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Vaginal Delivery of Subunit Vaccines

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Subunit Vaccine Delivery

Part of the book series: Advances in Delivery Science and Technology ((ADST))

Abstract

Subunit vaccines are designed to stimulate specific immunity against pathogens. The vagina has a rich vascular plexus and a large surface area due to the folds in the mucosa (rugae) making it ideal for absorbing drugs. Mucosal immune responses in the genital tract can be induced by the administration of antigen to distal or local mucosal surfaces. IgA antibodies in the vaginal tract are essential as a first-line defence against micro-organisms that enter the body via mucosal surfaces. Immune responses of various types stimulated by subunit vaccines administered vaginally have been investigated. Both vaginal and serum IgA and IgG levels have been enhanced following administration of subunit vaccines from various drug delivery systems. Studies comparing immunization at the female genital tract by delivering plasmid DNA intranasally, intrarectally and vaginally demonstrate that vaginal immunization induces better mucosal immunity. Professional antigen-presenting cells (e.g. dendritic cells), T-cells and B-cells populate the cervix and vagina of the human and murine female genital tract, indicating the potential for stimulation of mucosal immunity.

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Acknowledgments

The author gratefully acknowledges Damien Lowry for providing Fig. 17.2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aston Pharmacy School, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, UK

    Deborah Lowry

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  1. Deborah Lowry
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Correspondence to Deborah Lowry .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Camilla Foged

  2. University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Thomas Rades

  3. Pharmacy School, Aston University, School of Life and Health Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Yvonne Perrie

  4. Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, School of Pharmacy, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Sarah Hook

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Lowry, D. (2015). Vaginal Delivery of Subunit Vaccines. In: Foged, C., Rades, T., Perrie, Y., Hook, S. (eds) Subunit Vaccine Delivery. Advances in Delivery Science and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1417-3_17

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