INTRADERMAL DNA IMMUNIZATION OF MICE AGAINST INFLUENZA-A VIRUS USING THE NOVEL POWDERJECT(R) SYSTEM

The PowderJect(R) system, a device that uses compressed helium gas to accelerate microscopic particles into the skin, nas used as a delivery system for DNA vaccines to elicit a virus-specific cytotoxic T cell r esponse (CTL) in mice; Transient expression of beta-galactosidase (bet a-Gal) was observed in the epidermis when gold particles coated with b eta-Gal expression plasmid were delivered to mouse skin with the devic e, When DNA encoding the nucleoprotein gene (NP) of influenza A virus was used to coat gold particles, a strong and specific anti-NP CTL res ponse was elicited by immunizations with nanogram amounts of the NP DN A vector, This study shows ;he potential for application of the Powder Ject(R) system to intradermal delivery of DNA in order to elicit an im mune response, (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. AU rights reserved.