr.
Arntzen's directory webpage
Dr.
Arntzen's departmental webpage
Dr. Mor's
departmental webpage
Dr. Mor's laboratory
webpage
