DNA immunization with a bovine rotavirus VP4 gene induces a Th1-like immune response in mice.
Immunization with naked plasmid DNA effectively induces both humoral and cell-mediated immunity to vaccine antigens and can confer protection against numerous infectious diseases. To explore the potential use of DNA immunization to induce rotavirus-specific immune responses, we used plasmid DNA encoding the VP4 gene of bovine rotavirus (BRV). Intrasmuscular injection of the plasmid encoding the VP4 gene into C57BI/6 mice induced cell-mediated immunity as measured by cytokine production. Although DNA immunization did not induce a detectable BRV-specific antibody response, DNA-immunized animals were primed for antibody production and a cellular immune response. Following viral inoculation, the immunized animals displayed an enhanced number of BRV-specific antibody-secreting cells and cytotoxic activity. The immune response induced by DNA immunization alone or followed by viral inoculation was biased toward IFN-gamma production (Th1-like). CD4+ lymphocytes were the major source of IFN-gamma production in the spleen following DNA immunization. In contrast, a balanced cytokine production was observed in the spleens of animals receiving whole virus. These experiments showed that DNA immunization with a gene encoding the VP4 protein of BRV stimulated a Th1-like immune response in mice, and this bias in the immune response persisted following exposures to whole virus.
Suradhat
S
S
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Yoo
D
D
Babiuk
L A
LA
Griebel
P
P
Baca-Estrada
M E
ME
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D002213:Capsid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D007371:Interferon-gamma