title: Evaluation of cellular responses for a chimeric HBsAg-HCV core DNA vaccine in BALB/c mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fusion of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) to a DNA construct might be considered as a strategy to enhance cellular and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) responses of a Hepatitis C Virus core protein (HCVcp)-based DNA vaccine comparable to that of adjuvanted protein (subunit) immunization.
  
  
  METHODS
  pCHCORE vector harboring coding sequence of HBsAg and HCVcp (amino acids 2-120) in tandem within the pCDNA3.1 backbone was constructed. The corresponding recombinant HCVcp was also expressed and purified in Escherichia coli. Mice were immunized either by adjuvanted HCVcp (pluronic acid + protein) or by pCHCORE vector primed/protein boosted immunization regimen. The cellular immune responses (proliferation, In vivo CTL assay and IFN-γ/IL-4 ELISpot) against a strong and dominant H2-d restricted, CD8(+)-epitopic peptide (C39) (core 39-48; RRGPRLGVRA) of HCVcp were compared in immunized animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proper expression of the fused protein by pCHCORE in transiently transfected HEK 293T cells and in the expected size (around 50 kDa) was confirmed by western blotting. The immunization results indicated that the pCHCORE shifted the immune responses pathway to Th1 by enhancing the IFN-γ cytokine level much higher than protein immunization while the proliferative and CTL responses were comparable (or slightly in favor of DNA immunization).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fusion of HBsAg to HCVcp in the context of a DNA vaccine modality could augment Th1-oriented cellular and CTL responses toward a protective epitope, comparable to that of HCVcp (subunit HCV vaccine) immunization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazdanian
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Memarnejadian
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahdavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Motevalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mehdi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sadat
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Rouhollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vahabpour
authors.affiliation: BCG Research Center, Karaj Research and Production, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khanahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Medical School, Tarbiat Moderes University (TMU), Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hoorieh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soleimanjahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Unit of Hepacivirus and Innate Immunity, Pasteur Institute, 25/28 Rue du Dr. Roux, Paris 75724, France.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roohvand
keywords: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response; Deoxyribonucleic acid vaccine; ELISpot; HBsAg; HCV core protein; Hepatitis C virus