title: Efficacy of DNA vaccination against western equine encephalitis virus infection.
abstract: The efficacy of a DNA vaccine against western equine encephalitis (WEE) infection in mice was evaluated. The 26S structural region was expressed, in vitro from an internal T7 promoter using a rabbit reticulysate transcription/translation system; and from a CMV promoter after transfection into Vero cell monolayers. The proteins synthesized were reactive with anti-WEE virus (WEEV) antibodies, both in western blot analysis and histochemical staining, respectively. When the DNA vaccine plasmid, pVHX-6, was administered intraepidermally to mice, followed by challenge in a lethal mouse model, the level of protection obtained ranged from 50 to 100% amongst three strains of WEEV. Preliminary results suggest the protective immunity provided by the DNA vaccine appears to be a cell-mediated immune response, as elevated cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity was detected against the E2 protein in a T-cell proliferation assay. The efficacy results suggest a DNA vaccine may be a promising approach against WEE infection.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biological Defence Section, Defence R&D Canada-Suffield, Box 4000, Station Main, Medicine Hat, Alta., Canada T1A 8K6. les.nagata@drdc-rddc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Les P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Wei-Gang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Saad A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Masri
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rayner
authors.forename: Fay L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Schmaltz
authors.forename: Dipankar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Melissa C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Proll
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jager
authors.forename: Lellean
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jebailey
authors.forename: Mavanur R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004667:Encephalitis Virus, Western Equine / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004683:Encephalomyelitis, Equine / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014709:Vero Cells; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines