Efficacy of DNA vaccination against western equine encephalitis virus infection.
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.
Nagata
Les P
LP
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
Hu
Wei-Gang
WG
Masri
Saad A
SA
Rayner
George A
GA
Schmaltz
Fay L
FL
Das
Dipankar
D
Wu
Josh
J
Long
Melissa C
MC
Chan
Christine
C
Proll
David
D
Jager
Scott
S
Jebailey
Lellean
L
Suresh
Mavanur R
MR
Wong
Jonathan P
JP
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*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines