Mouse lymphoid tissue contains distinct subsets of langerin/CD207 dendritic cells, only one of which represents epidermal-derived Langerhans cells.

Langerin/CD207 is a C-type lectin associated with formation of Birbeck granules (BG) in Langerhans cells (LC). Here, we describe a monoclonal antibody (mAb 205C1) recognizing the extracellular domain of mouse langerin. Cell-surface langerin was detected in all epidermal LC, which presented a uniform phenotype.

Oral vaccination of mice with lipid-encapsulated Mycobacterium bovis BCG: anatomical sites of bacterial replication and immune activity.

Lipid microencapsulation of Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) produces an oral delivery vaccine that can establish systemic cell-mediated immune reactivity and protection against aerosol mycobacterial challenge in mice. Here, we describe the lymphatic and mucosal sites of bacterial replication, and location of Mycobacterium-specific IFN-gamma-secreting cell populations, following oral vaccination of BALB/c mice. Eight weeks following a single oral dose of lipid-encapsulated BCG, viable BCG organisms were recovered from the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of 11/12 mice investigated (93%).