ABSTRACT
This chapter reviewed the studies of prime-boost rotavirus vaccination strategies. Due to the nature of enteric virus infections (acute superficial infections of the intestinal epithelial cells), the presence of IgA antibodies in the intestinal mucosa at the time of exposure provides the most important first line of protection. To stimulate intestinal IgA antibody responses, oral immunization is preferable because it mimics the route of natural infection. Combined vaccination regimens using the live attenuated HRV vaccine as oral priming dose and non-replicating vaccine as parenteral or mucosal booster doses were evaluated in Gn pigs and shown to be highly effective in inducing intestinal humoral immune responses and conferring high protection rates in Gn pigs. The use of a replicating vaccine to prime lymphocytes in the major induction site followed by boosting with a non-replicating vaccine at a second mucosal or parenteral site may be a highly effective approach to stimulate the mucosal and systemic immune system and induce protective immunity against enteric infections.
