title: Protection of tree shrews by pVAX-PS DNA vaccine against HBV infection.
abstract: The immunological protection of pVAX-PS, a DNA vaccine, was assessed in the tree shrews model. pVAX-PS was constructed by inserting the gene encoding the middle (pre-S2 plus S) envelope protein of HBV into a plasmid vector pVAX1. Tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinenesis) were experimentally infected with human HBV by inoculation with human serum positive for HBV markers. DNA vaccination-induced seroconversion and antibody to HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) were analyzed by ELISA, and protective effects elicited by pVAX-PS vaccination against subsequent HBV challenge were evaluated by detection of HBV seromarkers and observation of hepatic lesions in HBV-infected tree shrews. The results shown that anti-HBs were detectable in serum at week 2 after pVAX-PS vaccination and peaked at week 4, and immunization with pVAX-PS decreased the positive conversion rate of HBV seromarkers and relieved hepatic lesions in tree shrews challenged with HBV. These results indicated that pVAX-PS immunization could induce remarkable humoral immune response and prevent the experimental tree shrews from infection of HBV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Juan
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhen-Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jian-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Rui-Wen
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shu-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014418:Tupaiidae; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA