title: Potentiation of an anthrax DNA vaccine with electroporation.
abstract: DNA vaccines are a promising method of immunization against biothreats and emerging infections because they are relatively easy to design, manufacture, store and distribute. However, immunization with DNA vaccines using conventional delivery methods often fails to induce consistent, robust immune responses, especially in species larger than the mouse. Intramuscular (i.m.) delivery of a plasmid encoding anthrax toxin protective antigen (PA) using electroporation (EP), a potent DNA delivery method, rapidly induced anti-PA IgG and toxin neutralizing antibodies within 2 weeks following a single immunization in multiple experimental species. The delivery procedure is particularly dose efficient and thus favorable for achieving target levels of response following vaccine administration in humans. These results suggest that EP may be a valuable platform technology for the delivery of DNA vaccines against anthrax and other biothreat agents.
authors.affiliation: Ichor Medical Systems, 6310 Nancy Ridge Drive, Ste 107, San Diego, CA 92121, USA. aluxembourg@verizon.net
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luxembourg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hannaman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ellefsen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tellez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernard
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022122:Anthrax Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000276:immunology*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D018274:Electroporation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D022122:Anthrax Vaccines; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C030325:anthrax toxin