Nasal Vaccine Protects Against Pneumonia

A study has shown that mice vaccinated with an intranasal treatment had a 75% survival rate compared to 0% in those mice not vaccinated. The findings were reported in the August 2003 issue of Infection and Immunity.

In the study, the mice were immunized intranasally with interleukin-12 to enhance immune response and were then challenged with varying strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common cause of bacterial pneumonia. In addition to showing a higher survival rate, the mice also showed fewer bacterial colonies in the upper respiratory tract. Current intramuscular immunizations are effective in fighting the disease, noted the researchers, but their ability to protect against bacteria in the nasal passages is only 50-60%.

"The nasal mucosa is the first point of contact for inhaled antigens, and as a consequence, intranasal immunization has emerged as potentially the most effective route of vaccination for both peripheral and mucosal immunity,” observed the researchers. "Intranasal vaccination may be a new approach that could be combined with standard vaccination strategies to give optimal protection both systemically and at mucosal surfaces.”

The study was conducted by researchers from Albany Medical College (NY, USA) and the University of Alabama, Birmingham (USA).





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