The two mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been very effective in helping to decrease fatalities and serious infections caused by coronavirus disease. Researchers are constantly striving to come up with new methods for vaccines that are more effective than traditional approaches, and part of this involves how the vaccines are delivered. Michael W. Russell of the University at Buffalo, an immunologist and microbiologist, explains how nasal vaccines operate and at what stage they are in the development process. Additionally, he goes over how the immune system combats pathogens. The defensive capabilities of the immune system can be divided into two distinct parts: the mucosal and circulatory systems. The mucosal part of the immune system works to guard the body at the mucosal surfaces. These involve the oral cavity, optic spheres, interior ear, lactating organs, and the internal organs related to absorption, ventilation, and elimination. Antibodies and a variety of other antimicrobial proteins can be found in the slimy secretions covering these surfaces, as well as in the cells that line these surfaces – they help to fight against invading microorganisms. The adaptive immune system produces antibodies and cells that travel to the inner parts of the body through the bloodstream. Antibodies that move throughout the body typically do not reach the mucous membranes in large enough doses to be effective. The two main areas of the immune system, the mucosal and circulatory sections, are not intertwined and mostly exclusive of one another. What elements are important in mucosal immunity?
