Assessment of mucosal immune response in genitourinary tract using urine

A novel method to assess mucosal immune response in the genitourinary mucos a after immunization with a mucosal vaccine has been developed. In this met hod, secretory IgA antibody is measured by a highly sensitive enzyme immuno assay (immune-complex transfer enzyme immunoassay) using urine as a specime n. The urinary IgA antibody response could be detected by the immune-comple x transfer enzyme immunoassay, In contrast, a conventional enzyme immunoass ay (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)) could not detect this respon se because of its low sensitivity. Because urine samples can be collected e asily and nontraumatically, not only from experimental animals but also fro m humans, both males and females, the present method may be applicable for assessing the protective efficacy of candidates for mucosal vaccines agains t sexually transmitted microorganisms, such as human immunodeficiency virus . Furthermore, the usefulness of this method for novel mucosal vaccine form ulae was shown for a model in which vaccine antigen and Bordetella pertussi s adjuvant were adsorbed onto CaCO3 and enclosed in enteric coated capsules .