Development of combined human papillomavirus and rubella vaccine / Asmaa Mahmoud Ibrahim Gohar ; Supervised Magdy Ali Amin , Nahla Shehata , Nourtan F. Abdeltawab

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Pharmacy - Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Rubella vaccine was not part of the national immunization programs (NIP) in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), South-East Asia (SEA), and South Africa regions until the year 2000. Therefore, immunization coverage of females older than 20 years old in these countries has been the focus of national campaigns for rubella elimination.Vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) are not part of NIPs in developing countries.To enhance the advantages of rubella-directed immunization campaigns and to increase HPV vaccine uptake in developing countries, this study aimed to test the stability, potency, efficacy and safety of a combined rubella and HPV vaccine.Female BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with proposed combined HPV16 / HPV18 VLP and rubella vaccine at weeks (W) 0, 3 then with HPV vaccine at W7. Immunized mice developed antigen specific antibodies against rubella and HPV significantly higher than mice immunized with rubella or HPV vaccine alone. The combined vaccine induced significantly higher splenocyte proliferation than control groups. In addition, pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-6, IL-2, and IFNÞ levels were significantly higher in mice immunized with the combined vaccine than control groups.Overall, the combined vaccine was safe and immunogenic offering antibody protection as well as eliciting a cellular immune response against rubella and HPV viruses in a single vaccine. This combined vaccine can be of great value to females above 20 years old in the SEA, MENA and South Africa regions offering coverage to rubella vaccine and a potential increase in HPV vaccine uptake rates after appropriate clinical testing

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