Immunisation schedules for non-replicating nasal vaccines can be made simple by allowing time for development of immunological memory

Vaccine. 2004 Jun 2;22(17-18):2278-84. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2003.11.040.

Abstract

Mice immunised intranasally with multiple doses of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from group B meningococci developed antibody responses that depended on the interval between doses. High levels of antibodies in saliva and extracts of faeces were induced within 4 weeks after an OMV vaccine had been given at weekly intervals, whereas the antibody responses in these samples were negligible when given four times at 1-day or 1-h intervals, or as one large dose. Only modest responses were obtained in serum after 4 weeks, however, whether the vaccine had been given repeatedly at any schedule, including the 1-week interval, or as one dose. On the other hand, two large doses given 8 weeks apart induced booster antibody responses in both serum and secretions that matched the responses from a second series of the four smaller doses. Intranasal immunisations may thus stimulate immunological memory more rapidly in secretions than in serum. In order to secure adequate systemic responses by a minimum of doses, nasal vaccines should therefore be given at intervals longer than 4 weeks, in harmony with the intervals recommended for injectable vaccines.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intranasal
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Feces
  • Female
  • Immunization Schedule*
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology*
  • Saliva / immunology
  • Time Factors
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, Subunit / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Meningococcal Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Subunit