An intranasal subunit vaccine induces protective systemic and mucosal antibody immunity against respiratory viruses in mouse models
Abstract
Abstract Although vaccines are usually given intramuscularly, the intranasal delivery route may lead to better mucosal protection and limit the spread of respiratory virus while easing administration and improving vaccine acceptance. The challenge, however, is to achieve delivery across the selective epithelial cell barrier. Here we report on a subunit vaccine platform, in which the antigen is genetically fused to albumin to facilitate FcRn-mediated transport across the mucosal barrier in the presence of adjuvant. Intranasal delivery in conventional and transgenic mouse models induces both systemic and mucosal antigen-specific antibody responses that protect against challenge with SARS-CoV-2 or influenza A. When benchmarked against an intramuscularly administered mRNA vaccine or an intranasally administered antigen fused to an alternative carrier of similar size, only the albumin-based intranasal vaccine yields robust mucosal IgA antibody responses. Our results thus suggest that this needle-free, albumin-based vaccine platform may be suited for vaccination against respiratory pathogens.
Article Details
Authors (32)
Aina Karen Anthi
Anette Kolderup
Eline Benno Vaage
Malin Bern
Sopisa Benjakul
Elias Tjärnhage
Fulgencio Ruso-Julve
Kjell-Rune Jensen
Heidrun Elisabeth Lode
Marina Vaysburd
Jeannette Nilsen
Marie Leangen Herigstad
Siri Aastedatter Sakya
Lisa Tietze
Diego Pilati
Mari Nyquist-Andersen
Mirjam Dürkoop
Torleif Tollefsrud Gjølberg
Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet
Linghang Peng
Stian Foss
Morten C. Moe
Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo
Benjamin E. Low
Michael V. Wiles
David Nemazee
Frode L. Jahnsen
John Torgils Vaage
Kenneth A. Howard
Inger Sandlie
Leo C. James
Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Gunnveig Grødeland
Fridtjof Lund-Johansen
Jan Terje Andersen