title: Efficacy of DNA vaccines expressing the type F botulinum toxin Hc fragment using different promoters.
abstract: DNA vaccines which expressed the Hc fragment of the Clostridium botulinum type F neurotoxin (BoNT/F Hc) fused to a signal peptide downstream of four different eukaryotic promoters were prepared. Subsequently, the immunogenicity of the DNA vaccines and protection afforded in mice against challenge with 10(4) MLD of type F botulinum toxin was evaluated. The DNA vaccine containing the human ubiquitin gene (UbC) promoter induced the highest BoNT/F Hc-specific antibody concentration following two intramuscular immunisations and afforded 90% protection against challenge. The results from this study indicate that the selection of promoter used in DNA vaccination studies may be of importance in designing optimised vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK.
authors.forename: Amit P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Jathoul
authors.forename: Jane L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Holley
authors.forename: Helen S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Garmory
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D001906:Botulism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D051379:Mice; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000235:genetics; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D025801:Ubiquitin; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; C096321:botulinum toxin type F