[Oral and parenteral immunization with HIV immunosome induce the secretion of IgA specific of HIV-1 in the salivary and the production of circulatory IgA in mice and rabbits].

Given the sexual transmission of HIV, the establishment of a genital mucosal immunity through secretory IgA may be necessary to achieve protection. We have investigated if repeated stimulations of oral mucosa with HIV-Immunosomes would lead to the production of secretory IgA in saliva and also, if such an oral immunization could prime the immune system to an early systemic immune response following a parenteral immunisation with a low dose of the antigen. HIV-1 gp 160-specific secretory IgA were detected in the saliva of all rabbits orally immunized with HIV-Immunosomes. As early as one week after the parenteral immunization, high titers of serum IgA, IgM and IgG were detected both in mice and rabbits that had been orally stimulated with the antigen. These antibodies could neutralize HIV infectivity in vitro. Animals that were immunized only parenterally showed a very weak humoral immune response.