Enhancement of humoral and cellular immunity in mice against Japanese encephalitis virus using a DNA prime-protein boost vaccine strategy.
A synthetic multi-epitope gene containing critical epitopes of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) envelope gene was cloned into both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression vectors. The recombinant plasmid and purified recombinant protein (heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli) were used as immunogens in a mouse model. The results indicate that both the recombinant protein and the DNA vaccine induce humoral and cellular immune responses. Neutralising antibody titres in mice in the pcDNA-TEP plus rEP group increased considerably relative to mice immunised using either pcDNA-TEP or rEP alone (P<0.05). Furthermore, the highest levels of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon-gamma and IL-4 were induced following priming with the DNA vaccine and boosting with the recombinant protein. Together these findings demonstrate that a DNA-recombinant protein prime-boost vaccination strategy can produce high levels of antibody and trigger significant T cell responses in mice, highlighting the potential value of such an approach in the prevention of JEV infection.
Li
Peng
P
Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Diagnosis and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China.
Cao
Rui-Bing
RB
Zheng
Qi-Sheng
QS
Liu
Jing-Jun
JJ
Li
Yan
Y
Wang
En-Xiu
EX
Li
Fei
F
Chen
Pu-Yan
PY
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004664:Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / Q000276:immunology*; D004672:Encephalitis, Japanese / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization / Q000662:veterinary*; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014765:Viral Vaccines