Sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) enter the body through the mucosal epithelial cells and the ability to direct pathogen-clearing T-cells to points of infection may be the critical element in developing successful vaccines against these infections. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation , researchers led by John Schiller at the National Cancer Institute investigated the immune response to intravaginal immunization in mice infected with a form of the HPV virus carrying a model antigen. They found that intravaginal immunization significantly increased the number of immune cells present in the vaginal mucosa compared with a general immune system booster. These results indicate that site-specific vaccination enhances the local immune system response and may be useful in developing STD vaccines.
TITLE:
Intravaginal immunization with HPV vectors induces tissue-resident CD8+ T cells
AUTHOR CONTACT:
John Schiller
National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
Phone: 301-594-2715; Fax: 301-480-5322; E-mail: schillej@dc37a.nci.nih.gov
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/63287?key=95b0c2a37738d68fcd61
Journal of Clinical Investigation