Induction of immunity by DNA vaccination: application to influenza and tuberculosis

DNA vaccination is an effective means of inducing both humoral and cell-mediated immunity in animal models of infectious disease. Presented here are data generated in two distinct disease models; one viral (influenza) and one bacterial (tuberculosis). Specifically, plasmid DNA encoding an influenza virus antigen (nucleoprotein; NP) and a Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen (antigen 85; Ag85) were prepared and tested as DNA vaccines in mice. In both cases, high titer antibody responses and robust cell-mediated immune responses were induced against the respective antigens. With respect to the latter, lymphocyte proliferation, Th1-type cytokine secretion, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses were observed upon restimulation with antigen in vitro. Furthermore, protective efficacy in animal challenge models was demonstrated in both systems. The data support the hypothesis that DNA vaccination will prove to be a broadly applicable technique for inducing immunity against various infectious diseases.