A DNA vaccine candidate for <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. anthracis</Emphasis> immunization,pcDNA3.1+PA plasmid,induce Th1/Th2 mixed responses and protection in mice

The protective antigen (PA) of Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) is a potent immunogen and a candidate subunit vaccine. To address the question whether antibodies raised against PA following injection of pcDNA3.1+PA plasmid, encoding PA, can protect against virulent B. anthracis two different regimens of PA based vaccines (DNA and live spore) were used. The groups of BALB/c mice that received live spores of the Sterne strain, naked pcDNA3.1 and naked pcDNA3.1+PA were compared to control groups. All groups were injected three times with 30-day intervals. Two weeks after the last immunization, all mice were subjected to challenge with a pathogenic strain of B. anthracis (C2). Blood samples were taken before each injection and challenge. Evaluation of the sera by ELISA method showed that DNA immunization using pcDNA3.1+PA plasmid resulted in an antibody profile representative of a mixed Th1 and Th2 response, with a skewing to a Th1 response. The group which received the naked pcDNA3.1+PA had a survival rate of >80%. This challenge assay revealed that antibodies raised following DNA vaccination against PA can confer strong protection, and resistance against virulent species of B. anthracis.     

Leishmania major: Protective capacity of DNA vaccine using amastin fused to HSV-1 VP22 and EGFP in BALB/c mice model

An intercellular spreading strategy using herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) VP22 protein is employed to enhance DNA vaccine potency of Leishmania major amastin antigen in BALB/c mice model. We evaluated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of plasmid DNA vaccines encoding amastin-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and VP22-amastin-EGFP. Optimal cell-mediated immune responses were observed in BALB/c mice immunized with VP22-amastin-EGFP as assessed by cytokine gene expression analysis using real time RT-PCR. Vaccination with the VP22-amastin-EGFP fusion construct elicited significantly higher IFN-gamma response upon antigen stimulation of splenocytes from immunized mice compared to amastin as a sole antigen. Mice immunized by VP22-amastin-EGFP showed partial protection following infectious challenge with L. major, as measured by parasite load in spleens. These results suggest that the development of DNA vaccines encoding VP22 fused to a target Leishmania antigen would be a promising strategy to improve immunogenicity and DNA vaccine potency.     

人乳头瘤病毒16型E5与IL-12联合基因疫苗的免疫活性

为了研制人乳头瘤病毒16型(HPV16)防治性疫苗,分析了HPV16 E5与IL-12联合基因疫苗的免疫活性。将构建的pcDNA3.1(+)/E5与pcDNA3.1(+)/IL-12联合免疫BALB/c小鼠,以ELISA测定小鼠血清中抗HPV16 E5 IgG水平、小鼠脾细胞培养上清中IFN-γ和IL-4含量;MTT法检测脾淋巴细胞增殖反应。结果显示末次免疫后,联合基因疫苗组和单基因疫苗组血清IgG A450值分别明显高于pcDNA3.1(+)组、pcDNA3.1(+)/IL-12组和PBS组(P<0.01);且联合基因疫苗组显著高于单基因疫苗组(P<0.01)。联合基因疫苗组和单基因疫苗组的IFN-γ和IL-4含量分别均明显高于pcDNA3.1(+)组、pcDNA3.1(+)/IL-12组和PBS组IFN-γ和IL-4含量(P<0.01),且联合基因疫苗组含量显著高于单基因疫苗组(P<0.01)。联合基因疫苗组和单基因疫苗组脾淋巴细胞刺激指数(SI)分别显著高于pcDNA3.1(+)组、pcDNA3.1(+)/IL-12组和PBS组(P<0.01);联合基因疫苗组与单基因疫苗组比较,SI差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结果表明HPV16 E5单基因疫苗以及与IL-12联合基因疫苗均能刺激机体产生较强的免疫应答,且联合基因疫苗优于单基因疫苗。     

人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)58型DNA疫苗免疫原性的初步分析

为了检测HPV 58型不同L1基因的DNA疫苗的免疫原性,以pcDNA3.1为载体分别构建含HFV 58型不同L1基因的DNA疫苗,命名为L1h、L1h△c、L1S、L1SM和L1wt.用免疫印迹法检测各DNA疫苗的体外表达情况;各重组质粒与pcDNA3.1-h58L2和pcDNA3.1-GFP共转染293FT细胞,检测其形成假病毒的能力;并将各DNA疫苗肌肉注射免疫小鼠,利用假病毒中和实验检测中和抗体水平,用ELISPOT检测细胞免疫情况.结果显示,本实验成功构建了五种DNA疫苗,L1h△c的体外表达量最高,L1S和L1SM的表达量次之,L1wt没有表达;重组质粒L1S能够形成假病毒,而其他四种重组质粒均不能形成假病毒.L1S和L1h均可在小鼠体内诱导中和抗体,但L1S诱导的中和抗体的平均滴度为1:6 400,明显高于L1h诱导的中和抗体水平(平均滴度为1:48),而其他疫苗在小鼠体内未产生中和抗体.对五种疫苗均未检测出特异性的细胞免疫反应.结果提示,体外能够组装成假病毒的DNA疫苗在免疫动物后可诱导高滴度的中和抗体,为今后DNA疫苗的筛选提供参考.     

The Effect of Bovine IFN-α on the Immune Response in Guinea Pigs Vaccinatedwith DNA Vaccine of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) belongs to thegenus Aphthovirus of the family Picornavidae. The FMDVgenome is a copy of positive-sense, single-stranded RNA,which contains one large open reading frame (ORF). TheORF is translated into a polypeptide, which undergoesautoproteolytic cleavage to produce the structural and non-structural proteins and ultimately forms mature viral pro-teins [1,2]. FMD is caused by the FMDV, which is a highly conta-gious vesicular disease of cloven-hoofe…     

梅毒螺旋体外膜蛋白Gpd基因的克隆、表达及其免疫活性研究

利用PCR技术从Tp Nichols株基因组模板中扩增梅毒螺旋体(Treponema pallidum,Tp)外膜蛋白Gpd基因,定向克隆构建真核表达重组体pcDNA3.1( )-Gpd,免疫印迹和免疫组化技术检测pcDNA3.1( )-Gpd在HeLa细胞中的表达;同时将真核表达重组体pcDNA3.1( )-Gpd免疫新西兰兔,检测其在兔体内的免疫应答效果。免疫印迹和免疫组化鉴定均显示重组体在HeLa细胞中能有效表达一个41kD的Gpd融合蛋白。新西兰兔接种核酸疫苗后,能产生特异性抗体,第3次免疫后2周抗体最高滴度可达1∶1024,免疫后兔脾细胞受Gpd蛋白刺激有明显增殖反应。所诱导的抗体水平和脾淋巴细胞增殖情况均显著高于空质粒对照组和空白对照组(p<0.05)。Tp真核表达重组体pcDNA3.1( )-Gpd的成功构建及能刺激新西兰兔产生较强特异的免疫应答,为Gpd蛋白生物学功能及梅毒DNA疫苗的深入研究奠定了一定的实验基础。     

Immunogenicity of DNA and recombinant Sendai virus vaccines expressing the HIV-1 gag gene

Combinations of DNA and recombinant-viral-vector based vaccines are promising AIDS vaccine methods because of their potential for inducing cellular immune responses. It was found that Gag-specific cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) responses were associated with lowering viremia in an untreated HIV-1 infected cohort. The main objectives of our studies were the construction of DNA and recombinant Sendai virus vector (rSeV) vaccines containing a gag gene from the prevalent Thailand subtype B strain in China and trying to use these vaccines for therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines. The candidate plasmid DNA vaccine pcDNA3.1(+)-gag and recombinant Sendai virus vaccine (rSeV-gag) were constructed separately. It was verified by Western blotting analysis that both DNA and rSeV-gag vaccines expressed the HIV-1 Gag protein correctly and efficiently. Balb/c mice were immunized with these two vaccines in different administration schemes. HIV-1 Gag-specific CTL responses and antibody levels were detected by intracellular cytokine staining assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) respectively. Combined vaccines in a DNA prime/rSeV-gag boost vaccination regimen induced the strongest and most long-lasting Gag-specific CTL and antibody responses. It maintained relatively high levels even 9 weeks post immunization. This data indicated that the prime-boost regimen with DNA and rSeV-gag vaccines may offer promising HIV vaccine regimens. Foundation item: National 863 project (2003AA219070)     

稳定携带H5亚型禽流感病毒候选DNA疫苗减毒沙门氏菌的构建及其免疫原性

采用PCR技术从重组质粒pVAX1-HA扩增出禽流感病毒JSGO(H5N1)株的血凝素(HA)基因,将其克隆入真核表达质粒pmcDNA3.1 中,获得重组表达质粒pmcDNA3.1-HA。通过电穿孔转化法将重组质粒转入减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207*,构建成功携带DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)。经体内体外试验证实,重组质粒pmcDNA3.1-HA在沙门氏菌中的稳定性显著高于pcDNA3.1-HA。将重组菌SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)和SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)分别以2×109CFU剂量两次口服免疫BALB/c小鼠,免疫小鼠可产生针对禽流感病毒HA蛋白的黏膜抗体。重组菌以5×109CFU剂量两次口服免疫试验鸡,免疫鸡的小肠样品中可测到针对禽流感病毒HA蛋白的黏膜抗体,且SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的抗体效价高于SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组。免疫保护试验结果显示,SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)和SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的免疫保护率均与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05),且SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的保护率较SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组提高了22.6%,说明稳定携带H5亚型禽流感病毒DNA疫苗的减毒沙门氏菌具有良好的免疫原性和免疫保护性。     

幽门螺杆菌Lpp20-IL2核酸疫苗免疫活性

【目的】观察pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2免疫C57BL/6小鼠后所产生的体液免疫和细胞免疫应答水平,为研制高效、新型的幽门螺杆菌核酸疫苗提供实验依据。【方法】构建pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2重组载体,并转染HeLa细胞,用Western-blot观察鉴定其在真核细胞得到表达后免疫C57BL/6小鼠,ELISA间接法测定小鼠血清中抗Lpp20IgG抗体水平,ELISA双抗体夹心法检测脾淋巴细胞培养上清中IFN-γ、IL4水平,MTT比色法检测脾淋巴细胞增殖反应,免疫荧光组化法检测Lpp20蛋白在小鼠肌肉组织中的表达情况。【结果】成功构建了pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2真核表达载体,且重组质粒能在HeLa细胞内有效表达目的蛋白;小鼠接种pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2核酸疫苗后能产生特异性IgG抗体,8w后ELISA测定血清抗体A450值明显升高。核酸疫苗pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2免疫组小鼠脾淋巴细胞经特异性抗原刺激后,培养上清中IFN-γ、IL4含量明显升高。pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20-IL2和pcDNA3.1(+)/Lpp20核酸疫苗组小鼠脾淋巴细胞经特异性抗原刺激后,刺激指数明显高于空质粒组和PBS组。Lpp20蛋白在小鼠肌肉组织中能够有效表达。【结论】幽门螺杆菌Lpp20-IL2融合基因核酸疫苗和Lpp20单基因核酸疫苗均能刺激机体产生较强细胞免疫应答和体液免疫应答,且前者能诱导更强的细胞免疫应答。     

Antitumor effect of therapeutic HPV DNA vaccines with chitosan-based nanodelivery systems

Background

Cervical cancer is the second-most-common cause of malignancies in women worldwide, and the oncogenic activity of the human papilloma virus types (HPV) E7 protein has a crucial role in anogenital tumors. In this study, we have designed a therapeutic vaccine based on chitosan nanodelivery systems to deliver HPV-16 E7 DNA vaccine, considered as a tumor specific antigen for immunotherapy of HPV-associated cervical cancer. We have developed a Nano-chitosan (NCS) as a carrier system for intramuscular administration using a recombinant DNA vaccine expressing HPV-16 E7 (NCS-DNA E7 vaccine). NCS were characterized in vitro for their gene transfection ability.

Results

The transfection of CS-pEGFP NPs was efficient in CHO cells and the expression of green fluorescent proteins was well observed. In addition, NCS-DNA E7 vaccine induced the strongest E7-specific CD8+ T cell and interferon γ responses in C57BL/6 mice. Mice vaccinated with NCS-DNA E7 vaccine were able to generate potent protective and therapeutic antitumor effects against challenge with E7-expressing tumor cell line, TC-1.

Conclusions

The strong therapeutic effect induced by the Chitosan-based nanodelivery suggest that nanoparticles may be an efficient carrier to improve the immunogenicity of DNA vaccination upon intramuscular administration and the platform could be further exploited as a potential cancer vaccine candidate in humans.     

HPV6L1/CtMOMP多表位融合基因在COS-7细胞的表达及其在小鼠的免疫效果观察

研究人乳头瘤病毒(human papillomavirus,HPV)6b结构蛋白L1(HPV6b L1)基因佐剂增强沙眼衣原体(Chlamydia trachomatis,Ct)主要外膜蛋白(MOMP)多表位(Ct MOMP168)DNA疫苗的免疫效果的可能性.构建pcDNA3.1(+)/HPV6b L1/Ct MOMP168融合重组质粒,转染COS-7细胞,用RT-PCR、激光共聚焦显微技术及Western印迹技术检测其表达.分别用pcDNA3.1(+)/HPV6b L1/Ct MOMP168、pcDNA3.1(+)/Ct MOMP168及pcDNA3.1(+)质粒肌肉免疫BALB/c小鼠,ELISA检测外周血中IgG及阴道分泌物中sIgA.结果表明,pcDNA3.1(+)/HPV6b L1/CtMOMP168可在COS-7细胞中表达;Ct MOMP168组和HPV6b L1/Ct MOMP168组均可刺激小鼠产生抗Ct MOMP特异性的抗体,抗体滴度随免疫次数增加而升高,且HPV6b L1/Ct MOMP168组小鼠产生的抗体滴度明显高于Ct MOMP168组(P0.05).结果提示,分子佐剂HPV6b L1与CtMOMP多表位基因融合能够显著增强Ct MOMP多表位DNA疫苗的体液免疫应答.     

Protection of red snapper (Lutjanus sanguineus) against Vibrio alginolyticus with a DNA vaccine containing flagellin flaA gene

Aims: The main aims of this study were to construct a DNA vaccine containing flagellin flaA gene from Vibrio alginolyticus strain HY9901 and to explore the potential application of pcDNA‐flaA as a DNA vaccine candidate for red snapper (Lutjanus sanguineus). Methods and Results: Plasmid DNA encoding flagellin flaA gene (designated as pcDNA‐flaA) was used as a DNA vaccine to immunize red snapper. The distribution, expression and immunoprotection of the DNA vaccine were analysed in tissues of the red snapper by PCR, RT‐PCR and challenge test. PCR results indicated that pcDNA‐flaA distributed in liver, spleen, kidney, gill and injection site muscle at 7–28 days after vaccination. RT‐PCR results indicated that the flaA gene was expressed in all above tissues of vaccinated fish at 7–28 days after vaccination. In addition, fish receiving the DNA vaccine developed a protective response to live V. alginolyticus challenge 28 days post inoculation, the relative per cent survival (RPS) was 88%. Conclusions: This study showed that injection of pcDNA‐flaA induced an efficient, systemic and antigen‐specific immune response in red snapper, which makes it an effective vaccine candidate against V. alginolyticus infection. Significance and Impact of the Study: The finding that red snapper does adequately respond to pcDNA‐flaA intramuscular injection makes pcDNA‐flaA a promising candidate for DNA vaccine treatment. Furthermore, the availability of red snapper for foreign gene expression represents a useful model to develop effective prophylactic strategies and opens new perspectives for the treatment of bacterial pathogens of marine cultured fish.     

MAGE-3 DNA疫苗的构建及其免疫效果的观察

通过RT PCR方法扩增MAGE 3cDNA ,以pcDNA3 1+为载体 ,构建重组表达质粒pcDNA3 1 MAGE 3。重组质粒用脂质体转染鼠B16细胞 ,经RT PCR、细胞免疫染色及免疫印迹法鉴定转化细胞中MAGE 3的表达。以 10 0 μg质粒剂量肌肉注射接种小鼠 ,间隔 10天 ,共 3次 ,以空载体和PBS为对照。结果 ,重组质粒免疫的小鼠 ,其脾淋巴细胞对MAGE 3阳性靶细胞的杀伤活性为 51 0 8± 7 41% ,与空载体组 (8 44± 1 89% )及PBS组 (5 76± 1 75% )相比 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 0 1) ,而对MAGE 3阴性靶细胞的杀伤活性分别为 8 2 1± 1 65% ,7 68± 1 56%和 5 13±1 42 % ,其差异无显著性 ;MAGE 3DNA疫苗组免疫血清 1∶15稀释时能检测到抗MAGE 3抗体 ,脾细胞培养上清中Th1类细胞因子IFN γ、IL 2水平明显升高 ,外周血中CD4+、CD8+T细胞也提高 ,小鼠肿瘤的生长速度明显减慢 ,与对照组相比 ,差异显著 (P <0 0 1)。说明MAGE 3重组质粒免疫小鼠可以诱导小鼠产生特异性的体液和细胞免疫应答     

Evaluation of the immune response elicited by multi-antigenic DNA vaccine expressing SAG1, ROP2 and GRA2 against Toxoplasma gondii

The parasite Toxoplasma gondii can infect most mammals and birds, sometimes causing severe pathology. Previous studies have reported that multi-antigenic vaccines were more effective than single-antigenic vaccine. It was also reported that the a single-gene vaccine with SAG1 or ROP2, GRA2 could only produce partial protection against T. gondii. In this study, we constructed a multi-antigenic DNA vaccine containing SAG1, ROP2 and GRA2, and evaluated its immune response. We used IL-12 as an adjuvant to enhance the immune response. We immunized BALB/c mice intramuscularly. After immunization, we evaluated the immune response using lymphocyte proliferation assay, cytokine and antibody measurements. The results showed that the group immunized with pcDNA3.1–SAG1–ROP2–GRA2 produced high Th1 immune response compared to other groups immunized with double-gene plasmid, empty plasmid or phosphate-buffered saline, respectively. Moreover, the co-immunization with IL-12 genes enhanced the immune response significantly and prolonged survival time. The current study showed that multi-antigenic DNA with IL-12 produced potent, effective and long-term protection against T. gondii challenge.     

Immunization with chlamydial plasmid protein pORF5 DNA vaccine induces protective immunity against genital chlamydial infection in mice

To validate the immune protective efficacy of pORF5 DNA vaccine and to analyze potential mechanisms related to this protection. In this study, pORF5 DNA vaccine was constructed and evaluated for its protective immunity in a mouse model of genital chlamydial infection. Groups of BALB/c mice were immunized intranasally with pORF5 DNA vaccine. Humoral and cell mediated immune responses were evaluated. The clearance ability of chlamydial challenge from the genital tract and the chlamydia-induced upper genital tract gross pathology and histopathological characterization were also detected. The results showed that the total and the IgG2a anti-pORF5 antibody levels in serum were significantly elevated after pcDNA3.1-pORF5 vaccination, as were the total antibody and IgA levels in vaginal fluids. pcDNA3.1-pORF5 induced a significantly high level of Th1 response as measured by robust gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Minimal IL-4 was produced by immune T cells in response to the re-stimulation with pORF5 protein or the inactive elementary body in vitro. pcDNA3.1-pORF5-vaccinated mice displayed significantly reduced bacterial shedding upon a chlamydial challenge and an accelerated resolution of infection. 100% of pcDNA3.1-pORF5 vaccinated mice successfully resolved the infection by day 24. pcDNA3.1-pORF5-immunized mice also exhibited protection against pathological consequences of chlamydial infection. The stimulated index was significantly higher than that of mice immunized with pcDNA3.1 and PBS (P<0.05). Together, these results demonstrated that immunization with pORF5 DNA vaccine is a promising approach for eliciting a protective immunity against a genital chlamydial challenge.     

Efficacy of a DNA Vaccine Carrying Eimeria maxima Gam56 Antigen Gene against Coccidiosis in Chickens

To control coccidiosis without using prophylactic medications, a DNA vaccine targeting the gametophyte antigen Gam56 from Eimeria maxima in chickens was constructed, and the immunogenicity and protective effects were evaluated. The ORF of Gam56 gene was cloned into an eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(zeo)+. Expression of Gam56 protein in COS-7 cells transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA-Gam56 was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly to yellow feathered broilers of 1-week old at 3 dosages (25, 50, and 100 µg/chick). Injection was repeated once 1 week later. One week after the second injection, birds were challenged orally with 5×10⁴ sporulated oocysts of E. maxima, then weighed and killed at day 8 post challenge. Blood samples were collected and examined for specific peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation activity and serum antibody levels. Compared with control groups, the administration of pcDNA-Gam56 vaccine markedly increased the lymphocyte proliferation activity (P<0.05) at day 7 and 14 after the first immunization. The level of lymphocyte proliferation started to decrease on day 21 after the first immunization. A similar trend was seen in specific antibody levels. Among the 3 pcDNA-Gam56 immunized groups, the median dosage group displayed the highest lymphocyte proliferation and antibody levels (P<0.05). The median dosage group had the greatest relative body weight gain (89.7%), and the greatest oocyst shedding reduction (53.7%). These results indicate that median dosage of DNA vaccine had good immunogenicity and immune protection effects, and may be used in field applications for coccidiosis control.