ORAL VACCINATION WITH ALGINATE MICROSPHERE SYSTEMS

Oral vaccination is a simple, efficient way of inducing immunity at mu cosal surfaces. The slow development of oral vaccines has been mainly due to the lack of suitable delivery systems. We have used hydrogel mi crospheres to deliver various vaccines to several animal species by or al administration. Oral delivery of vaccines using alginate microspher es elicited the production of secretory IgA (sIgA) at the mucosal surf aces in mice, rabbits, and cattle. Oral vaccination of chicken resulte d in an increased delayed-type hypersensitivity, a cell-mediated immun e response, indicating a positive response to the vaccine. Our studies have clearly shown that alginate microspheres are effective for the o ral administration of vaccines.