dmLT Enhances Mucosal Immunity and Enables Dose-Sparing in Oral Cholera Vaccination

Dr. Ma’s talk focused on enhancing oral cholera vaccination using the mucosal adjuvant dmLT, a double-mutant E. coli heat-labile toxin, which boosts secretory IgA (sIgA) responses critical for protection against cholera toxin and pathogen colonization. Current oral cholera vaccines have limited efficacy, especially in children, and DMAT was shown to significantly increase both systemic and mucosal antibody responses in male and female mice, with functional sIgA capable of neutralizing cholera toxin. DMAT works by promoting dendritic cell maturation, Th1/Th17 polarization, and B cell activation in the gut, enabling stronger mucosal immunity and potential dose sparing. Overall, DMAT represents a promising strategy to improve oral vaccine effectiveness and address global cholera burden.