Efficacy of soybean-based vaccines using a model antigen

描述（由申请人提供）：刺激胃肠道粘膜免疫反应的疫苗将是有利的，因为这种配方可以在病原体进入的部位提供免疫。可食用疫苗受到了广泛关注，因为从理论上讲，它们是一种能够刺激胃肠道免疫反应的疫苗来源，生产成本低，管理安全，并且是一种高度稳定的形式，可以运往世界各地。不幸的是，在试图将这种潜力变为现实时，仍然存在许多实际问题。在这里进行的研究将直接解决该技术在大豆中开发可食用亚单位疫苗所面临的一些最重要的挑战，这些疫苗可以应用于新型人类胃肠道疫苗的配方。我们建议使用一种模型抗原，大肠杆菌FanC，这样就可以解决关于当这种可食用疫苗与口服佐剂结合时所诱导的体液和细胞介导的胃肠道反应的保护性质的明确问题。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Vaccines that stimulate mucosal immune responses of the gastrointestinal tract would be advantageous since such formulations would provide immunity at the site of pathogen entry. Edible vaccines have received much attention since, in theory, they represent a source of vaccine that would stimulate immune responses of the gastrointestinal tract, be cost-effective to produce, safe to administer, and a highly stable form for shipment throughout the world. Unfortunately, there are many practical problems that remain when trying to reduce such potential into reality. Studies to be conducted here will directly address some of the most important challenges that face this technology for developing edible subunit vaccines in soybeans which could be applied to the formulation of novel human gastrointestinal vaccines. We propose the use of a model antigen, E. coli FanC, so that definitive questions can be addressed regarding the protective nature of the humoral and cell mediated gastrointestinal response induced when this edible vaccine is coupled with an oral adjuvant. Expression of the model antigen, E. coli FanC, in transgenic soybeans will be used to provide practical information regarding the utility of edible subunit vaccines. Following oral immunization with FanC expressed in transgenic soybeans coupled with an oral adjuvant, the humoral and cellular immune response will be defined at mucosal and systemic sites. In addition, the ability of this vaccine formulation to protect mice against a challenge with enterotoxigenic E. coli will also be determined. Finally, novel formulations of this edible vaccine will be investigated for their potential to stimulate gastrointestinal immunity. Despite the promise of plant based vaccines as a low cost method for stimulating gastrointestinal immunity, significant questions still remain about the feasibility of developing such methods for immunizing humans. The present proposal focuses on the practicality of using edible subunit vaccines for oral immunization.