Influence of codon usage on the immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine against tetanus

Vaccine. 2000 Nov 22;19(7-8):810-5. doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(00)00246-2.

Abstract

Two related DNA vaccine vector plasmids, harbouring either wild-type (pcDNA3/ntetC) or synthetic codon optimised (pcDNA3/stetC) DNA encoding fragment C (TetC) of tetanus toxin were constructed. COS-7 cells transformed with pcDNA3/stetC reproducibly expressed higher levels of TetC than similar cells transformed with pcDNA3/ntetC. BALB/c mice immunised intramuscularly with pcDNA3/stetC produced significantly higher levels of anti-TetC antibodies in their serum in the weeks following vaccination compared to mice immunised with pcDNA3/ntetC, even when differences in the CpG content between the two sequences were controlled for using non-expressing DNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • COS Cells
  • Clostridium tetani / genetics
  • Clostridium tetani / immunology
  • Codon / genetics*
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Immunization
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics*
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology*
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Tetanus Antitoxin / blood
  • Tetanus Toxin / genetics*
  • Tetanus Toxin / immunology*
  • Tetanus Toxoid / administration & dosage
  • Tetanus Toxoid / genetics*
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology*
  • Transfection
  • Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, DNA / genetics*
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology*

Substances

  • Codon
  • DNA Primers
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Tetanus Antitoxin
  • Tetanus Toxin
  • Tetanus Toxoid
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • tetanus toxin fragment C