AIDS Institute, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Department of Microbiology and Research Center of Infection and Immunology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Viruses. 2010 Jan;2(1):283-297. doi: 10.3390/v2010283. Epub 2010 Jan 22.
It is well known that mucosal tissues contain the largest surface area of the human body and are the front line of natural host defense against various pathogens. In fact, more than 80% of infectious disease pathogens probably gain entry into the susceptible human hosts through open mucosal surfaces. Human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1), a mainly sexually transmitted virus, also primarily targets the vaginal and gastrointestinal mucosa as entry sites for viral transmission, seeding, replication and amplification. Since HIV-1 establishes its early replication in vaginal or rectal mucosal tissues, the induction of sufficient mucosal immunity at the initial site of HIV-1 transmission becomes essential for a protective vaccine. However, despite the fact that current conventional vaccine strategies have remained unsuccessful in preventing HIV-1 infection, sufficient financial support and resources have yet to be given to develop a vaccine able to elicit protective mucosal immunity against sexual transmissions. Interestingly, Chinese ancestors invented variolation through intranasal administration about one thousand years ago, which led to the discovery of a successful smallpox vaccine and the final eradication of the disease. It is the hope for all mankind that the development of a mucosal AIDS vaccine will ultimately help control the AIDS pandemic. In order to discover an effective mucosal AIDS vaccine, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of mucosal immunology and to test various mucosal vaccination strategies.
众所周知，黏膜组织是人体最大的体表面积，是人体天然防御系统抵御各种病原体的第一道防线。事实上，超过 80%的传染病病原体可能通过开放的黏膜表面进入易感人体宿主。人类免疫缺陷病毒 1 型（HIV-1）主要通过性传播，也主要以阴道和胃肠道黏膜为病毒传播、定植、复制和扩增的靶位。由于 HIV-1 在阴道或直肠黏膜组织中早期复制，因此在 HIV-1 传播的初始部位诱导足够的黏膜免疫对于保护性疫苗至关重要。然而，尽管目前的常规疫苗策略在预防 HIV-1 感染方面仍然不成功，但仍需投入足够的财政支持和资源来开发能够诱导针对性传播的保护性黏膜免疫的疫苗。有趣的是，中国古人在大约一千年前就通过鼻腔给药发明了种痘术，从而发现了成功的天花疫苗，并最终根除了这种疾病。全世界都希望黏膜艾滋病疫苗的开发最终将有助于控制艾滋病大流行。为了发现有效的黏膜艾滋病疫苗，有必要深入了解黏膜免疫学，并测试各种黏膜疫苗接种策略。
