Humoral, mucosal, and cellular immune responses to oral Norwalk virus-like particles in volunteers

Clin Immunol. 2003 Sep;108(3):241-7. doi: 10.1016/s1521-6616(03)00120-7.

Abstract

Norwalk virus-like particles (VLPs), made from recombinant capsid protein, are a promising vaccine. Thirty-six healthy adult volunteers received 250 microg (n = 10), 500 microg (n = 10), or 2000 microg (n = 10) of orally administered VLP or placebo (n = 6). All vaccinees developed significant rises in IgA anti-VLP antibody-secreting cells. Ninety percent who received 250 microg developed rises in serum anti-VLP IgG; neither the rates of seroconversion nor geometric mean titers increased at the higher doses. About 30-40% of volunteers developed mucosal anti-VLP IgA. Lymphoproliferative responses and IFN-gamma production were observed transiently among those who received 250 microg or 500 microg but not 2000 microg of VLP. Studies to increase immunogenicity using a mucosal adjuvant are planned.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Caliciviridae Infections / blood
  • Caliciviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Capsid / immunology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Immunity, Mucosal
  • Immunization*
  • Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / analysis
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Male
  • Norwalk virus / immunology*
  • Saliva / immunology
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vagina / immunology
  • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin A, Secretory
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Vaccines
  • Interferon-gamma