Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
or mucosa (for example the Syriject).
39
Another approach has been to
couple the usual injection with subsequent
in vivo
electroporation
(resulting in an increase in the amount of transfection of the DNA
into cells).
4,40,41
Trials in non-human primates and humans are evaluating the novel
and promising concept of using the DNA vaccine as a prime to be fol-
lowed by immunization with viral vectors encoding the same antigen
or a recombinant protein version of the antigen.
42-46
This approach has
been termed the “prime-boost” concept. The immunologic mecha-
nism for the potency of these sequences is not known, but a variety of
vectors used as the boost appear to be useful. Of note, the immune
responses are most potent when the DNA vaccine is the priming agent.
Conclusions
DNA vaccines hold promise as a means to generate the types of immu-
nity needed for a variety of diseases, including either via the induction
of cross-strain cellular immune responses or the modulation of the
type of immunity such as the type of T cell help. In addition, even
though modifications of DNA vaccines by the addition of formula-
tions or delivery devices have made DNA vaccines more complex than
their originally envisioned simple plasmid in saline, the vaccine still
holds appeal because the relatively generic nature of the plasmid. But
the most compelling rationale for DNA vaccines is to offer the
potential for making vaccines and therapeutics directed against dis-
eases that to date have not been effectively addressed by earlier tech-
nologies, including chronic infections, diseases due to immunological
aberrations, and tumors.
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3. Bråve A, Boberg A, Gudmundsdotter L,
et al.
(2007)
Molecular Therapy
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: 1724-1733.
4. Luckay A, Sidhu MK, Kjeken R,
et al
. (2007)
J Virol
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81
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