title: Needle-free topical electroporation improves gene expression from plasmids administered in porcine skin.
abstract: Electroporation has been shown to increase the potency of DNA vaccines that have demonstrated significant potential in mice. However, there is a need to develop noninvasive or minimally invasive vaccination methods. In pigs, in vivo gene expression was assessed to compare intradermal needle injection to a needle-free dermal BioJect as a means of delivery of plasmids. Each administration method was further tested with and without surface electroporation. Experiments with plasmid DNA encoding luciferase demonstrated that needle-free administration results in higher gene expression levels than needle injection. Electroporation enhanced gene expression for both intradermal delivery methods. Needle-free plasmid injection in combination with electroporation led to a more rapid induction of immune responses compared to other methods of plasmid administration. It was concluded that needle-free topical electroporation significantly enhances gene expression, possibly by improving cellular uptake of plasmid DNA.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E3, Canada. babiuks@sask.usask.ca
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babiuk
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Baca-Estrada
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foldvari
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baizer
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stout
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Storms
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rabussay
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Widera
authors.forename: Lorne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Babiuk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018274:Electroporation; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D010957:Plasmids; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines