Ma. Suckow et al., STIMULATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL ANTIBODY TO SHIGA TOXIN BY OROGASTRICIMMUNIZATION IN MICE, Immunology and cell biology, 72(1), 1994, pp. 69-74
Shiga toxin (ST) is a protein toxin of Shigella dysenteriae type 1, a
causative agent of severe diarrhoea and dysentery. In this report we d
escribe the gastrointestinal secretory antibody response of mice follo
wing orogastric immunization with ST. Gastrointestinal secretions were
sampled by a gastrointestinal lavage technique weekly for 5 weeks aft
er initial immunization. Assay of lavage samples by ELISA showed that
mice vaccinated orogastrically with various doses of ST developed gast
rointestinal antibody to ST in a dose-dependent manner. Serum anti-ST
activity developed by 5 weeks after initial immunization. The ability
of ST to act as a mucosal immune adjuvant was investigated by coadmini
stration of ST and keyhole limpet haemocyanin. In contrast to cholera
toxin, a potent adjuvant, ST did not demonstrate adjuvant activity. Th
e mouse gastrointestinal lavage model could be useful for further anal
ysis of the cellular basis of ST immunogenicity.