C Czerkinsky

Publications (3)18.85 Total impact

• Article: Topical immunization strategies.

  C Czerkinsky, J Holmgren
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  ABSTRACT: Research has yielded an abundance of vaccine candidates against mucosal infections, but only few mucosal vaccines have been registered for human use. Extensive research is being carried out to identify new and safe adjuvants for mucosal immunization, novel delivery systems, including live vectors and reporter molecules for tissue- and cell-specific targeting of vaccine antigens. If these candidates are to reach those in need, several lessons from clinical and field research carried out under resource-poor settings must be considered. These lessons include the need to develop new vaccines that can be administered topically onto the skin or to the mucosa, without needles or expensive delivery devices. Such topical vaccines must be able to protect all age groups at risk, be safe and effective in immunocompromised people, and be able to contain epidemics following complex emergencies. The anatomical compartmentalization of immune responses imposes constraints on the selection of topical route(s) of vaccine administration and on strategies for measuring these responses, especially in young infants. Thus, the selection of any particular route of immunization is critical when designing and formulating vaccines against organ-specific infections.
  Mucosal Immunology 11/2010; 3(6):545-55. · 6.96 Impact Factor
• Article: Mucosal delivery routes for optimal immunization: targeting immunity to the right tissues.

  C Czerkinsky, J Holmgren
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  ABSTRACT: The mucosal immune system exhibits a high degree of anatomic compartmentalization related to the migratory patterns of lymphocytes activated at different mucosal sites. The selective localization of mucosal lymphocytes to specific tissues is governed by cellular "homing" and chemokine receptors in conjunction with tissue-specific addressins and epithelial cell-derived chemokines that are differentially expressed in "effector" tissues. The compartmentalization of mucosal immune responses imposes constraints on the selection of vaccine administration route. Traditional routes of mucosal immunization include oral and nasal routes. Other routes for inducing mucosal immunity include the rectal, vaginal, sublingual, and transcutaneous routes. Sublingual administration is a new approach that results in induction of mucosal and systemic T cell and antibody responses with an exceptionally broad dissemination to different mucosae, including the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, and the genital mucosa. Here, we discuss how sublingual and different routes of immunization can be used to generate immune responses in the desired mucosal tissue(s).
  Current topics in microbiology and immunology 11/2010; 354:1-18. · 4.93 Impact Factor
• Article: Enteric vaccines for the developing world: a challenge for mucosal immunology.

  C Czerkinsky, J Holmgren
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  ABSTRACT: Enteric infections kill approximately two million children under the age of 5 in developing countries and cause more than four billion disease episodes worldwide each year. In addition, these diseases affect the growth, cognitive function, and quality of life negatively. There is an urgent need for vaccines that induce effective and long-lasting intestinal immunity against diarrheal infections, especially during infancy and early childhood. Yet, most vaccines available are formulated on an empirical basis. To date, arguably, vaccines have done more for immunologists than immunologists have done for vaccines.
  Mucosal Immunology 06/2009; 2(4):284-7. · 6.96 Impact Factor