The Immune Responses and Protective Efficacy of the Skinner Herpes Simplex Virus Vaccine Administered by Oral and Nasal Routes in Liposomes

Abstract

The serum and mucosal response in female guinea pigs vaccinated non-parenterally with the Skinner Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) vaccine, was investigated. We compared the abilities of liposome – incorporated vaccine delivered orally/nasally in inducing an immune response and reducing the severity of herpes infection to the subcutaneously delivered antigen. Our results show that nasal delivery for the vaccine entrapped in distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) liposomes resulted in a significant (P< 0.05) increase in levels of serum antibodies and also provided a substantial (P< 0.01) protection against intravaginal HSV infection compared to non-immunized infected-only animals. Liposome – incorporated antigen when orally administered only moderately increased serum antibody levels and gave no significant remission of the disease when compared to the infected only group. The nasal delivery gave similar results to those achieved via the parenteral route. Apparently no specific sIgA to HSV was stimulated in the vaccinated or non-vaccinated control animals after intravaginal challenge with HSV-2. However, the nasal delivery of liposomal vaccine showed significantly higher non-specific sIgA levels compared to equivalent free vaccine delivery.