Effect of plasmid DNA on immunogenicity of HBsAg-anti-HBs complex.
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) complexed with anti-HBs is more immunogenic than HBsAg alone in mice. This complex is usually used with alum as an adjuvant, which can enhance humoral response but inhibits cell-mediated immune responses. To improve the immunogenicity of HBsAg-anti-HBs, we immunized mice with a combination of this immunogenic complex and pCMVHBs, a plasmid encoding HBsAg, or the vector pCMV. Both plasmids enhanced the anti-HBs response induced by the immunogenic complex. We found 20 microg of plasmid or vector enhanced the anti-HBs response in all mice, whereas 1 microg was less effective. Splenocytes from different immunized groups were stimulated with HBsAg in vitro, and the highest level of IL-2 detected in the supernatant was found in mice immunized with HBsAg-anti-HBs plus pCMVHBs. A plasmid (pcDNA3c191) encoding core protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was used as an adjuvant to the immunogenic complex. A preliminary result showed that pcDNA3c191 not only enhanced the immunogenicity of HBsAg-anti-HBs, but also induced anti-HCV core antibodies. Immunization using a plasmid DNA encoding one viral antigen in combination with antigen and antibody complex of another microbial origin could be a new approach to the development of multivalent vaccines.
Department of Molecular Virology, Shanghai Medical University, People's Republic of China.
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D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus