A sindbis virus replicon-based DNA vaccine encoding the rabies virus glycoprotein elicits immune responses and complete protection in mice from lethal challenge.
A sindbis virus replicon-based DNA vaccine encoding rabies virus glycoprotein (G) was developed by subcloning rabies G gene into a sindbis virus replicon-based vaccine vector (pAlpha). The self-amplification of RNA transcripts and translation efficiency of rabies G was analyzed in pAlpha-Rab-G-transfected mammalian cells using RT-PCR, SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. The transfected cells also showed induction of apoptosis which is an important event in the enhancement of immune responses. Further, immune responses induced with replicon-based rabies DNA vaccine (pAlpha-Rab-G) was compared with conventional rabies DNA vaccine and commercial cell culture vaccine (Rabipur) in intramuscularly injected mice. The mice immunized with replicon-based rabies DNA vaccine induced humoral and cell mediated immune responses better than conventional rabies DNA vaccine however, comparable to Rabipur vaccine. On challenge with rabies virus CVS strain, replicon-based rabies DNA vaccine conferred complete protection similar to Rabipur. These results demonstrate that replicon-based rabies DNA vaccine is effective in inducing both humoral and cellular immune responses and can be considered as effective vaccine against rabies.
Division of Animal Biotechnology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, India.
Sonal
S
Saxena
Shyam S
SS
Dahiya
Arvind A
AA
Sonwane
Chhabi Lal
CL
Patel
Mohini
M
Saini
A
A
Rai
Praveen K
PK
Gupta
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006224:Cricetinae; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D011818:Rabies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*; D012093:Replicon; D012845:Sindbis Virus / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C064951:glycoprotein G, Rabies virus