In vivo electroporation of skeletal muscles increases the efficacy of Japanese encephalitis virus DNA vaccine.
DNA vaccines can induce protective immunity against subsequent viral challenge. However, for some DNA vaccines to be effective when administered intramuscularly, cardiotoxin pretreatment is necessary. In this study, we used the technique of in vivo electroporation to facilitate DNA delivery and elicit an immune response without the use of cardiotoxin. Intramuscular delivery of DNA (pE) encoding the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) envelope protein-induced anti-E antibodies only when the injected muscles were pretreated with cardiotoxin. In vivo electrotransfer of pE eliminated the need for cardiotoxin pretreatment and produced higher antibody titer than that induced by conventional intramuscular injection. Moreover, the induced immunity also conferred protection against lethal viral challenge. Interestingly, like intramuscular immunization, in vivo electroporation immunization with plasmid pE generated anti-envelope antibodies that were predominantly of the immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) isotype. These results suggest that in vivo electroporation can be used as an efficient gene delivery system for DNA vaccines to provide efficient protection against viral infection.
Wu
Chang-Jer
CJ
Institute of Preventive Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lee
Shan-Chih
SC
Huang
Hui-Wen
HW
Tao
Mi-Hua
MH
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019470:Biolistics; D004179:Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D018274:Electroporation; D004672:Encephalitis, Japanese / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D022321:Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004179:Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D022321:Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C080628:glycoprotein E, Japanese encephalitis virus