title: Expression and immunogenicity of the major house dust mite allergen Der p 1 following DNA immunization.
abstract: The mite protein Der p 1 is a major trigger of allergy and atopic asthma world-wide, and thus, a good vaccine candidate for allergy prevention. Since it is a cysteine protease, the catalytic effects of Der p 1 vaccination may be unpredictable. One approach to reduce this risk is to vaccinate with DNA encoding enzymatically inactive forms of Der p 1. Here we show that Der p 1 DNA without its native pre-pro sequences potently induced Der p 1-specific antibodies, as long as its pre-sequence was substituted by another leader sequence. Without any pre-pro sequence, the same DNA fragment was well expressed but failed to induce significant level of anti-Der p 1 antibodies, without further boosting by protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore.
authors.forename: Claudia Betina
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Wolfowicz
authors.forename: TaoQi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: HuangFu
authors.forename: Kaw Yan
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chua
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D018274:Electroporation; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005813:Genes, Synthetic; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000517:prevention & control; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1