Intranasal immunization of mutant toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 elicits systemic and mucosal immune response against Staphylococcus aureus infection

We investigated whether an intranasal immunization with mutant toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) could elicit a protective effect against nasal colonization as well as systemic infection of Staphyloccoccus aureus in a mouse model. Anti-TSST-1 antibody production in the mucosal exudates and in sera was efficiently induced. Bacterial numbers were reduced in spleen, liver and also nasal cavities in the early stage of nasal colonization, and the survival rate was significantly improved in the immunized mice. It was suggested that the neutralizing activity of antibodies and the enhanced bactericidal activity of neutrophils were involved in the protection against systemic S. aureus infection, and the secreted antibodies could be involved in reduction of S. aureus bacterial counts in the nasal cavity.