Oral immunization with a synthetic peptide of cholera toxin B subunit

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Abstract
The ability of free synthetic fragments of the cholera toxin (CT), administered by parenteral or oral route, without adjuvant, to induce antibodies cross-reacting with CT was tested. Two peptides corresponding to the sequences 30–50 and 50–75 of the CT β chain were selected and synthesized. Both free peptides, given intraperitoneally or orally, without adjuvant, elicited seric antibodies cross-reacting with CT. The anti-(P50–75) antibodies were able to neutralize the CT activity. Our results show that protection against a toxin at the systemic level can be obtained with a synthetic peptide even when administered by an oral route.