PLASMID DNA - A NEW ERA IN VACCINOLOGY

DNA vaccination is a novel approach for inducing an immune response. P urified plasmid DNA containing an antigen's coding sequences and the n ecessary regulatory elements to express them is introduced into the ti ssue via intramuscular injection or particle bombardment. Once the DNA reaches the tissue, the antigen is expressed in enough quantity to in duce a potent and specific immune response and to confer protection ag ainst further infections. The effectiveness of DNA vaccines against vi ruses, parasites, and cancer cells has been demonstrated in numerous a nimal models. This new approach comes as an aid for the prevention of infectious diseases for which the conventional vaccines have failed. R esearch on DNA vaccines is providing new insights into some of the bas ic immunological mechanisms of vaccination such as antigen presentatio n, the role of effector cells, and immunoregulatory factors. In additi on, DNA vaccines may enable us to manipulate the immune system in situ ations where the response to agents is inappropriate or ineffective. T he study of the potential deleterious effects of DNA vaccines is furth ering our knowledge regarding the relationship between bacterial DNA a nd the immune system, as well as its potential application for the stu dy of neonatal tolerance and autoimmunity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science I nc.