Poster Presentation CD1-MR1 2024

Harnessing MAIT cells as cellular adjuvants promotes T follicular helper cell differentiation and humoral immunity (#215)

Lisa M Connor 1 , Theresa E Pankhurst 2 , Kaitlin H Buick 2 , Andrew J Marshall 1 , Mariolina Salio 3 , Gavin F Painter 1 , Ian F Hermans 2
  1. Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, WELLINGTON, New Zealand
  2. Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
  3. MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford, England

Protective immune responses against respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus are initiated by the mucosal immune system. However, most licensed vaccines are administered parenterally and are largely ineffective at inducing mucosal immunity. The development of safe and effective mucosal vaccines has largely been hampered by the lack of a suitable mucosal adjuvant. In this study we explore a novel class of adjuvant that harness mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. We show evidence that intranasal immunisation of MAIT cell agonists co-administered with protein, including the receptor-binding domain from SARS-CoV-2 and haemagglutinin from influenza A virus, induced potent humoral immunity and IgA production1. MAIT cell adjuvant activity was mediated by CD40L-dependent activation of dendritic cells and subsequent priming of CD4+ T follicular helper cells. In summary, we show that MAIT cells are promising vaccine targets that can be utilised as cellular adjuvants in mucosal vaccines.