Successful nucleic acid based immunization of newborn chimpanzees against hepatitis B virus

• Published in: Vaccine 1997-06, Vol.15 (8), p.916-919
• Main Authors: Prince, Alfred M., Whalen, Robert, Brotman, Betsy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn - immunology; Applied microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; chimpanzees; DNA, Viral - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B - veterinary; Hepatitis B Antibodies - biosynthesis; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - genetics; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - immunology; Hepatitis B Vaccines - administration & dosage; Hepatitis B Vaccines - genetics; Hepatitis B Vaccines - immunology; hepatitis B virus; Microbiology; nucleic acid based vaccine; Pan troglodytes; Pan troglodytes - immunology; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Vaccines, DNA - administration & dosage; Vaccines, DNA - immunology; Virology
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(96)00248-4

To determine whether DNA based immunization could protect newborn chimpanzees against a challenge infection with hepatitis B virus, two chimpanzees were immunized on the day of birth with a plasmid coding for hepatitis B surface antigen, and boosted at 6 and 24 weeks. Both animals produced transient antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen. Following challenge with hepatitis B virus at 33 weeks the two immunized animals developed anamnestic antibody responses, however, neither developed detectable hepatitis B surface antigen or antibody to the core protein, the conventional markers of hepatitis B infection. Both of these markers appeared in an unimmunized control animal. We conclude that DNA based immunization can induce protective immunity in newborn chimpanzees.