FORMATION OF IMMUNE RESPONSE TO RECOMBINANT CtxB PROTEIN FOLLOWING ITS SUBCUTANEOUS AND PERORAL INJECTION

Cholera toxin includes a non-toxic β-subunit (CtxB protein), which interacts with intestinal epithelial cells and leads to the entry of the toxin into the cell eventually. Since the immune response to CtxB is important for defence against cholera, this protein is included in cholera vaccines. In addition, the use of cholera toxin and its β subunit is known to lead to enhanced mucosal immunity to co-administered antigens, thus providing the possibil ity of using CtxB as a mucosal adjuvant. In the present study, the formation of humoral immune response to the previously obtained recombinant CtxB protein was evaluated in the model of BALB/c mice. It was shown that immunisation with CtxB leads to the formation of antibodies following both oral and subcutaneous administration. The antibodies are detected in both serum and intestinal lavage, indicating the formation of both a systemic and mucosal immune response. Since no adjuvants were used during immunisation, the results also indicate the possibility of using recombinant CtxB as an effective ‘en ancer’ of t e i une response.