NOVEL DELIVERY AGENTS FOR MUCOSAL IMMUNIZATION

Soluble, low molecular weight delivery agents provide a novel approach to the mucosal delivery of antigens. These compounds are easily synth esized by conventional chemical methods, and may be dissolved directly in an antigen solution/suspension for convenient administration. Prel iminary screening studies are described in which antigen-specific secr etory IgA (fecal and salivary) and systemic responses (circulating ant i-ovalbumin isotypes and antigen-specific delayed-type hypersensitivit y) were induced by dosing ovalbumin together with various delivery age nts with orally or colonically. The data suggest that delivery agents facilitate transport of antigenically intact ovalbumin through the muc osa of both the upper and lower gastro-intestinal tracts. The possible mechanism of action and potential applications are discussed.