ESCHERICHIA-COLI HEAT-LABILE ENTEROTOXIN-B SUBUNITS SUPPLEMENTED WITH A TRACE AMOUNT OF THE HOLOTOXIN AS AN ADJUVANT FOR NASAL INFLUENZA VACCINE

Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) (2 mu g), supplemented with a trace amount of the holotoxin (LT) (0.02-20 ng), was examined for the adjuvant effect on antibody (Ab) responses against influenza inactivated haemagglutinin (HA) vaccine in Balb/c mice. Each mouse received a primary intranasal (i.n.) inoculation with the vaccine (1.5 mu g), prepared from PR8 (H1N1) virus, together with LT-containing LTB and in 4 weeks a second i.n. inoculation of the vaccine alone. The inoculation of the vaccine with the LT-containing LTB induced significantly high primary and secondary anti-HA IgA and IgG Ab responses in the nasal wash and the serum, while the vaccine with LTB or less than 2 ng of LT induced little response. The synergistic adjuvant effect was maximal in the concentration of LTB supplemented with 0.2-2 ng of LT. Under these conditions, the augmented IgA and IgG Ab responses, which are cross-protective to PR8 HA molecules, provided complete cross-protection against PR8 virus challenge in mice immunized with heterologous vaccine within the same subtype. These results suggest that LTB containing a trace amount of LT can be used as a potent adjuvant for nasal vaccination of humans against influenza.