title: A conserved matrix epitope based DNA vaccine protects mice against influenza A virus challenge.
abstract: DNA vaccination represents a unique strategy to overcome the limitations of immunization with conventional vaccines which is restricted by the high variability of influenza viruses. We evaluated the protective efficacy of a plasmid DNA (pDNA), encoding an evolutionarily conserved epitope of viral matrix protein, against the influenza A virus infection. It was found that the mice immunized via the intra-muscular route purely elicited cell mediated immune response to the pDNA, with enhanced level of Th1 cytokines viz. IL-12 and IFNγ production in the stimulated splenocyte supernatant. The cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the spleen of immunized mice significantly lysed the virus-infected MDCK cells. A significant decrease in virus replication was also observed in the lungs of immunized mice and 83% of the mice were protected against the lethal challenge of influenza A viruses. These findings suggest that the plasmid DNA expressing a single matrix epitope may serve as a promising vaccine candidate to provide effective immunity in the susceptible (mouse) population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Virology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India.
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: Binod
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Roopali
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajput
authors.forename: Akhil C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Banerjea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002642:Chick Embryo; D006224:Cricetinae; D004285:Dogs; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010957:Plasmids; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; C488936:M1 protein, Influenza A virus; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins