The influence of immunomodulators on the formation of vaccine-induced cholera immunity

Abstract

Introduction. Due to the remaining tense situation on cholera in the world, research continues on the creation of new preventive drugs, as well as ways to increase the immunogenicity of existing anti-cholera vaccines. The combined use of vaccines with immunomodulators and cytokines is successfully used for the specific prevention of various infections, including particularly dangerous ones. The aim of the work is an experimental study of the effect of immunomodulators on the immunogenic and protective activity of the cholera bivalent chemical vaccine in order to assess the possibility of their use to improve the specific prevention of cholera. Materials and methods. The parameters of cellular and humoral local and systemic immune response in experimental animals vaccinated and receiving immunotherapy, as well as the effect of immunomodulators on the protective activity of antigens that are part of the cholera bivalent chemical vaccine, were evaluated. Results. The studies revealed that the use of immunomodulators in combination with the vaccine leads to an increase in the immunogenic properties of antigens. Immunomodulators stimulate the differentiation of CD4⁺- lymphocytes, ensuring the development of an immune response mainly along the humoral pathway, increase the number of B-lymphocytes, antigen-specific antibody-forming cells, as well as secretory immunoglobulin A in the intestines of vaccinated experimental animals. It is shown that the immunomodulator glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide increases the protective properties of the antigens that are part of the chemical cholera bivalent vaccine. It was the most effective additive, since it protected all the animals included in the experiment from generalized cholera. Conclusion. The use of immunomodulators in anti-cholera vaccination, especially with glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide, may be one of the approaches to improving the specific prevention of cholera.

Keywords

• cholera
• cholera vaccine
• immunomodulators
• immunotherapy
• protectivity
• immunogenicity