Transcutaneous delivery of tetanus toxin Hc fragment induces superior tetanus toxin neutralizing antibody response compared to tetanus toxoid

Hum Vaccin. 2009 Apr;5(4):230-6. doi: 10.4161/hv.5.4.6877. Epub 2009 Apr 28.

Abstract

Transcutaneous immunization is a promising vaccination delivery strategy which targets potent immune cells residing in the outer layer of the skin. In this study, the immunogenicity and neutralizing potency of the non-toxic Hc fragment of tetanus toxin (HcWT) and a mutant of Hc lacking ganglioside binding activity were compared with that of tetanus toxoid (TTxd) following transcutaneous immunization (TCI) of mice. Mice immunized with HcWT in the absence of an adjuvant induced highest anti-toxoid and anti-Hc antibody titres, with a significant increase in the toxin neutralizing antibody response compared with TTxd. These results are in contrast to previous studies employing subcutaneous delivery, where TTxd was found to be a more potent immunogen than the Hc fragment of the toxin. We conclude that the HcWT protein is more immunogenic than TTxd when given via the transcutaneous route. Our results suggest that TCI may provide an opportunity for effective delivery of toxin-like antigens which harbor protective epitopes and that traditional toxoid proteins may not be optimal antigens for skin immunization.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Animals
  • Antitoxins / blood*
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage*
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology*
  • Tetanus Toxin / administration & dosage
  • Tetanus Toxin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tetanus Toxin / immunology*
  • Tetanus Toxoid / administration & dosage*
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology*

Substances

  • Antitoxins
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Tetanus Toxin
  • Tetanus Toxoid
  • tetanus toxin fragment C