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Diarrhoeal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and cholera imposing a significant global burden. There is currently no licensed vaccine for ETEC. Development of new nonliving oral vaccines has proven difficult due to the physicochemical and immunological challenges associated with the oral route. This demands innovative delivery solutions to protect antigens, control their release and build in immune-stimulatory activity. We describe the Single Multiple Pill® (SmPill®) vaccine formulation which combines the benefits of enteric polymer coating to protect against low gastric pH, a dispersed phase to control release and aid the solubility of non-polar components and an optimized combination of adjuvant and antigen to promote mucosal immunity. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this system with whole cell killed E. coli overexpressing colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I), JT-49. Alpha-galactosylceramide was identified as a potent adjuvant within SmPill® that enhanced the immunogenicity of JT-49. The bacteria associated with the dispersed phase were retained within the capsules at gastric pH but released at intestinal pH. Vaccination with an optimized SmPill® formulation promoted CFA/I-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses in the intestinal mucosa in addition to serum IgG and a solubilized adjuvant was indispensable for efficacy.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.05.001

Type

Journal article

Journal

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society

Publication Date

07/2016

Volume

233

Pages

162 - 173

Addresses

Adjuvant Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, D02 PN40, Ireland.

Keywords

Intestines, Animals, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli Infections, Diarrhea, Galactosylceramides, Fimbriae Proteins, Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin G, Escherichia coli Vaccines, Adjuvants, Immunologic, Antibodies, Bacterial, Antigens, Bacterial, Capsules, Vaccination, Administration, Oral, Female