Research on oral vaccine systems using lactic acid bacteria as vectors

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16649
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 49050:Bacteriology-related
• Research Institution: Gifu Pharmaceutical University
• Principal Investigator: TAKAHASHI Keita 岐阜薬科大学, 薬学部, 講師 (50634929)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 粘膜ワクチン / 乳酸菌 / DNAワクチン / 細菌様粒子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we conducted basic research related to the development of a novel oral vaccine system using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as a vaccine carrier. The oral (or nasal) immunogenicity of three different systems, including 1) vaccine antigen-expressing LAB, 2) antigen-bound bacterium-like particles (BLP) which is composed of the cell wall peptidoglycan structure of heat-killed LAB, 3) LAB carrying plasmid DNA that functions as a DNA vaccine, was evaluated in mice. No strong immunogenicity was observed by oral administration in any of the systems, but significant immunogenicity was observed by nasal administration. Among these, the nasal administration of antigen-bound BLP induces a strongest antigen-specific immune responses not only to the systemic but also to the respiratory and the intestinal mucosa.

Free Research Field

ワクチン学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

粘膜ワクチンは、粘膜組織を介して感染する病原体に対するワクチンとして理想的な系である。本研究は、乳酸菌を利用した安全かつ汎用性の高い粘膜ワクチン系の基盤技術の開発という学術的意義を持つ。本研究成果をさらに発展させ、多様な病原体に対する粘膜ワクチン開発に応用することで、様々な感染症対策に寄与できると考えられる。