title: DNA vaccination using the fragment C of botulinum neurotoxin type A provided protective immunity in mice.
abstract: Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is one of the most toxic substances known to produce severe neuromuscular paralysis. The currently used vaccine is prepared mainly from biohazardous toxins. Thus, we studied an alternative method and demonstrated that DNA immunization provided sufficient protection against botulism in a murine model. A plasmid of pBoNT/A-Hc, which encodes the fragment C gene of type A botulinum neurotoxin, was constructed and fused with an Igkappa leader sequence under the control of a human cytomegalovirus promoter. After 10 cycles of DNA inoculation with this plasmid, mice survived lethal doses of type A botulinum neurotoxin challenges. Immunized mice also elicited cross-protection to the challenges of type E botulinum neurotoxin. This is the first study demonstrating the potential use of DNA vaccination for botulinum neurotoxins.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Preventive Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Shaio
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wey
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology*; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000276:immunology; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D004247:DNA; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A