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DNA vaccination against hepatitis E virus infection in cynomolgus macaques
Saleem Kamili1, John Spelbring, Krzysztof Krawczynski
1Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. skamili@cdc.gov
Background:
: The feasibility of DNA vaccination against hepatitis E in non-human primates has not been evaluated. In the present study a full-length hepatitis E virus (HEV) open reading frame (ORF)2 (Burmese strain) was assembled, cloned, and used for genetic immunization of cynomolgus macaques (cynos), which were subsequently challenged with a heterologous HEV strain (Mexico).
Methods:
: Four cynos were vaccinated intramuscularly with the HEV ORF2 DNA cassette and one animal was vaccinated with a mock DNA construct.
Results:
: Following vaccination anti-HEV antibodies were detected in the four HEV-DNA-vaccinated cynos, but not in the control animal. When challenged, two of the four HEV-DNA-vaccinated cynos were protected against HEV infection and had no elevated alanine aminotransferase activity, viremia, or fecal shedding. The two other DNA-vaccinated animals developed HEV infection and disease.
Conclusion:
: These findings demonstrate the feasibility of DNA vaccination for the protection of HEV infection and warrant further studies to explore routes other than intramuscular for induction of a stronger and efficacious immune response.