Gene gun mediated vaccination is superior to manual delivery for immunisation with DNA vaccines expressing protective antigens from Yersinia pestis or Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus

Plasmids expressing the V antigen of Yersinia pestis or the E2 glycoprotein of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE) virus were used to vaccinate mice by intra-dermal or intra-muscular injection, or by particle-mediated bombar dment using the Helios(TM) gene gun. After two immunizations, groups of mic e which had received 4 mu g doses of plasmid DNA using the gene gun had IgG levels which were higher than in other groups manually immunised with 12-f old more plasmid DNA. The immunoglobulin isotype profile was predominantly IgG1 following inoculation with either plasmid. Our results indicate that g ene gun mediated vaccination can be used to increase the magnitude of the i mmune response to both bacterial and viral antigens expressed by plasmid DN A. Crown Copyright (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.