Needle-free jet injection of DNA and protein vaccine of the Far-Eastern subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus induces protective immunity in mice

• Published in: Microbiology and immunology 2011-12, Vol.55 (12), p.893-897
• Main Authors: Omori-Urabe, Yuki, Yoshii, Kentaro, Ikawa-Yoshida, Ayae, Kariwa, Hiroaki, Takashima, Ikuo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Neutralizing - biosynthesis; Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis; Antibodies, Viral - blood; DNA vaccine; DNA, Viral - genetics; DNA, Viral - immunology; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne - genetics; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne - immunology; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne - immunology; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne - prevention & control; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne - virology; Humans; Injections, Jet; Japan; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; needle-free injection; subviral particles; tick-borne encephalitis; Vaccination; Vaccines, DNA - administration & dosage; Vaccines, DNA - immunology; Vaccines, Synthetic - administration & dosage; Vaccines, Synthetic - immunology; Viral Proteins - genetics; Viral Proteins - immunology; Viral Vaccines - administration & dosage; Viral Vaccines - immunology
• ISSN: 0385-5600; 1348-0421
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2011.00389.x

ABSTRACT Tick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes severe encephalitis in humans. It is endemic in one area of Japan; however no commercial vaccine is available in that country. In this Japan‐based study, the efficacy of subviral particles (SPs) of TBEV administered by needle‐free injector was evaluated as a vaccine candidate. Inoculation with SP‐encoding DNA by needle‐free injector induced neutralizing antibodies more efficiently than when administered by needle and syringe, and mice vaccinated with one dose by needle‐free injector survived challenge with a lethal dose of TBEV. These results suggest that SP vaccines delivered by needle‐free injector can protect against TBEV infection.