Pulmonary delivery of ISCOMATRIX influenza vaccine induces both systemic and mucosal immunity with antigen dose sparing

Using a large animal model, we evaluated whether delivery of influenza vaccine via its mucosal site of infection could improve vaccine effectiveness. Unexpectedly, pulmonary immunization with extremely low antigen doses (0.04 mu g influenza) induced serum antibody levels equivalent to those resulting from a current human vaccine equivalent (15 mu g unadjuvanted influenza, subcutaneously) and vastly superior lung mucosal antibodies. Induction of this potent response following lung vaccination was dependent on addition of ISCOMATRIX adjuvant and deep lung delivery. Functional antibody activity, marked by hemagglutination inhibition, was only present in the lungs of animals that received adjuvanted vaccine via the lungs, suggesting this approach could potentially translate to improved protection. The 375-fold reduction in antigen dose and improved mucosal antibody responses, compared to the current vaccine, suggests that mucosal delivery via the pulmonary route may be particularly relevant in the event of an influenza pandemic, when vaccine supplies are unlikely to meet demand.