title: Direct DNA immunization of mice with plasmid DNA encoding the tegument protein pp65 (ppUL83) of human cytomegalovirus induces high levels of circulating antibody to the encoded protein.
abstract: The 65 kDa tegument protein (pp65 or rather ppUL83) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been shown to be a major cytotoxic T-lymphocyte target during natural infection, and thus appears to be an appropriate candidate to be evaluated as a component of a HCMV polynucleotide vaccine. We have constructed expression vectors pH beta-pp65, in which pp65 expression is under the control of human beta-actin promoter, and pCMVint-pp65, in which pp65 expression is driven by the HCMV immediate-early promoter along with the intron A. These construct DNAs were utilized for the intramuscular injection into the quadriceps of BALB/c mice. Approximately 60% of the mice showed the presence of anti-pp65 antibodies following the second DNA inoculation with 100 micrograms of plasmid DNA. The anti-pp65 antibody titer was higher in the group of mice that was injected with pCMVint-pp65 plasmid DNA compared to the group that was injected with pH beta-pp65 DNA, presumably due to a higher level of pp65 expression using the former plasmid.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pande
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tanamachi
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zaia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014611:Vaccination; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014765:Viral Vaccines
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004279:DNA, Viral; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C065418:cytomegalovirus matrix protein 65kDa