Efficient immune responses against Intimin and EspB of enterohaernorragic Escherichia coli after intranasal vaccination using the TLR2/6 agonist MALP-2 as adjuvant

Mucosal vaccine formulations based on purified recombinant C-280 gamma-Intimin and Esp13 (Escherichia coli secreted protein B) from enterohaemorragic E. coli co-administered with a pegylated derivative of the TLR2/6 agonist MALP-2 (macrophage-activating lipopeptide) as adjuvant were evaluated in BALB/c mice. After intranasal vaccination, strong humoral and cellular immune responses were observed against C280 gamma-Intimin and EspB. Sera of immunized mice inhibit bacterial haemolytic activity in vitro. Antigen-specific T-cell proliferation, 11-4, IL-2 and IFN-gamma producing cells, and secretory IgA were mostly detected in animals receiving MALP-2 as adjuvant. These results suggest that C280 gamma-Intimin and Esp13 are good candidate antigens to be incorporated into mucosal vaccines against this important pathogen. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.