Researchers Develop Nasal Anthrax Vaccine

U.S. researchers have successfully tested an anthrax vaccine that could be inhaled through the nose, possibly making it easier to administer than the series of injections now used to immunize humans, Reuters reported Saturday (see GSN, Aug. 10).

Guinea pigs that received only two doses of the vaccine survived exposure to inhaled anthrax, according to the research team from the University of Michigan Medical School and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

The new vaccine uses an adjuvant, an oil-and-water mixture commonly used in vaccines to help their ingredients better penetrate the body’s immune cells, to provoke a more effective immune system response.

“It is unique in that it doesn't induce an inflammatory response.  What we think it does is that it actually induces delivery of the antigen,” said Michigan researcher James Baker.

The vaccine used one anthrax bacteria protein and did not produce inflammation and irritation caused by current anthrax shots.

“We got protection after only two administrations that was good for six months after immunization,” Baker said.  “So it is really better than the current vaccine.”

The research team published its work in the August issue of the journal Infection and Immunity.  It must wait for additional federal funding to carry out clinical trials of the vaccine in humans, Baker said (Reuters, Aug. 18).

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