title: Successful nucleic acid based immunization of newborn chimpanzees against hepatitis B virus.
abstract: To determine whether DNA based immunization could protect newborn chimpanzees against a challenge infection with hepatitis B virus, two chimpanzees were immunized on the day of birth with a plasmid coding for hepatitis B surface antigen, and boosted at 6 and 24 weeks. Both animals produced transient antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen. Following challenge with hepatitis B virus at 33 weeks the two immunized animals developed anamnestic antibody responses, however, neither developed detectable hepatitis B surface antigen or antibody to the core protein, the conventional markers of hepatitis B infection. Both of these markers appeared in an unimmunized control animal. We conclude that DNA based immunization can induce protective immunity in newborn chimpanzees.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology and Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute of the New York Blood Center, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whalen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brotman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA