Plasmid DNA-based vaccines protect mice and ferrets against lethal challenge with A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) influenza virus.
Plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccines represent an alternative to conventional inactivated influenza vaccines that are likely to experience supply constraints during a pandemic. Several Vaxfectin-formulated pDNA vaccines were tested in mice and ferrets for efficacy against a lethal challenge with the highly pathogenic A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) influenza virus strain; the vaccines encoded influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA), and/or nucleoprotein (NP), and M2 protein. Complete protection from death and disease was achieved in mice and ferrets with 2 doses of a Vaxfectin-formulated vaccine containing H5 HA, NP, and M2 plasmids and in ferrets with only 1 dose. A Vaxfectin-formulated vaccine containing NP and M2 pDNA provided significant protection against death in mice and provided some benefit in ferrets (i.e., 17% survival, delayed time to illness and death, and significant reduction in viral load compared with that in negative control animals). These experiments support the clinical testing of pDNA vaccine candidates that may ultimately increase global vaccine supply options during pandemics.
Vical, Inc., San Diego, California 92121, USA.
Peggy A
PA
Lalor
Richard J
RJ
Webby
Jane
J
Morrow
Denis
D
Rusalov
David C
DC
Kaslow
Alain
A
Rolland
Larry R
LR
Smith
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D005289:Ferrets; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000821:virology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D010957:Plasmids; D013997:Time Factors; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C460866:vaxfectin