Genetic vaccination against malaria infection by intradermal and epidermal injections of a plasmid containing the gene encoding the Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein

The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) from the surface of sporozoite stage Plasmodium sp. malaria parasites is among the most important of the malaria vaccine candidates. Gene gun injection of genetic vaccines encoding Plasmodium berghei CSP induces a significant protective effect against sporozoite challenge; however, intramuscular injection does not. In the present study we compared the immune responses and protective effects induced by P. berghei CSP genetic vaccines delivered intradermally with a needle or epidermally with a gene gun. Mice were immunized three times at 4-week intervals and challenged by a single infectious mosquito bite. Although 50 times more DNA was administered by needle than by gene gun, the latter method induced significantly greater protection against infection. Intradermal injection of the CSP genetic vaccine induced a strong Th1-type immune response characterized by a dominant CSP-specific immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) humoral response and high levels of gamma interferon produced by splenic T cells. Gene gun injection induced a predominantly Th2-type immune response characterized by a high IgG1/IgG2a ratio and significant IgE production. Neither method generated measurable cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity. The results indicate that a gene gun-mediated CS-specific Th2-type response may be best for protecting against malarial sporozoite infection when the route of parasite entry is via mosquito bite.     

Nematode-induced interference with the anti-Plasmodium CD8+ T-cell response can be overcome by optimizing antigen administration

Malaria is still responsible for up to 1 million deaths per year worldwide, highlighting the need for protective malaria vaccines. Helminth infections that are prevalent in malaria endemic areas can modulate immune responses of the host. Here we show that Strongy-Ioides ratti, a gut-dwelling nematode that causes transient infections, did not change the efficacy of vaccination against Plasmodium berghei. An ongoing infection with Litomosoides sigmodontis, a tissue-dwelling filaria that induces chronic infections in BALB/c mice, significantly interfered with vaccination efficacy. The induction of P. berghei circumspor-ozoite protein (CSP)-specific CD8(+) T cells, achieved by a single immunization with a CSP fusion protein, was diminished in L. sigmodontis-infected mice. This modulation was reflected by reduced frequencies of CSP-specific CD8(+) T cells, reduced CSP-specific IFN-y and TNF-a production, reduced CSP-specific cytotoxicity, and reduced protection against P. berghei challenge infection. Implementation of a more potent vaccine regime, by first priming with CSP-expressing recombinant live Salmonella prior to CSP fusion protein immunization, restored induction of CSP-specific CD8(+) T cells and conferred almost sterile immunity to P. berghei challenge infection also in L. sigmodontis-infected mice. In summary, we show that appropriate vaccination regimes can overcome helminth-induced interference with vaccination efficacy.     

C3d binding to the circumsporozoite protein carboxy-terminus deviates immunity against malaria

The immunogenicity of recombinant protein or anti-viral DNA vaccines can be significantly improved by the addition of tandem copies of the complement fragment C3d. We sought to determine if the efficacy of a circumsporozoite protein (CSP)-based DNA vaccine delivered to mouse skin by gene gun was improved by using this strategy. Instead, we found that C3d suppressed the protective immunity against Plasmodium berghei malaria infection and deviated immunity, most notably by suppressing the induction of antibodies specific for the CSP C-terminal flanking sequence and by suppressing the induction of CSP-specific IL-4-producing spleen cells. We further showed that C3d bound to the C-terminal flanking sequence of the CSP, which may explain the immune deviation observed in CS/C3d chimeric antigen. We have thus identified C3d-mediated epitope masking and shifting of both the humoral and cellular immune responses as a potential novel escape mechanism, which plasmodia may use to divert the induction of protective immunity.     

Th1-biased immune responses induced by DNA-based immunizations are mediated via action on professional antigen-presenting cells to up-regulate IL-12 production

The efficacy of DNA-based immunization in conferring protective immunity against certain microbial pathogens including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been described. The potential advantage of DNA-based immunization over the traditional vaccines largely results from its capacity to efficiently induce Th1-biased immune responses against an encoded antigen. We describe how Th1-biased immune responses are induced by DNA-based immunization, using a DNA vaccine construct encoding HIV-1 gp160 cDNA and an eukaryotic expression plasmid carrying murine IFN-gamma cDNA. Transfection of an eukaryotic expression plasmid carrying immunostimulatory sequences (ISS) as well as a gene of interest (DNA vaccine) into professional antigen presenting cells (APC) induced transactivation of IL-12 mRNA, which resulted in antigen-specific Th1-biased immune responses against the encoded antigen. Th1-biased immune responses induced by DNA-based immunization were substantially upregulated by a codelivery of an ectopic IFN-gamma expression system, and this augmentation was mediated via action on professional antigen presenting cells to upregulate IL-12 production. Taken together, it appears likely that Th1-biased immune responses induced by DNA-based immunization are mediated via action on professional antigen-presenting cells to produce IL-12. Interestingly, the model provided strikingly resembles that previously described in infection with Listeria monocytogenes, an intracellular Gram-positive bacterium that induces strong Th1-biased immune responses. The result suggests that DNA-based immunization mimics certain aspects of natural infection with microbial organisms like attenuated vaccines, which in turn provides a rationale to the question of why DNA-based immunization so efficiently induces protective immunity against these microbial pathogens.     

Endogenous interleukin-4 downregulates the type 1 CD4 T cell-mediated immune response induced by intramuscular DNA immunization.

Intramuscular (i.m.) administration of eukaryotic plasmid vectors containing foreign genes is a general immunization strategy capable of inducing protective type 1 immune responses against viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. We have described that immunization with a plasmid containing a gene encoding a parasite antigen elicits specific type 1 protective immune responses against experimental infection with the human protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. However, we had evidence suggesting that DNA immunization concomitantly activated specific type 2 immune responses. To determine precisely the influence of the type 2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) during DNA immunization, we compared the immune responses of genetically modified IL-4-deficient or wild-type (wt) BALB/c mice. IL-4-deficient mice had a significantly lower ratio of specific serum IgG1/IgG2a, and on in vitro restimulation with antigen, their spleen cells secreted significantly higher amounts of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). In contrast, absence of IL-4 did not affect total serum antibody response, T cell proliferative responses, or activation of IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells. Our results suggested that in contrast to conventional adjuvants, such as alum and complete Freund's adjuvant, specific IgG1 in DNA-immunized BALB/c mice was highly dependent on IL-4. To our knowledge, our study provides the first evidence that endogenous IL-4 selectively downregulates the type 1 CD4(+) T cell-mediated immune response induced by i.m. genetic immunization, a fact that may have implications for the design of certain DNA vaccines.     

Induction of Multifunctional Broadly Reactive T Cell Responses by a Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein Recombinant Chimera

Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread species of Plasmodium, causing up to 50% of the malaria cases occurring outside sub-Saharan Africa. An effective vaccine is essential for successful control and potential eradication. A well-characterized vaccine candidate is the circumsporozoite protein (CSP). Preclinical and clinical trials have shown that both antibodies and cellular immune responses have been correlated with protection induced by immunization with CSP. On the basis of our reported approach of developing chimeric Plasmodium yoelii proteins to enhance protective efficacy, we designed PvRMC-CSP, a recombinant chimeric protein based on the P. vivax CSP (PvCSP). In this engineered protein, regions of the PvCSP predicted to contain human T cell epitopes were genetically fused to an immunodominant B cell epitope derived from the N-terminal region I and to repeat sequences representing the two types of PvCSP repeats. The chimeric protein was expressed in soluble form with high yield. As the immune response to PvCSP has been reported to be genetically restricted in the murine model, we tested the immunogenicity of PvRMC-CSP in groups of six inbred strains of mice. PvRMC-CSP was able to induce robust antibody responses in all the mouse strains tested. Synthetic peptides representing the allelic forms of the P. vivax CSP were also recognized to a similar extent regardless of the mouse strain. Furthermore, the immunization regimen induced high frequencies of multifunctional CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ PvRMC-CSP-specific T cells. The depth and breadth of the immune responses elicited suggest that immunization with PvRMC-CSP can circumvent the genetic restriction of the immune response to P. vivax CSP. Interestingly, PvRMC-CSP was also recognized by naturally acquired antibodies from individuals living in areas where malaria is endemic. These features make PvRMC-CSP a promising vaccine candidate for further development.     

Immunization of mice with a DNA vaccine based on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus spike protein fragment 1

According to data in GenBank, a gene encoding SARS spike protein fragment 1 (S1) was synthesized. After recombination with an immunostimulatory sequence (ISS), the gene was cloned into the plasmid pIRES to produce pIRES-ISS-S1. On confirmation of the expression of S1 protein by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), after the transfection of pIRES-ISS-S1 into BHK-21 cells, the DNA vaccine was repeatedly administrated to BALB/c mice. CD4+ and CD8+ spleen T lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) to evaluate T cell-mediated immune responses, the antigen-specific responses of T cells were evaluated by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assay, and the level of IgG in antisera from immunized mice was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results showed that the counts of spleen CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were increased, that the T cell-mediated immune responses showed antigen specificity, and that IgG was significantly induced with DNA vaccines pIRES-ISS-S1 and pIRES-S1 at titers of 1:320 and 1:160, respectively. These results are promising for the protective immunization of humans.     

GP96NTD-CSP重组DNA疟疾疫苗诱导小鼠产生保护性免疫的研究

目的探讨pFLAG CMV8 gp96NTD-CSP重组DNA疟疾疫苗免疫能否诱导小鼠产生保护性免疫及其效应机制。方法以pFLAG CMV8质粒为载体,构建免疫用重组质粒,按照DNA疫苗免疫方法免疫小鼠;野生子孢子进行攻击后,采用Real-time PCR和吉氏染色观察被攻击小鼠的肝脏虫荷和原虫血症,即免疫小鼠抵御野生子孢子攻击的能力;并通过ELISA和ELISPOT方法探讨免疫小鼠保护性免疫的可能机制。结果核酸疫苗pFLAG CMV8 gp96NTD-CSP免疫小鼠能显著抵御野生子孢子的攻击,并且能诱导小鼠产生较高的抗体水平和较高的CSP特异的CD8+T细胞频率。结论 pFLAG CMV8 gp96NTD-CSP重组DNA疫苗可能通过诱导小鼠CSP特异抗体和CSP特异的CD8+T细胞的产生,一定程度上抵御野生子孢子的攻击。     

Induction of Multiepitopic and Long-Lasting Immune Responses Against Tumour Antigens by Immunization with Peptides, DNA and Recombinant Adenoviruses Expressing Minigenes

The development of immunization strategies to induce strong and multiepitopic T-cell responses against tumour antigens is needed for anti-tumour immunotherapy. However, a common finding after immunization with complex antigens is the preferential induction of immune responses against immunodominant epitopes. In this study, with the aim of inducing multiepitopic responses against several common tumour antigens, we have designed a minigene construct encoding four human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A2-restricted epitopes belonging to tumour antigens CEA (CEA-691 and CEA-571), MAGE2 (MAGE2-157) and MAGE3 (MAGE3-112), as well as the universal PADRE epitope recognized by T helper lymphocytes. To optimize the activation of immune responses against these epitopes, we have used different antigen formats (short peptides encompassing individual epitopes and DNA plasmids or adenoviral constructs expressing the minigene) in single or combined immunization schedules. A single immunization with either DNA plasmid or recombinant adenovirus induced a monospecific immune response against the immunodominant epitope CEA-571, whereas immunization with the peptide pool induced responses against all epitopes. Combination of peptide priming followed by a boost with the plasmid and the recombinant adenovirus expressing the minigene induced stronger, multi-specific and long-lasting immune responses, overcoming the immunodominance imposed by the main T-cell epitope. Moreover, these combined immunization strategies were able to induce responses that were able to recognize Mel624 HLA-A2⁺ tumour cells expressing MAGE2. These results suggest that heterologous immunization strategies combining peptides and DNA or recombinant adenoviruses can be useful to broaden the specificity and enhance the efficacy of subunit vaccines.     

Mutating the anchor residues associated with MHC binding inhibits and deviates CD8+ T cell mediated protective immunity against malaria

We investigated whether immune responses induced by immunization with plasmid DNA are restricted predominantly to immunodominant CD8+ T cell epitopes, or are raised against a breadth of epitopes including subdominant CD8+ and CD4+ T cell epitopes. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to change one or more primary anchor residues of the immunodominant CD8+ T cell epitope on the Plasmodium yoelii circumsporozoite protein, and in vivo protective efficacy and immune responses against defined PyCSP CD8+ and/or CD4+ epitopes were determined. Mutation of the P2 but not P9 or P10 anchor residues decreased protection and completely abrogated the antigen-specific CD8+ CTL activity and CD8+ dependent IFN-gamma responses to the immunodominant CD8+ epitope and overlapping CD8+/CD4+ epitope. Moreover, mutation deviated the immune response towards a CD4+ T cell IFN-gamma dependent profile, with enhanced lymphoproliferative responses to the immunodominant and subdominant CD4+ epitopes and enhanced antibody responses. Responses to the subdominant CD8+ epitope were not induced. Our data demonstrate that protective immunity induced by PyCSP DNA vaccination is directed predominantly against the single immunodominant CD8+ epitope, and that although responses can be induced against other epitopes, these are mediated by CD4+ T cells and are not capable of conferring optimal protection against challenge.     

Dendritic cells in genetic immunization.

Both humoral and cellular immune responses are inducible by inoculation of naked plasmid DNA encoding a polypeptide antigen. This new vaccination protocol, known as genetic immunization, has been used to initiate protective immunity against a variety of infectious pathogens and tumors in experimental animals. Dendritic cells (DC) are thought to play at least three distinct roles in genetic immunization: (1) MHC class II-restricted presentation of antigens secreted by neighboring, transfected cells, (2) MHC class I-restricted "cross" presentation of antigens released by neighboring, transfected cells, and (3) direct presentation of antigens by transfected DC themselves. Several new technologies have been developed recently in an attempt to improve the overall efficacy of genetic vaccination, as well as to regulate the type and class of resulting immune responses. These technologies include modification of plasmid DNA, co-delivery of genes encoding immunoregulatory molecules, and DC targeting. We will overview some of these new technologies in genetic immunization.     

Induction of humoral and cellular immunity against influenza virus by immunization of newborn mice with a plasmid bearing a hemagglutinin gene

Neonates and infants display an intrinsic disability to mount protective immune responses to influenza viruses or conventional influenza vaccines. We investigated the ability of naked DNA to prime protective immune responses by inoculating newborn and adult mice with a plasmid (pHA) expressing hemagglutinin (HA) from the neurovirulent strain A/WSN/33 of influenza virus. Continuous exposure to small doses of antigen subsequent to neonatal DNA immunization led to effective priming of specific B and Th cells, rather than tolerance induction. The pHA immunization of adult mice primed a strongly biased Th1 response, whereas in neonates it induced a mixed Th1/Th2 response. In contrast to the effect of live-virus immunization, DNA immunization of neonates was followed by enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses subsequent to challenge with A/WSN/33 influenza virus. Mice immunized as neonates or adults with pHA plasmid exhibited significant increases in survival and decreases in virus lung titers following lethal challenge with the A/WSN/33 virus or the A/PR8/34 drift variant. Our results demonstrate that DNA vaccination is an efficient and safe means to generate broad humoral and cellular immune responses to influenza viruses, during the earliest stages of postnatal life.      

Reduced protective efficacy of a blood-stage malaria vaccine by concurrent nematode infection

Helminth infections, which are prevalent in areas where malaria is endemic, have been shown to modulate immune responses to unrelated pathogens and have been implicated in poor efficacy of malaria vaccines in humans. We established a murine coinfection model involving blood-stage Plasmodium chabaudi AS malaria and a gastrointestinal nematode, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, to investigate the impact of nematode infection on the protective efficacy of a malaria vaccine. C57BL/6 mice immunized with crude blood-stage P. chabaudi AS antigen in TiterMax adjuvant developed strong protection against malaria challenge. The same immunization protocol failed to induce strong protection in H. polygyrus-infected mice. Immunized nematode-infected mice produced significantly lower levels of malaria-specific antibody than nematode-free mice produced. In response to nematode and malarial antigens, spleen cells from immunized nematode-infected mice produced significantly lower levels of gamma interferon but more interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-13, and IL-10 in vitro than spleen cells from immunized nematode-free mice produced. Furthermore, H. polygyrus infection also induced a strong transforming growth factor beta1 response in vivo and in vitro. Deworming treatment of H. polygyrus-infected mice before antimalarial immunization, but not deworming treatment after antimalarial immunization, restored the protective immunity to malaria challenge. These results demonstrate that concurrent nematode infection strongly modulates immune responses induced by an experimental malaria vaccine and consequently suppresses the protective efficacy of the vaccine against malaria challenge.     

Immunization with a circumsporozoite epitope fused to Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase in conjunction with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 blockade confers protection against Plasmodium berghei liver-stage malaria

The adenylate cyclase toxoid (ACT) of Bordetella pertussis is capable of delivering its N-terminal catalytic domain into the cytosol of CD11b-expressing professional antigen-presenting cells such as myeloid dendritic cells. This allows delivery of CD8+ T-cell epitopes to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I presentation pathway. Recombinant detoxified ACT containing an epitope of the Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein (CSP), indeed, induced a specific CD8+ T-cell response in immunized mice after a single application, as detected by MHC multimer staining and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) ELISPOT assay. This CSP-specific response could be significantly enhanced by prime-boost immunization with recombinant ACT in combination with anti-CTLA-4 during the boost immunization. This increased response was accompanied by complete protection in a number of mice after a challenge with P. berghei sporozoites. Transient blockade of CTLA-4 may overcome negative regulation and hence provide a strategy to enhance the efficacy of a vaccine by amplifying the number of responding T cells.     

In VivoInduction of Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in Mice and Rhesus Macaques Immunized with DNA Vector Encoding an HIV Epitope Fused with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

DNA immunization offers a novel means to induce humoral and cellular immunity in inbred or in outbred animals. Here we have tested the efficiency of genetic immunization with hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope-based vectors. In naive primates, injection of a plasmid DNA encoding HBV envelope proteins induced an HBV-specific cytotoxic response and appearance of potentially protective anti-HBs antibodies. Moreover, intramuscular and intradermal injections of a DNA expression vector encoding an epitope of the human immunodeficiency virus envelope fused to the surface protein of the hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) induced strong humoral and cytotoxic responses to antigenic determinants of both viruses in mice and nonhuman primates alike. In addition, in protein-primed Rhesus monkeys B-cell memory was successfully boosted by DNA injection of hybrid vectors and animals subsequently developed a multispecific cellular response. This suggests that DNA-based immunization could be used to boost efficiently and broaden the immune response in individuals immunized with conventional vaccines, regardless of their genetic variability. These results also indicate that it might be possible to rationally design HBsAg-based expression vectors to induce multispecific immune responses for vaccination against hepatitis B and other pathogens.     

人IL-12表达质粒联合含信号肽Mtb8.4基因疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果

目的研究结核分枝杆菌含信号肽Mtb8.4(MS)基因疫苗与人白细胞介素12(hIL-12)联合免疫小鼠后,诱导的细胞免疫应答及对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。方法将40只C57BL/6N小鼠随机分为联合免疫组(MS基因疫苗 hIL-12组)、MS基因疫苗组、卡介苗(BCG)组、空载体组和PBS组。将基因疫苗、空载体和PBS,经肌内注射免疫各组小鼠,每隔3周免疫1次,共免疫3次;BCG组经尾部皮下注射1×106CFU BCG免疫1次。采用ELISA法检测小鼠脾细胞培养上清中细胞因子的水平;用乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放法检测免疫小鼠细胞毒性T细胞的杀伤活性。用结核杆菌强毒株H37Rv静脉攻击小鼠后,计数肺和脾组织中结核杆菌的菌落数。对小鼠的部分肺和脾组织作病理切片,经HE染色观察组织病变的程度,经ZN染色检查抗酸杆菌,观察该疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。结果联合免疫组能诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞免疫应答,免疫小鼠脾细胞培养上清液中IFN-γ和IL-2的水平,与BCG组相当,显著高于MS基因疫苗组,IL-4分泌减少,特异性CTL的杀伤活性增强,对小鼠结核杆菌感染有较好的免疫保护效果。表现为小鼠肺和脾组织中结核杆菌的菌落数显著减少,组织病变明显减轻,其效果与卡介苗(BCG)组相当,但优于MS基因疫苗组。结论以hIL-12表达质粒与MS基因疫苗联合免疫后,能显著增强MS基因疫苗对小鼠结核杆菌感染的免疫保护效果。     

Plasmid DNA vaccines are effective in the absence of IFNgamma.

Intramuscular injection of bacterially derived plasmid DNA results in the development of both humoral and cellular immune responses against plasmid-encoded antigens. Immunostimulatory CpG sequences within bacterial DNA are thought to enhance this process by stimulating the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFNgamma) by cells of the innate immune system. Although IFNgamma induction by CpG elements within plasmid DNA has been documented in vitro and more recently in vivo, and coimmunization with plasmids expressing IFNgamma has been shown to enhance DNA-immunization-induced immune responses, it is unclear if IFNgamma is necessary for successful DNA immunization. To address this issue, we compared humoral and cellular immune responses in wild-type and IFNgamma-deficient mice vaccinated with a plasmid (pCMVNP) expressing the nucleoprotein gene from the arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). IFNgamma-positive (BALB/c) and IFNgamma-negative (GKO) mice responded to DNA vaccination by the development of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells, which were detectable directly ex vivo by intracellular cytokine staining and comprised 0.7-2.5% of all CD8(+) T cells in the vaccine. DNA vaccines also induced virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), even in the absence of IFNgamma. DNA vaccination of both mouse strains also was associated with a significant reduction in viral titers after LCMV challenge, indicating that, at least in the presence of other immune effector mechanisms, IFNgamma is not required for induction of protective anti-viral immunity by DNA immunization. No quantitative differences were observed in antiviral IgG levels among GKO and BALB/c vaccinees, although GKO mice did exhibit a significant reduction of the IgG2a:IgG1 ratio, in agreement with the previously documented requirement for IFNgamma in isotype switching to IgG2a. Immunized BALB/c mice produced similar levels of both IgG1 and IgG2a, indicating a mixed Th1/Th2 response to intramuscular immunization with pCMVNP. These results show that IFNgamma induction by bacterially derived plasmid DNA does not contribute to the magnitude of the antibody response and is not required for the induction or short-term maintenance of DNA-induced CTL. However, IFNgamma is necessary for the development of IgG2a antibodies that may be crucial for protection against some pathogens.     

Vaccination with plasmid DNA encoding TSA/LmSTI1 leishmanial fusion proteins confers protection against Leishmania major infection in susceptible BALB/c mice

We have recently shown that a cocktail containing two leishmanial recombinant antigens (LmSTI1 and TSA) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) as an adjuvant induces solid protection in both a murine and a nonhuman primate model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, because IL-12 is difficult to prepare, is expensive, and does not have the stability required for a vaccine product, we have investigated the possibility of using DNA as an alternative means of inducing protective immunity. Here, we present evidence that the antigens TSA and LmSTI1 delivered in a plasmid DNA format either as single genes or in a tandem digene construct induce equally solid protection against Leishmania major infection in susceptible BALB/c mice. Immunization of mice with either TSA DNA or LmSTI1 DNA induced specific CD4(+)-T-cell responses of the Th1 phenotype without a requirement for specific adjuvant. CD8 responses, as measured by cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte activity, were generated after immunization with TSA DNA but not LmSTI1 DNA. Interestingly, vaccination of mice with TSA DNA consistently induced protection to a much greater extent than LmSTI1 DNA, thus supporting the notion that CD8 responses might be an important accessory arm of the immune response for acquired resistance against leishmaniasis. Moreover, the protection induced by DNA immunization was specific for infection with Leishmania, i.e., the immunization had no effect on the course of infection of the mice challenged with an unrelated intracellular pathogen such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Conversely, immunization of BALB/c mice with a plasmid DNA that is protective against challenge with M. tuberculosis had no effect on the course of infection of these mice with L. major. Together, these results indicate that the protection observed with the leishmanial DNA is mediated by acquired specific immune response rather than by the activation of nonspecific innate immune mechanisms. In addition, a plasmid DNA containing a fusion construct of the two genes was also tested. Similarly to the plasmids encoding individual proteins, the fusion construct induced both specific immune responses to the individual antigens and protection against challenge with L. major. These results confirm previous observations about the possibility of DNA immunization against leishmaniasis and lend support to the idea of using a single polygenic plasmid DNA construct to achieve polyspecific immune responses to several distinct parasite antigens.     

Induction of porcine cytokine mRNA expression after DNA immunization and pseudorabies virus infection.

Injection of plasmid DNA encoding pseudorabies virus (PRV) glycoprotein into pig muscle has been shown to result in protective immunity against lethal infection. Here, pigs were vaccinated by a single coinjection of three plasmids encoding PRV glycoproteins gB, gC, and gD, with plasmid expressing porcine granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or porcine interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). DNA immunization induced a primary T cell-mediated response characterized by low rates of IFN-gamma, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and IL4 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Very low rates of PRV-specific IgG1 and the absence of IgG2 were obtained. Codelivery of plasmid expressing GM-CSF or IFN-alpha had no effect on cytokine mRNA expression or on B cell response. After a high virulent challenge, high levels of cytokine mRNA, mainly IFN-gamma, and high secondary antibody (Ab) response were induced in all DNA-vaccinated pigs. Codelivery of GMCSF gene significantly increased both Th immune response (i.e., IFN-gamma and IL-4 mRNA expression) and clinical protection but had no effect on secondary B immune response. Codelivery of IFN-alpha gene had no beneficial effect on secondary T and B cell immune responses.     

Improved Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses Against the gp120 V3 Loop of HIV-1 Following Genetic Immunization with a Chimeric DNA Vaccine Encoding the V3 Inserted into the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

The gp120-derived V3 loop of HIV-1 is involved in co-receptor interaction, it guides cell tropism, and contains an epitope for antibody neutralization. Thus, HIV-1 V3 is an attractive vaccine candidate. The V3 of the MN strain (MN V3) contains both B- and T-cell epitopes, including a known mouse H-2^d-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope. In an attempt to improve the immunogenicity of V3 in DNA vaccines, a plasmid expressing MN V3 as a fusion protein with the highly immunogenic middle (pre-S2 + S) surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) was constructed. Epidermal inoculation by gene gun was used for genetic immunization in a mouse model. Antibody and CTL responses to MN V3 and HBsAg were measured and compared with the immune responses obtained after vaccination with plasmids encoding the complete HIV-1 MN gp160 and HBsAg (pre-S2 + S), respectively. DNA vaccination with the HIV MN gp160 envelope plasmid induced a slow and low titred anti-MN V3 antibody response at 12 weeks post-inoculation (p.i.) and a late appearing (7 weeks), weak and variable CTL response. In contrast, DNA vaccination with the HBsAg-encoding plasmid induced a rapid and high titred anti-HBsAg antibody response and a uniform strong anti-HBs CTL response already 1 week p.i. in all mice. DNA vaccination with the chimeric MN V3/HBsAg plasmid elicited humoral responses against both viruses within 3–6 weeks which peaked at 6–12 weeks and remained stable for at least 25 weeks. In addition, specific CTL responses were induced in all mice against both MN V3 and HBsAg already within the first 3 weeks, lasting at least 11 weeks. Thus, HBsAg acts as a ‘genetic vaccine adjuvant’ augmenting and accelerating the cellular and humoral immune response against the inserted MN V3 loop. Such chimeric HIV–HBsAg plasmid constructs may be useful in DNA immunizations as a ‘carrier’ of protein regions or minimal epitopes which are less exposed or poorly immunogenic.