title: Immunization against rabies with plant-derived antigen.
abstract: We previously demonstrated that recombinant plant virus particles containing a chimeric peptide representing two rabies virus epitopes stimulate virus neutralizing antibody synthesis in immunized mice. We show here that mice immunized intraperitoneally or orally (by gastric intubation or by feeding on virus-infected spinach leaves) with engineered plant virus particles containing rabies antigen mount a local and systemic immune response. After the third dose of antigen, given intraperitoneally, 40% of the mice were protected against challenge infection with a lethal dose of rabies virus. Oral administration of the antigen stimulated serum IgG and IgA synthesis and ameliorated the clinical signs caused by intranasal infection with an attenuated rabies virus strain.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Modelska
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dietzschold
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sleysh
authors.forename: Z F
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steplewski
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koprowski
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yusibov
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D051379:Mice; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011818:Rabies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018724:Spinacia oleracea; D013997:Time Factors; D014026:Nicotiana; D014027:Tobacco Mosaic Virus; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic