NASAL IMMUNIZATION OF HUMANS WITH DEHYDRATED LIPOSOMES CONTAINING STREPTOCOCCUS-MUTANS ANTIGEN

Five healthy female adult volunteers were intranasally immunized twice (7-day interval) with 250 mu g of a crude glucosyltransferase (GTF) p reparation from Streptococcus mutans in liposomes. Parotid saliva, nas al wash, and serum were collected prior to and at weekly intervals for 6 weeks following the first immunization for-analysis of anti-GTF act ivity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of IgA1 anti-GT F activity increased in the nasal wash from all five individuals after immunization. Increases in salivary IgA1 and IgA2 anti-GTF activities were observed to a lesser extent. Increased serum IgM and IgA (but no t IgG) anti-GTF activities were seen in immunized subjects. Nasal immu nization with a dehydrated liposome-protein vaccine was effective in i nducing an apparent secretory IgA antibody response, which was primari ly of the IgA1 subclass. These results provide the first evidence of t he effective use of a nasal liposome-protein vaccine in humans.