Abstract

Vaccination has been a cornerstone of modern medicine, substantially reducing the burden of infectious diseases worldwide. Traditional vaccine administration primarily targets systemic immunity through intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, overlooking the vast mucosal surfaces as critical sites of pathogen entry. This abstract delves into the evolving landscape of mucosal immunization strategies, exploring their potential to revolutionize vaccine development and delivery. Mucosal surfaces, including the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genital tracts, represent the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Harnessing the power of mucosal immunity offers several advantages, including enhanced protection at mucosal entry sites, potential needle-free vaccine delivery, and broader cross-protection against related pathogens. This abstract discusses various mucosal immunization approaches, such as intranasal, oral, and intravaginal vaccination, highlighting their unique challenges and opportunities. Moreover, this abstract explores the current state of mucosal vaccine research and development, showcasing promising candidates targeting diseases like influenza, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2. It also addresses critical considerations, including safety, efficacy, and regulatory pathways, to ensure the successful translation of mucosal immunization strategies from the lab to the clinic.