ABSTRACT
Exposure of antigens to an often harsh mucosal microenvironment, hosting many proteases and other degrading substances, can dramatically reduce vaccine immunogenicity. The linking of innate responses to the induction of adaptive immunity is the key to understanding how to construct effective mucosal vaccines. The underlying strategies behind the still relatively few licensed mucosal vaccines for human use are largely empirical and draw attention to the need for novel approaches to mucosal vaccine development that are currently being actively pursued by researchers across the globe. The development of the licensed rotavirus vaccines available on the market today serves as an example where considerations were brought into place to launch a successful live attenuated mucosal vaccine. Using mucosal vaccination for reinstating tolerance in patients suffering from various autoimmune diseases has attracted much attention lately. Safe and effective mucosal vaccines currently in the market are few, but many more are being developed, and some are ready for clinical trials.
