Affiliation:
1. School of Life Sciences, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
2. State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, AMMS, Beijing 100071, China
Abstract
Yellow fever (YF), caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), continually spreads and causes epidemics worldwide, posing a great threat to human health. The live-attenuated YF 17D vaccine (YF-17D) has been licensed for preventing YFV infection and administrated via the intramuscular (i.m.) route. In this study, we sought to determine the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of aerosolized YF-17D via the intratracheal (i.t.) route in mice. YF-17D stocks in liquids were successfully aerosolized into particles of 6 μm. Further in vitro phenotype results showed the aerosolization process did not abolish the infectivity of YF-17D. Meanwhile, a single i.t. immunization with aerosolized YF-17D induced robust humoral and cellular immune responses in A129 mice, which is comparable to that received i.p. immunization. Notably, the aerosolized YF-17D also triggered specific secretory IgA (SIgA) production in bronchoalveolar lavage. Additionally, all immunized animals survived a lethal dose of YFV challenge in mice. In conclusion, our results support further development of aerosolized YF-17D in the future.
Funder
National Key Research and Development Project of China
Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province
foundation of State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity