DNA vaccine encoding pertussis toxin S1 subunit induces protection against Bordetella pertussis in mice

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 21; no. 31; pp. 4609 - 4615
• Main Authors: Kamachi, Kazunari, Konda, Toshifumi, Arakawa, Yoshichika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 07.11.2003
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - analysis; Antibodies, Bacterial - biosynthesis; Bordetella pertussis; Bordetella pertussis - genetics; Bordetella pertussis - immunology; Cercopithecus aethiops; COS Cells; DNA vaccine; DNA, Complementary - immunology; Female; Immunoblotting; Leukocytosis - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microspheres; Pertussis; Pertussis toxin; Pertussis Toxin - genetics; Pertussis Toxin - immunology; Pertussis Vaccine - immunology; Plasmids - genetics; Plasmids - immunology; S1 gene; Vaccines, DNA - immunology; Whooping Cough - immunology; Whooping Cough - prevention & control; DNA vaccine; Pertussis; Pertussis toxin
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(03)00441-9

Pertussis toxin (PT) is the major virulence factor of Bordetella pertussis, and detoxified PT is a crucial antigen of acellular pertussis vaccine. Here, plasmid DNA expressing the pertussis toxin S1 subunit (pcDNA/S1) of B. pertussis was evaluated for immunogenicity and for the ability to induce protection against PT challenge or B. pertussis infection in mice. The gene gun delivery of pcDNA/S1, performed by inserting the S1 gene into a mammalian expression vector, successfully induced anti-PT IgG antibody production. Immunization of mice with pcDNA/S1 significantly inhibited leukocytosis-promoting activity caused by PT or B. pertussis. In addition, pcDNA/S1 induced significant protection against intracerebral challenge with a lethal dose of B. pertussis. The results of the present study demonstrated that a DNA vaccine encoding the PT-S1 subunit induced protection against B. pertussis infection in mice. Thus, this vaccine preparation is potentially applicable for the production of novel vaccines against B. pertussis infection.