Proteosomes, emulsomes, and cholera toxin B improve nasal immunogenicity of human immunodeficiency virus gp160 in mice: induction of serum, intestinal, vaginal, and lung IgA and IgG.

Intranasal immunization of mice with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rgp160 complexed to proteosomes improved anti-gp160 serum IgA and IgG titers, increased the number of gp160 peptides recognized, and stimulated anti-gp160 intestinal IgA compared with immunization with uncomplexed rgp160 in saline. These enhanced responses were especially evident when either a bioadhesive nanoemulsion (emulsomes) or cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) was added to the proteosome-rgp160 vaccine. Furthermore, anti-gp160 IgG and IgA in vaginal secretions and fecal extracts were induced after intranasal immunization with proteosome-rgp160 delivered either in saline or with emulsomes. Formulation of uncomplexed rgp160 with emulsomes or CTB also enhanced serum and selected mucosal IgA responses. Induction of serum, vaginal, bronchial, intestinal, and fecal IgA and IgG by intranasal proteosome-rgp160 vaccines delivered in saline or with emulsomes or CTB is encouraging for mucosal vaccine development to help control the spread of HIV transmission and AIDS.