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Transcutaneous immunization: A human vaccine delivery strategy using a patch

Abstract

Transcutaneous immunization, a topical vaccine application, combines the advantages of needle-free delivery while targeting the immunologically rich milieu of the skin. In animal studies, this simple technique induces robust systemic and mucosal antibodies against vaccine antigens. Here, we demonstrate safe application of a patch containing heat-labile enterotoxin (LT, derived from Escherichia coli) to humans, resulting in robust LT-antibody responses. These findings indicate that TCI is feasible for human immunization, and suggest that TCI may enhance efficacy as well as improve vaccine delivery.

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Figure 1: Individual human serum IgG antibody responses to LT.
Figure 2: Individual human mucosal antibodies in response to TCI.
Figure 3: Human skin sections from immunized volunteers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank D. McKinney for clinical support and the Medical Technologies and Practice Patterns Institute for administrative support.

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Correspondence to Gregory M. Glenn.

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Glenn, G., Taylor, D., Li, X. et al. Transcutaneous immunization: A human vaccine delivery strategy using a patch. Nat Med 6, 1403–1406 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/82225

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