Development of vaccines against dengue virus: Use of Lactococcus lactis as a mucosal vaccine delivery vehicle

Abstract

This project aims as a proof-of-principle for Lactococcus lactis to be used as an effective dengue vaccine delivery vehicle through the oral or nasal route. L. lactis is a lactic bacterium whose GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status represents an important advantage for its potential use as a live vehicle in humans. Moreover the use of lactic bacteria for vaccine delivery through the oral or nasal routes represents a very attractive means for poor countries that cannot afford parenteral injections. The dengue antigen E domain III has been selected for this project which had been shown to elicit protection in various vaccine delivery systems. This antigen has been cloned and expressed into the cytoplasm of L. lactis and the recombinant strain has been administered to BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice via the nasal or the oral route. The colonization efficacy and the specific systemic antibody responses have then been analysed.