title: DNA vaccines.
abstract: Observations in the early 1990s that plasmid DNA could directly transfect animal cells in vivo sparked exploration of the use of DNA plasmids to induce immune responses by direct injection into animals of DNA encoding antigenic proteins. This method, termed DNA immunization, now has been used to elicit protective antibody and cell-mediated immune responses in a wide variety of preclinical animal models for viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases. DNA vaccination is particularly useful for the induction of cytotoxic T cells. This review summarizes current knowledge on the vectors, immune responses, immunological mechanisms, safety considerations, and potential for further application of this novel method of immunization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virus and Cell Biology, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shiver
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007114:Immunization; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D012449:Safety; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D019444:Vaccines, DNA