title: DNA vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease via electroporation: study of molecular approaches for enhancing VP1 antigenicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) affects susceptible livestock animals and causes disastrous economic impact. Immunization with plasmid expressing VP1 that contains the major antigenic epitope(s) of FMDV as cytoplasmic protein (cVP1) failed to elicit full protection against FMDV challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, mice were immunized via electroporation with four cDNA expression vectors that were constructed to express VP1 of FMDV, as cytoplasmic (cVP1), secreted (sVP1), membrane-anchored (mVP1) or capsid precursor protein (P1), respectively, to evaluate whether expression of VP1 in specific subcellular compartment(s) would result in better immune responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electroporation enhanced immune responses to vectors expressing cVP1 or P1 and expedited the immune responses to vectors expressing sVP1 or mVP1. Immunization of mice via electroporation with mVP1 cDNA was better than sVP1 or cVP1 cDNA in eliciting neutralizing antibodies and viral clearance protection. Vaccination with P1 cDNA, nonetheless, yielded the best immune responses and protection among all four cDNAs that we tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the antigenicity of a VP1 DNA vaccine can be significantly enhanced by altering the cellular localization of the VP1 antigen. Electroporation is a useful tool for enhancing the immune responses of vectors expressing VP1 or P1. By mimicking FMDV more closely than that of transgenic VP1 and eliciting immune responses favorably toward Th2, transgenic P1 may induce more neutralizing antibodies and better protection against FMDV challenge.
authors.affiliation: Institute of BioAgricultural Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Suk-Am
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chi-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ivan-Chen
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yung-Chih
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ming-Tsang
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Chiao
authors.forename: Chia-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ming-Hwa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jong
authors.forename: Mi-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Ning-Sun
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shu-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D018274:Electroporation; D005260:Female; D005536:Foot-and-Mouth Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029544:Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C442501:VP1 protein, Foot-and-mouth disease virus; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014765:Viral Vaccines