Induction of mucosal immunity with a replication-defective adenoviral recombinant.

A replication-defective adenoviral recombinant expressing the rabies virus glycoprotein was tested for induction of transgene specific central and mucosal antibodies upon systemic inoculation or upon application to the mucosa of the airways, the rectum or the female genital tract. Mice developed serum and mucosal antibody titers to rabies virus upon subcutaneous or intranasal immunization with the latter route favoring induction of genital and intestinal secretion of antibodies of the IgA isotype. Immunization through the mucosa of the genital tract or the rectum was inefficient. Mucosal and systemic antibody titers could be increased by intranasal priming followed by a booster immunization with the same construct.