We have recently shown that a potential virulence factor from Porphyromonas gingivalis , a putative pathogen in periodontal disease, can be expressed in an intact and biologically active form in S. typhimurium vaccine strains. We can induce strong serum IgG and IgA responses to this antigen as well as mucosal IgA responses in saliva, gut and vaginal secretions. We have also shown strong secondary responses using the same vaccine construct. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the capacity to induce long-term immunological memory. Immune responses, as well as the capacity to mount a recall response persist for at least one year in mice, which represents half of their lifespan.
Many questions remain concerning the basic immunology of live oral vectors.
Factors such as recombinant gene expression level and cellular localization can affect the characteristics of the immune response. The ability to control the characteristics of the immune response, the immunogenicity of the foreign antigen and the induction of long-term memory are all desirable goals for the design of any vaccine. These studies will aid in our understanding of the effects of vaccine parameters on immunogenicity, the pattern of the immune response and factors which affect induction of long term memory and recall. The effects of vaccine parameters on immunogenicity, the pattern of the immune response and studies of factors which affect induction of long-term memory and recall. Possible Research Projects Effect of vaccine parameters on the magnitude, duration, antibody isotype distribution and T helper cell profile of the immune response Improving the immunogenicity of vaccine constructs Enhancement of immunological memory Representative Publications Dusek, D.M., A. Progulske-Fox, J. Whitlock and T.A. Brown.