IMMUNIZATION WITH PLASMID DNA USING A PNEUMATIC GUN

We characterize a method by which the Med-E-Jet pneumatic vaccination gun can be used to propel intact, supercoiled plasmid DNA through skin and into skeletal muscles of mice. Intramuscular injection of plasmid s containing the firefly luciferase gene linked to the human cytomegal ovirus promoter resulted in the expression of several hundred picogram s of luciferase enzyme in quadriceps muscles. Intramuscular injections of a plasmid containing the influenza A nuclear protein gene regulate d by the same promoter resulted in the generation of potent and specif ic anti-nuclear protein humoral and cellular immune responses. This co nvenient and rapid injection method would be well-suited for genetic i mmunization of humans.