title: DNA vaccine for hepatitis B: evidence for immunogenicity in chimpanzees and comparison with other vaccines.
abstract: Vaccination of two chimpanzees against hepatitis B virus (HBV) by intramuscular injection of plasmid DNA encoding the major and middle HBV envelope proteins induced group-, subtype- and preS2-specific antibodies. These were initially of IgM isotype, and then they were of IgG (predominantly IgGl) isotype. The chimpanzee injected with 2 mg of DNA attained >100 milli-international units/ml of anti-HBs antibody after one injection and 14,000 milli-international units/ml after four injections. A smaller dose (400 microg) induced lower and transient titers, but a strong anamnestic response occurred 1 year later. Comparison with responses in 23 chimpanzees receiving various antigen-based HBV vaccines suggests that the DNA approach is promising for prophylactic immunization against HBV.
authors.affiliation: Loeb Medical Research Institute, Ottawa Civic Hospital, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McCluskie
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gerin
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Purcell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D010957:Plasmids; D013997:Time Factors; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines