The search for a potent DNA vaccine against AIDS: The enhancement of immunogenicity by chemical and genetic adjuvants

DNA vaccination is a new way to generate antigen specific immune responses by inoculating plasmid DNA encoding microbial genes. We believe that the us e of immunologic adjuvants together with DNA vaccines is a promising way to enhance and optimize DNA-derived immunity. Various chemical and genetic ad juvants have been explored in our recent study. Data from these studies sug gests that adjuvants exert their immunomodulatory properties through severa l mechanisms such as lymphoid cells recruitment, cytokine induction, and th e facilitation of DNA entry into cells. Furthermore, each adjuvant has uniq ue immunomodulatory effects on cell-mediated and humoral immune responses i nduced by DNA vaccination to human immunodeficiency virus type 1. To optimi ze the desirable immune response, the choice of adjuvant and decision of im munization route are important considerations. A similar approach may be us eful potentiating anticancer immunotherapy as well.