title: DNA immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infant rhesus monkeys.
abstract: A DNA vaccine was tested in infant Rhesus macaques to evaluate its safety, immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Monkeys were vaccinated and challenged with a clinical isolate of human RSV. Vaccinated animals developed humoral and cellular responses following inoculation with plasmid DNA encoding the fusion (F) and nucleoprotein (N), from closely related bovine RSV. Vaccinated monkeys had decreased RSV in their lungs post-infection, and there was a qualitative difference in histopathology observed between vaccinated and unvaccinated animals. The combined result of safety and immunogenicity in a neonatal primate model is encouraging, suggesting the feasibility of DNA vaccines against RSV in infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA. genevax@spawar.navy.mil
authors.forename: Kerrie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: Gary H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Laurel J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gershwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D007378:Interleukins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D007371:Interferon-gamma