A bacterial protease inhibitor protects antigens delivered in oral vaccines from digestion while triggering specific mucosal immune responses

Oral co-administration of the antigen (Ag) with a bacterial protease inhibitor: i) increases the half-life of the Ag by inhibiting gastrointestinal proteases, ii) induces recruitment, activation and Ag internalization by dendritic cells and consequently iii) mucosal and systemic Ag-specific immune responses are enhanced.108