Effect of microencapsulation on immunogenicity of a bovine herpes virus glycoprotein and inactivated influenza virus in mice

We previously found that aqueous-based spermine-alginate or spermine-chondroitin sulfate microcapsules enhanced rotavirus-specific humoral immune responses after intramuscular inoculation of mice. To extend our observations with whole, infectious rotavirus to vaccine strategies which include inactivated virus and purified proteins, we determined the capacity of aqueous-based microcapsules to enhance virus-specific immune responses to bovine herpes virus type 1 glycoprotein D (BHV-1-gD) or ether-treated influenza virus. We found that spermine-alginate microcapsules decreased the quantity of BHV-1-gD necessary to induce protein-specific antibodies about 5000-fold. However, spermine-alginate microcapsules did not enhance influenza virus-specific antibody responses. Microcapsules composed of spermine-chondroitin sulfate did not enhance either BHV-1-gD or influenza virus-specific immune responses. Possible mechanisms of enhancement of virus-specific antibody responses by microencapsulation are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.