title: Immunogenicity of plasmid DNA encoding the 62 kDa fragment of Schistosoma japonicum myosin.
abstract: The recombinant Schistosoma mansoni 62 kDa myosin fragment, rIrV-5, is highly protective in experimental animals, however, vaccination of mice and rats with the recombinant Schistosoma japonicum homologue, rSj62, did not induce significant resistance against S. japonicum infection. To explore alternative ways of presenting this antigen, we further constructed a plasmid (VRSj62) which encodes Sj62 using the VR1020 vector and tested it in vaccination experiments. Four immunisations with 10 microg VRSj62 DNA alone were sufficient to induce high and progressively increasing levels of IgG antibodies against rSj62 with increasing numbers of injections in CBA/Ca mice (IgG titre > or =1:25000), and three injections with 50 microg VRSj62 DNA alone induced significant IgG responses in C57Bl/6 mice (IgG titre, 1:1600). However, vaccination with plasmid DNA entrapped in cationic liposomes or together with pUC19 DNA as a source of CpG motifs, both of which have been reported to enhance immune responses, did not enhance specific antibody production. In spite of the stimulation of specific antibodies against rSj62 with the naked DNA construct no resistance to challenge was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK.
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gregoriadis
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: McCrossan
authors.forename: Q D
authors.initials: QD
authors.lastname: Bickle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018899:CpG Islands; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009132:Muscles / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009218:Myosins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008081:Liposomes; C118909:Sj62 protein, Schistosoma japonicum; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D009218:Myosins