ENHANCEMENT OF IMMUNITY BY INTRANASAL INOCULATION OF IL-12

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of enhancing an immune response to a pathogen in a host using intranasal administration of interleukin-12 (IL-12). In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of inducing an immune response to a pathogen in a host, which comprises administering intranasally to the host an effective amount of IL-12 and an antigen of the pathogen. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of enhancing an immune response to a pathogen in a host, which comprises administering intranasally to the host an effective amount of IL-12 and an antigen of the pathogen. In a particular embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of inducing an immune response to a mucosal pathogen in a host, which comprises administering intranasally to the host an effective amount of IL-12 and an antigen of the pathogen. Also encompassed by the present invention is a method of inducing a Th1-like immune response to a pathogen in a host, comprising administering intranasally to the host an effective amount of IL-12 and an antigen of the pathogen. The present invention also relates to a method of enhancing a mucosal immune response to a pathogen in a host, which comprises administering intranasally to the host an effective amount of IL-12 and an antigen of the pathogen.