Infectious Diseases And Immunity Branch
Division Of Basic And Translational Sciences
Objective:
This initiative will encourage research on the development of new immune modulators and strategies for vaccination against HIV and AIDS-related infections by the oral and nasopharyngeal mucocutaneous routes.
The mucosal tissues of the rectum and vagina are the principle sites of HIV infection. A goal of contemporary medicine is to control HIV infection at these surfaces through immunization with key antigens that induce a robust anti-HIV antibody and cell mediated immune response. However, development of mucosal vaccines at those sites has been hampered by lack of accessibility and inability to mount an effective response. Mucosal immunologists have found that all mucosal tissues appear to be linked to a global mucosal system in which immunization at one site confers protection at other mucosal sites. Recent research suggests that oral and nasopharyngeal vaccines may elicit significant mucosal antibody responses at other mucosal sites. Thus, the oral/craniofacial region may serve as an accessible portal for an HIV vaccine.
To develop an oral mucosal vaccine, many problems still need to be addressed. For example, antigens delivered by mucosal routes are typically poor immunogens and are often quickly degraded. A variety of immunomodulatory molecules, adjuvants, and delivery systems may be needed to enhance the protective nature of the mucosal immune response. Also, the HIV antigen used to vaccinate might need to be customized for oral delivery. More basic, translational and clinical research is required.
Oral vaccination has proven to be a safe, easy, and cost-effective means of controlling other viral and bacterial diseases, but has not yet been effectively exploited against HIV and AIDS-related opportunistic infections. This initiative will capitalize on the advances being made in mucosal immunology to develop ways to immunologically block HIV and opportunistic pathogen infections. This initiative will likely employ a RFA for R01, R21 and R03 grant applications.
This initiative meets the tentative research agenda outlined by the NIH Office of AIDS Research for FY2004.