Papers by Daaimah LaVigne
Mucosal …, Jan 1, 2010
Mucosal immunization may be important for protection against pathogens whose transmission and pat... more Mucosal immunization may be important for protection against pathogens whose transmission and pathogenesis target mucosal tissue. The capsid proteins of human papillomavirus (HPV) confer tropism for basal epithelium and can encapsidate DNA during self-assembly to form pseudovirions (PsV). Therefore, we produced mucosal vaccine vectors by HPV PsV-encapsidation of DNA plasmids expressing an experimental antigen derived from the M and M2 proteins of respiratory syncytial virus. Intravaginal (IVag) delivery elicited local and systemic M/M2-specific CD8+ T-cell and antibody responses in mice comparable to a 10,000-fold higher dose of naked DNA. A single HPV PsV IVag immunization primed for M/M2-specific-IgA in nasal and vaginal secretions. Based on light emission and immunofluorescent microscopy, immunization with HPV PsV-encapsidated luciferase- and red fluorescent protein (RFP)-expressing plasmids resulted in transient antigen expression (<5 days) restricted to the vaginal epithelium. HPV PsV encapsidation of plasmid DNA is a novel strategy for mucosal immunization that may provide new vaccine options for selected mucosal pathogens.
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Papers by Daaimah LaVigne