10- to 100-fold enhancement of vaccine efficacy using EP after
i.m. DNA vaccine injection [11–13].
DNA-prime/protein-boost strategies have been successfully
used to enhance antibody and T-cell responses to many viruses,
although studies on the JEV serocomplex are limited. A study that
used a WNV DNA vaccine targeting the E protein which was
injected i.m. into BALB/c mice with EP, followed by a heterologous protein boost showed significantly enhanced neutralizing
antibody titers [14]. Another study used a JEV DNA vaccine with
multiple E-protein epitopes and immunomodulatory molecules,
followed by two JEV protein boosts adjuvanted with complete
Freund’s adjuvant, and showed a twofold increase in antibodies,
IL-4 and IFN-γ compared to either DNA or protein alone
[15]. Hence, a DNA prime/protein boost strategy including relevant adjuvants may be an effective strategy for inducing strong
antibody and T-cell protection against flaviviruses.
The following method describes the preparation and use of
flavivirus DNA vaccines to be used as part of a DNA prime/protein
boost strategy including various adjuvants to increase their immunogenicity (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1 Schematic of experimental design for testing of effectiveness of flavivirus
DNA vaccines with or without added adjuvants
408
Lei Li et al.
i.m. DNA vaccine injection [11–13].
DNA-prime/protein-boost strategies have been successfully
used to enhance antibody and T-cell responses to many viruses,
although studies on the JEV serocomplex are limited. A study that
used a WNV DNA vaccine targeting the E protein which was
injected i.m. into BALB/c mice with EP, followed by a heterologous protein boost showed significantly enhanced neutralizing
antibody titers [14]. Another study used a JEV DNA vaccine with
multiple E-protein epitopes and immunomodulatory molecules,
followed by two JEV protein boosts adjuvanted with complete
Freund’s adjuvant, and showed a twofold increase in antibodies,
IL-4 and IFN-γ compared to either DNA or protein alone
[15]. Hence, a DNA prime/protein boost strategy including relevant adjuvants may be an effective strategy for inducing strong
antibody and T-cell protection against flaviviruses.
The following method describes the preparation and use of
flavivirus DNA vaccines to be used as part of a DNA prime/protein
boost strategy including various adjuvants to increase their immunogenicity (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1 Schematic of experimental design for testing of effectiveness of flavivirus
DNA vaccines with or without added adjuvants
408
Lei Li et al.