title: Induction of potent Th1-type immune responses from a novel DNA vaccine for West Nile virus New York isolate (WNV-NY1999).
abstract: West Nile virus (WNV) is a vectorborne pathogen that induces brain inflammation and death. Recently, confirmed cases of infection and deaths have occurred in the United States Mid-Atlantic region. In this study, a DNA vaccine encoding the WNV capsid protein was constructed, and the in vivo immune responses generated were investigated in DNA vaccine-immunized mice. Antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses were observed, including a potent induction of antigen-specific Th1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Strong induction of Th1-type immune responses included high levels of antigen-specific elaboration of the Th1-type cytokines interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 and beta-chemokines RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell-expressed and secreted) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta. Dramatic infiltration of CD4 and CD8 T cells and macrophages also was observed at the muscle injection site. These results support the potential utility of this method as a tool for developing immunization strategies for WNV and other emerging pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6100, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kudchodkar
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Weiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009132:Muscles / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014765:Viral Vaccines