Mucosal Immune Response to an HIV C4/V3 Peptide Following Nasal or Intestinal Immunization of Rabbits

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Abstract
The HIV env-encoded synthetic peptide T1-SP10MN(A) contains immunodominant epitopes of the C4/V3 regions of Kp120. The mucosal immunogenicity of this peptide in various vaccine preparations was first tested in rabbits using chronically isolated Thiry-Vella (T-V) ileal loops. Intestinal and serum samples collected from rabbits immunized via T-V loops demonstrated secretory IgA (S-IgA) and IgG anti-T1-SP10MN(A), respectively, when assayed by ELISA. Intranasal delivery of the peptide supplemented with cholera toxin (CT) resulted in serum IgG and S-IgA anti-T1-SP10MN(A) in vaginal and nasal secretions. This study further demonstrates the utility of rabbits as a convenient animal model for HIV vaccine research and the relationship between nasal immunization and vaginal immunity.