Gene immunization of mice with plasmid DNA expressing rabies virus glycoprotein.
Gene immunization can be an effective vaccine strategy eliciting both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. We constructed plasmid vectors expressing the full-length Vnukovo-32 rabies virus glycoprotein G under the control of CMV IE promoter and enhancer, adenovirus tripartite leader sequences and poly A signal of SV40. The gene vaccines were evaluated for the ability to elicit neutralizing antibodies and to protect BALB/c mice against lethal rabies virus challenge. First, mice were injected intramuscularly (i.m.) into the left hind leg and by the intradermoplantar (i.d.p.) route with equal amounts of plasmid DNA (0.25-0.1 mg). Two weeks later, immunization was boosted with an additional dose of the DNA. The immunized mice were challenged by intracerebral (i.c.) inoculation of CVS-27 (10-50 LD50) rabies virus. All mice produced anti-rabies virus neutralizing antibodies with a titre of > or = 1:45 after immunization with 0.1-0.4 mg of DNA. In challenge experiments, 83 to 91.6% protection was observed. These results confirm that a DNA vaccine could be a simple and effective solution for preventing the spread of rabies.
Fodor
I
I
Agricultural Biotechnology Center, H-2101 Gödöllö, P.O. Box 411, Hungary. ifodor@som.llu.edu
Kucsera
L
L
Fodor
N
N
Pálfi
V
V
Grabko
V I
VI
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D007114:Immunization / Q000662:veterinary*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids; D011818:Rabies / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000235:genetics*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C064951:glycoprotein G, Rabies virus