A Glycolipidated-liposomal peptide vaccine confers long-term mucosal protection against Streptococcus pyogenes via IL-17, macrophages and neutrophils

Mucosally active subunit vaccines are an unmet clinical need due to lack of licensed immunostimulants suitable for vaccine antigens. Here, we show that intranasal administration of liposomes incorporating: the Streptococcus pyogenes peptide antigen, J8; diphtheria toxoid as a source of T cell help; and the immunostimulatory glycolipid, 3D(6-acyl) PHAD (PHAD), is able to induce long-lived humoral and cellular immunity. Mice genetically deficient in either mucosal antibodies or total antibodies are protected against S. pyogenes respiratory tract infection. Utilizing IL-17-deficient mice or depleting cellular subsets using antibodies, shows that the cellular responses encompassing, CD4(+) T cells, IL-17, macrophages and neutrophils have important functions in vaccine-mediated mucosal immunity. Overall, these data demonstrate the utility of a mucosal vaccine platform to deliver multi-pronged protective responses against a highly virulent pathogen.