Intranasal immunisation with influenza-ISCOM induces strong mucosal as well as systemic antibody and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses

Intranasal administration of vaccines is preferred for induction of mucosal immune responses. In this study, mice were immunised intranasally and subcutaneously with influenza-immune stimulating complexes (influenza-ISCOM), The intranasal dose was 15-times the subcutaneous dose. All mice dosed with influenza-ISCOMs survived challenge with live virus and comparable serum antibody and splenic cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses were detected in both groups. Induction of mucosal IEA was significantly higher with intranasal immunisation and was comparable to responses induced with the heat labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli as adjuvant. These findings demonstrate that intranasal administration of high dose influenza-ISCOM results in potent systemic and mucosal immune responses. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.