Genital antibody response to a parenteral gonococcal pilus vaccine

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Abstract
A parenteral gonococcal pilus vaccine which has previously been shown to be safe and antigenic also results in the production of specific local genital antibody. All 3 major antibody classes were present in the local secretions, but IgA predominanted, a portion of which is dimeric 11S IgA. This mucosal antibody is also capable of blocking the attachment of gonococci to epithelial (human) cells. The antibody cross-reacted with 5 heterologous pili in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. These results are encouraging and suggest that a gonococcal pilus vaccine may be efficacious in preventing gonorrhea.