title: A Novel Adeno-Associated Virus-Based Genetic Vaccine Encoding the Hepatitis C Virus NS3/4 Protein Exhibits Immunogenic Properties in Mice Superior to Those of an NS3-Protein-Based Vaccine.
abstract: More than 170 million individuals worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and up to an estimated 30% of chronically infected individuals will go on to develop progressive liver disease. Despite the recent advances in antiviral treatment of HCV infection, it remains a major public health problem. Thus, development of an effective vaccine is urgently required. In this study, we constructed novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors expressing the full-length NS3 or NS3/4 protein of HCV genotype 1b. The expression of the NS3 or NS3/4 protein in HepG2 cells was confirmed by western blotting. C57BL/6 mice were intramuscularly immunised with a single injection of AAV vectors, and the resultant immune response was investigated. The AAV2/rh32.33.NS3/4 vaccine induced stronger humoral and cellular responses than did the AAV2/rh32.33.NS3 vaccine. Our results demonstrate that AAV-based vaccines exhibit considerable potential for the development of an effective anti-HCV vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fengqin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yeqiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianxi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Linshan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C084422:NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases; C093542:NS4 protein, hepatitis C virus