title: Immunization with plasmid DNA using a pneumatic gun.
abstract: We characterize a method by which the Med-E-Jet pneumatic vaccination gun can be used to propel intact, supercoiled plasmid DNA through skin and into skeletal muscles of mice. Intramuscular injection of plasmids containing the firefly luciferase gene linked to the human cytomegalovirus promoter resulted in the expression of several hundred picograms of luciferase enzyme in quadriceps muscles. Intramuscular injections of a plasmid containing the influenza A nuclear protein gene regulated by the same promoter resulted in the generation of potent and specific anti-nuclear protein humoral and cellular immune responses. This convenient and rapid injection method would be well-suited for genetic immunization of humans.
authors.affiliation: Vical Incorporated, San Diego, CA 92121.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Vahlsing
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yankauckas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawdey
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Gromkowski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manthorpe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007277:Injections, Jet / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D008156:Luciferases