DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND ADJUVANTS FOR VACCINATION AGAINST HIV

Epidemiologic studies have revealed that HIV-1 infections occur throug h contact with contaminated blood or during unprotected vaginal or ana l intercourse. Hence, to protect against HIV infection, vaccines shoul d induce both mucosal and systemic immune responses. We present a brie f review of the different delivery systems and adjuvants which can be used to elicit mucosal immune responses. Oral or nasal administration of recombinant Salmonella vaccines can induce both mucosal and systemi c immune responses against the carried antigen. The oral delivery of m ucosal adjuvants (such as cholera toxin) in association with antigens has been shown to enhance mucosal and systemic immune responses agains t them. Recently developed vaccination strategies using naked DNA or r ecombinant adenovirus are also discussed.