title: Immunization with a DNA vaccine encoding the hepatitis-C-virus structural antigens elicits a specific immune response against the capsid and envelope proteins in rabbits and Macaca irus (crab-eating macaque monkeys).
abstract: In the present study, we evaluated the capability of the plasmid pIDKE2, encoding the HCV (hepatitis C virus) structural proteins Core, E1 and E2, to induce immune response against HCV antigens after injection into rabbits and Macaca irus (crab-eating macaque). Animals were immunized intramuscularly with different amounts of plasmid on weeks 0, 3 and 8. Monkeys received a booster dose on week 46. All rabbits immunized with pIDKE2 generated a positive antibody response and, particularly in rabbits immunized with 2 mg, antibody titres reached values above 1:1500 and 1:400 against the core and the envelope proteins, respectively, 28 weeks after primary immunization. The antibody response in monkeys developed slowly, but antibody titres greater than 1:3500 against HCV structural antigens were detected at week 52. Moreover, anti-E2 antibodies recognized synthetic peptides covering the HVR-1 (hypervariable region-1) from different isolates corresponding to different genotypes. Additionally, a specific lymphoproliferative response against Core and E2 was detected in two out of three monkeys immunized with pIDKE2. The other monkey had a specific proliferative response to E1. Taking all these data together, immunization with pIDKE2 is able to elicit both humoral and cellular immunity against HCV structural antigens in animal models other than mice.
authors.affiliation: Departamento Hepatitis C, División de Vacunas, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, P.O. Box 6162, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba. santiago.duenas@cigb.edu.cu
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dueñas-Carrera
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viña
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Lajonchere
authors.forename: Julio César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Obregón
authors.forename: Jeny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marante
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mosqueda
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morales
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008251:Macaca; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013045:Species Specificity; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins