Novel DNA vaccine based on hepatitis B virus core gene induces specific immune responses in Balb/c mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immunogenicity of a novel DNA vaccine, pSW3891/HBc, based on HBV core gene in Balb/c mice.


METHODS
A novel DNA vaccine, pSW3891/HBc, encoding HBV core gene was constructed using a vector plasmid pSW3891. Balb/c mice were immunized with either pSW3891/HBc or empty vector DNA via gene gun. IgG anti-HBc responses in mouse sera were demonstrated by ELISA. Specific cytotoxicity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) of mice was quantitatively measured by lactate dehydrogenase release assay.


RESULTS
HBcAg was expressed effectively in 293T cell line transiently transfected with pSW3891/HBc. Strong IgG anti-HBc responses were elicited in mice immunized with pSW3891/HBc. The end-point titers of anti-HBc reached the highest 1:97,200, 4 wk after the third immunization. The specific CTL killing with the highest specific lysis reached 73.25% at effector:target ratio of 20:1 in mice that received pSW3891/HBc DNA vaccine.


CONCLUSIONS
pSW3891/HBc vaccination elicits specific anti-HBc response and induces HBc-specific CTL response in immunized Balb/c mice.
Xing
Yi-Ping
YP
Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China. yipingx@public1.ptt.js.cn
Huang
Zu-Hu
ZH
Wang
Shi-Xia
SX
Cai
Jie
J
Li
Jun
J
Chou
Te-Hui W
TH
Lu
Shan
S
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA