Mucosa-targeted DNA vaccination

Targeting DNA to mucosal sites through a covalently linked viral adhesin induces strong mucosal cytotoxic T-cell responses. Pathways involving two distinct cell types – dendritic cells and M cells – could mediate DNA sampling at mucosal surfaces. Reovirus, from which the adhesin is derived, is known to bind to M cells. Whether the adhesin binds exclusively to M cells has not been established. Wu and collaborators propose that enhanced mucosal cellular responses against a DNA-encoded antigen are the result of M-cell targeting. However, adhesin-mediated targeting of DNA to intraepithelial dendritic cells has not been analyzed.