Stable incorporation of GM-CSF into dissolvable microneedle patch improves skin vaccination against influenza.

ABSTRACT: The widely used influenza subunit vaccine would benefit from increased protection rates in vulnerable populations. Skin immunization by microneedle (MN) patch can increase vaccine immunogenicity, as well as increase vaccination coverage due to simplified administration. To further increase immunogenicity, we used granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), an immunomodulatory cytokine already approved for skin cancer therapy and cancer support treatment. GM-CSF has been shown to be upregulated in skin following MN insertion. The GM-CSF-adjuvanted vaccine induced robust and long-lived antibody responses cross-reactive to homosubtypic and heterosubtypic influenza viruses. Addition of GM-CSF resulted in increased memory B cell persistence relative to groups given influenza vacc

SUBMITTER: Littauer EQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5967648 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature