Oral and intraperitoneal immunization with rotavirus 2/6 virus-like particles stimulates a systemic and mucosal immune response in mice

Summary.

We examined the use of a virus-like particle (VLP) as an immunogen by analysing the IgA and IgG response generated in serum, intestinal (fecal), pulmonary and uterine samples. The particle comprised two rotavirus capsid proteins (simian VP2 and murine VP6) generated using recombinant baculovirus expression of the two capsid proteins, which self-assembled into particulate VLP2/6. Mice were immunized orally or intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 0 or 100 µg VLP2/6 with or without 5 µg cholera toxin adjuvant. The results showed a systemic and mucosal immune response to VLP2/6 when administered i.p. and, to a lesser extent, when delivered orally which was not dependant on adjuvant use and further proves the concept of VLP2/6 as an effective immunogen.