title: Investigation of DNA integration into reproductive organs following intramuscular injection of DNA in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  DNA immunization with plasmid DNA encoding bacterial, viral, parasitic, and tumor antigens has been reported to trigger protective immunity. The use of plasmid DNA vaccinations against many diseases has produced promising results in animal and human clinical trials; however, safety concerns about the use of DNA vaccines exist, such as the possibility of integration into the host genome, and elicitation of adverse immune responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we examined the potential integration and bio-distribution of pcDNA3.1+PA, a new vaccine candidate with GenBank accession # EF550208, encoding the PA63 gene, in reproductive organs of mice; ovaries and uterus in female, and testis in male. Animals of both sexes were injected intramuscularly with pcDNA3.1+PA. Host genome integration and tissue distribution were examined using PCR and RT-PCR two times monthly for six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RT-PCR confirmed that pcDNA3.1+PA was not integrated into the host genome and did not enter reproductive organs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding has important implications for the use of pcDNA3.1+PA plasmid as a vaccine and opens new perspectives in the DNA vaccine area.
authors.affiliation: Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vahedi
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Payam-e-Noor University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Najmeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nazari
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Payam-e-Noor University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arbabi
authors.affiliation: Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Yasser
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peymanfar
keywords: DNA; Integration; Intramuscular injection; Mice; Reproductive organs