Plant lectins as mucosal adjuvants

Abstract

The invention provides a method of increasing an immune response in a mammal. The method involves administering to the mammal an admixture comprising an immunogen and a plant lectin. The plant lectin acts as an adjuvant to increase an immune response against the immunogen. The method is especially well-suited for mucosal administration to humans and other mammals.

1 . A method of producing an immune response in a mammal, comprising the step of: 
 administering to a mammal an admixture comprising an immunogen and a plant lectin, whereby the mammal produces an immune response to the immunogen which is greater relative to the immune response to the immunogen produced in the absence of the plant lectin.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the admixture is administered mucosally.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the admixture is administered intranasally.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plant lectin is selected from the group consisting of ML-1, ML-II, ML-III, WGA, and UEA-1.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of a dog, a cat, a mouse, a rat, a rabbit, a guinea pig, a chimpanzee, a baboon, and a human.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the immune response is a T cell response.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the T cell response is a Th2 response.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the T cell response is proliferation of T cells.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the immune response is an antibody response.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the mammal produces an antibody which is selected from the group consisting of IgG and IgA antibodies.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the IgG antibodies are selected from the group consisting of IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the antibodies are detectable in serum.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the antibodies are detectable in a mucosal secretion.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the mucosal secretion is obtained from a mucosa selected from the group consisting of gut mucosa, vaginal mucosa, oral mucosa, and nasal mucosa.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the admixture comprises two or more lectins.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the admixture comprises two or more immunogens.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the immunogen is a protein of an infectious agent.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the infectious agent is a virus.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the immunogen is a glycoprotein D2 protein from a Herpes simplex virus type 2.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the admixture is administered using a nasal spray.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 3  wherein a drop of a liquid containing the admixture is administered.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least two doses of the admixture are administered.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the admixture comprises an immunogen and a plant lectin in a ratio of at least about 1:1.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the ratio is at least about 10:1.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 9  wherein an antibody titer is measured using an ELISA.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the admixture is administered by a method selected from the group consisting of oral administration, intranasal administration, intrarectal administration, vaginal administration, subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection, transdermal injection, and transcutaneous injection.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plant lectin is a type 2 ribosome inactivating protein.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the type 2 ribosome inactivating protein is selected from the group consisting of nigrin b, basic nigrin b, ebulin 1, ebulin r1, ebulin r, ebulin f, nigrin f, SNA1, SNA1′, SNAV, SNAVI, Sambucus nigra SNLRP1, SNLRP2, ricin, Ricinus lectin, Polygonatum RIP, Sieboldin-6, abrin, abrin 11, modeccin, volkensin, SSA, Cinnamonin, porrectin, gelorin, Evanthis hyemalis, RIP, Iris agglutinin, ML-I, ML-II, and ML-III.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the admixture is administered using a microparticle carrier.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the admixture is administered in conjunction with a bioadhesive polymer.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the admixture is in an enteric formulation.