Enhanced immune responses by skin vaccination with influenza subunit vaccine in young hosts

Abstract

Skin has gained substantial attention as a vaccine target organ due to its immunological properties, which include a high density of professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this vaccination route not only in animal models but also in adults. Young children represent a population group that is at high risk from influenza infection. As a result, this group could benefit significantly from influenza vaccine delivery approaches through the skin and the improved immune response it can induce. In this study, we compared the immune responses in young BALB/c mice upon skin delivery of influenza vaccine with vaccination by the conventional intramuscular route. Young mice that received 5μg of H1N1 A/Ca/07/09 influenza subunit vaccine using MN demonstrated an improved serum antibody response (IgG1 and IgG2a) when compared to the young IM group, accompanied by higher numbers of influenza-specific antibody secreting cells (ASCs) in the bone marrow. In addition, we observed increased activation of follicular helper T cells and formation of germinal centers in the regional lymph nodes in the MN immunized group, rapid clearance of the virus from their lungs as well as complete survival, compared with partial protection observed in the IM-vaccinated group. Our results support the hypothesis that influenza vaccine delivery through the skin would be beneficial for protecting the high-risk young population from influenza infection.

Tetanus vaccination with a dissolving microneedle patch confers protective immune responses in pregnancy

“…These data suggest that this enhanced response may be partly attributed to passively transferred maternal antibodies and partly to the developing immune system of the offspring. They also agree with a recent report from our group showing that young mice vaccinated with influenzacoated metal MNPs had improved IgG2a responses compared to IM vaccinated animals [57].…”

Co-delivery of GPI-anchored CCL28 and influenza HA in chimeric virus-like particles induces cross-protective immunity against H3N2 viruses

“…The HAI assay was performed as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (44). In brief, sera and mucosal washes were treated with receptor destroying enzyme (RDE, Denka Seiken; Tokyo, Japan) overnight at 37 °C followed by RDE inactivation by incubating samples at 57 °C for 30 min.…”

A boosting skin vaccination with dissolving microneedle patch encapsulating M2e vaccine broadens the protective efficacy of conventional influenza vaccines

“…MNs were fabricated using biodegradable, polymer-encapsulated influenza vaccines and designed for penetration and dissolution into skin within several minutes (6). Many studies have demonstrated that delivery of influenza vaccines through skin by using various types of MNs generates enhanced immune responses and improves protective efficacy against viral infection when compared to conventional intramuscular injection (6, 7). In addition to enhanced immunogenicity, MN administration has been shown to be painless, skin lesion-free, and could be well accepted by healthcare providers and even handled by patients themselves (6, 8, 9).…”