PROTECTION AGAINST MEASLES VIRUS-INDUCED ENCEPHALITIS BY ANTIBODIES FROM MICE IMMUNIZED INTRANASALLY WITH A SYNTHETIC PEPTIDE IMMUNOGEN

Balb/c mice were immunized intranasally (i.n.) with a chimeric synthet ic peptide containing two copies of a T-and one copy of a B-cell epito pe (TTB) from measles virus (MV) fusion protein, plus cholera toxin B (CTB) adjuvant, The antibodies induced cross-reacted with, and neutral ized MV and on passive transfer protected mice against encephalitis in duced by neuroadapated MV. Immunization with TTB alone induced antibod ies which increased survival but not significantly compared to control s. Furthermore, in. immunization with TTB plus CTB induced TTB-specifi c IgA antibodies in saliva and nasal washes. Co-administration of CTB increased the affinity of antibodies to the B-cell epitope of TTB and caused a relative increase in the level of anti-peptide antibodies of the IgG2a subclass and the overall titre of Ige antibodies, These resu lts indicate the potential of the in. route for immunization with synt hetic peptide immunogens for induction of both local and systemic anti -peptide antibody responses. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.