Transdermal immunization with low-pressure-gene-gun mediated chitosan-based DNA vaccines against Japanese encephalitis virus

Biomaterials. 2009 Oct;30(30):6017-25. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.07.029. Epub 2009 Aug 4.

Abstract

DNA vaccine is a milestone in contemporary vaccine development. It has considerably offset many shortcomings in conventional vaccines. Although DNA vaccines applied through 'traditional' high-pressure gene guns generally elicit high titers of protective immunity, such a practice however requires enormous investment in daunting instruments that often discourage vaccines due to an inevitable pain-eliciting effect. In this study, we exploited a less expensive yet low-pressure-gene-gun that can alleviate such phobia of pain. DNA vaccines were prepared by using the associative feature of cationic chitosan and anionic DNAs. The optimized N/P ratio is 3. The formulized complex sizes to nano-scale. The vaccine complexes were tested in C3H/HeN mice. The expression of GFP reporter gene was observable and traceable in epidermis and spleen over 3 days. The expressions of GFP and the activation of dendritic cells (DCs) were evident and co-localized in hair follicles and epidermis. C3H/HeN mice immunized with the developed chitosan-JEV DNA vaccines can elicit desired JEV specific antibodies, whereby the mice maintained high survival rates against 50xLD(50) JEV challenge. The low-pressure-gene-gun mediated chitosan-based JEV DNA vaccines have proven to be convenient and efficacious, thereby with high capacity in deployment for future prophylaxis against JEV outbreaks.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous*
  • Animals
  • Anions
  • Cell Movement
  • Chitosan / chemistry*
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / genetics*
  • Encephalitis, Japanese / prevention & control*
  • Encephalitis, Japanese / virology*
  • Female
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Pressure
  • Vaccines, DNA / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anions
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Chitosan