Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The incorporation of RANTES or IL-23 into DNA vaccines may improve their immunogenicity by the recruitment and activation of dendritic cells. This may also select for a TH1 response counteracting the TH2 response which can predominate when a DNA vaccine is delivered by gene gun. We have immunized mice with various DNA constructs encoding APR/8/34 influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA), either fused to or separate from, IL-23 or RANTES using a gene gun. Those immunized with IL-23/HA fusion constructs and challenged with influenza 27 weeks post-vaccination, tended to have cleared more virus than those vaccinated with HA DNA. Mice immunized with the RANTES/HA fusion construct produced a mixed TH1/TH2 response whereas in HA-vaccinated mice, a TH2 response predominated. Immunization with a plasmid in which HA and RANTES were under the control of separate promoters, failed to generate a mixed TH1/TH2 response suggesting that enhanced antigen uptake via RANTES receptors may contribute to the mixed immune response generated to the fusion construct. Overall these findings provide further evidence that Type 1 cytokines or chemokines, fused to antigen in a DNA vaccine, can influence the nature and the longevity of the immune response and ultimately, its protective capacity.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.03.084

Type

Journal article

Journal

Vaccine

Publication Date

19/09/2008

Volume

26

Pages

5153 - 5158

Keywords

Animals, Chemokine CCL5, Female, Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus, Immunization, Influenza A virus, Influenza Vaccines, Interleukin-23, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Orthomyxoviridae Infections, Recombinant Fusion Proteins, Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms, Th1 Cells, Th2 Cells, Vaccines, DNA