PROTECTION AGAINST ROTAVIRUS INFECTIONS BY DNA VACCINATION

DNA vaccines encoding for murine rotavirus proteins VP4, VP6, or VP7 w ere tested in adult BALB/c mice for their ability to induce immune res ponses and protect against rotavirus challenge. A gene gun was used to inoculate vaccines into the epidermis, Rotavirus-specific serum antib odies, as measured by ELISA, and virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses were generated by each of the three vaccines, but virus-neu tralizing antibodies were detected only in mice that were inoculated w ith DNA vaccines encoding for VP4 and VP7. Efficacy of the vaccines wa s determined by challenge with 100 ID50 of homotypic rotavirus. Each o f the three vaccines was effective in protecting mice against infectio n after rotavirus challenge as determined by reduction (P < .001) in v irus excretion in mice receiving the DNA vaccines. These results demon strate that DNA vaccination has potential as a new approach for contro l of rotavirus infections.