title: Plasmid expressing the influenza HA gene protects old mice from lethal challenge with influenza virus.
abstract: Virus-based influenza vaccines induce less protection in old compared to young subjects due, in part, to age-associated alterations in the immune response. This study shows that old mice produce a less diverse HI antibody response after immunization than adult mice. However, immunization of old and young mice with plasmids expressing the HA gene induced comparable clearance of influenza virus from the lungs and the same level of protection from a lethal challenge with live WSN influenza virus. Thus, genetic immunization may offer advantages for the elderly over virus-base vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Radu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antohi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bot
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Weksler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bona
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma