Immunization with the gene expressing woodchuck hepatitis virus nucleocapsid protein fused to cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 leads to enhanced specific immune responses in mice and woodchucks.

ABSTRACT: A number of options are available to modify and improve DNA vaccines. An interesting approach to improve DNA vaccines is to fuse bioactive domains, like cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), to an antigen. Such fusion antigens are expressed in vivo and directed to immune cells by the specific bioactive domain and therefore possess great potential to induce and modulate antigen-specific immune responses. In the present study, we tested this new approach for immunomodulation against hepadnavirus infection in the woodchuck model. Plasmids expressing the nucleocapsid protein (WHcAg) and e antigen (WHeAg) of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) alone or in fusion to the extracellular domain of woodchuck CTLA-4 and CD28 were constructed. Immunizations of mice with plasmids expressing

SUBMITTER: Lu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1091665 | biostudies-literature | 2005 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature