Induction of a mucosal immune response by oral immunization. An overview.

Abstract

The function of secretory antibodies is to prevent or limit the entrance of pathogens into the internal milieu of the body. The mucosal immune system may be stimulated by orally applied immunomodulators. Oral immunization circumvents the stringent criteria for injectable vaccines and large populations can be immunized simultaneously. Oral immunization may improve the chances in eliminating severe respiratory diseases, venereal diseases and infectious diarrhoea. In this overview the results of 144 international publications are discussed critically.