Protection Against Rotavirus Infections By Dna Vaccination

Abstract

DNA vaccines encoding for murine rotavirus proteins VP4, VP6, or VP7 were tested in adult BALB/cmice for their ability to induce immune responses and protect against rotavirus challenge. A gene gun was used to inoculate vaccines into the epidermis. Rotavirus-specific serum antibodies, as measured by ELISA, and virus-specific cytotoxicT lymphocyte responses were generated by each of the three vaccines, but virus-neutralizing antibodies were detected only in mice that were inoculate with DNA vaccines encoding for VP4 and VP7. Efficacy of the vaccines was determined by challenge with 100 ID₅₀ of homotypic rotavirus. Each of the three vaccines was effective in protecting mice against infection after rotavirus challenge as determined by reduction (P < .001) in virus excretion in mice receiving the DNA vaccines. These results demonstrate that DNA vaccination has potential as a new approach for control of rotavirus infections.