Co-immunisation with a plasmid DNA cocktail primes mice against anthrax and plague.
The protective antigen (PA) of Bacillus anthracis and the V antigen of Yersinia pestis are potent immunogens and candidate vaccine sub-units. When plasmid DNA encoding either PA or V antigen was used to immunise the Balb/c mouse, a low serum IgG titre was detected (log (10)1.0 or less) which was slightly increased by boosting with plasmid DNA. However, when mice immunised with plasmid DNA were later boosted with the respective recombinant protein, a significant increase in titre (up to 100-fold) was observed. Mice primed with a combination of each plasmid and boosted with a combination of the recombinant proteins, were fully protected (6/6) against challenge with Y. pestis. This compared favourably with mice primed only with plasmid DNA encoding the V antigen and boosted with rV, which were partially protected (3/6) against homologous challenge or with mice primed and boosted with plasmid DNA encoding the V antigen which were poorly protected (1/6). Combined immunisation with the two plasmid DNA constructs followed by boosting with a combination of the encoded recombinant proteins enhanced the protective immune response to Y. pestis compared with priming only with plasmid DNA encoding the V antigen and boosting with rV. This enhancement may be due to the effect of CpG motifs known to be present in the plasmid DNA construct encoding PA.
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 OJQ, UK. dewilliamson@dstl.gov.uk
E D
ED
Williamson
A M
AM
Bennett
S D
SD
Perkins
R J
RJ
Beedham
J
J
Miller
L W J
LW
Baillie
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022122:Anthrax Vaccines / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010930:Plague / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010931:Plague Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D022122:Anthrax Vaccines; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010931:Plague Vaccine; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017778:Vaccines, Combined; D019444:Vaccines, DNA