title: Polyvalent DNA vaccines with bidirectional promoters.
abstract: The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antigen (HBcAg) were coexpressed from a synthetic bidirectional promoter with the tetracycline-inactivated transactivator (tTA). The function of this autoregulative system was evaluated following either transfer into established cell lines or intramuscular and intradermal injection of high or low doses of DNA into mice. We measured in vitro antigen expression and in vivo the induction of specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Successful regulation of antigen expression was observed in cultured cells. DNA vaccination with these constructs efficiently primed hepatitis B virus (HBV) specific immunity. However, immunogenic concentrations of the antigens were expressed even in the absence of the transactivator, indicating that low expression level is sufficient to prime an immune response. The bidirectional promoter allows coexpression of either both HBV antigens or a HBV antigen and enhanced green fluorescent protein leading to efficient priming of stable immunity against both antigens. This study demonstrates the potential of synthetic polyvalent plasmids in DNA vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kwissa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Unsinger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schirmbeck
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reimann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010957:Plasmids; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D013752:Tetracycline; D004318:Doxycycline