Rapid and wide-reaching delivery of HIV-1 env DNA vaccine by intranasal administration

Although the potential of DNA vaccination is now beginning to be greatly ap preciated, no detailed study of its localization in tissue or its expressio n kinetics has been reported. In this study, we investigated these issues u sing HIV-1 DNA plasmids administered either intranasally or intramuscularly , Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that the human immunod eficiency virus (HIV) plasmids administered intranasally localized in the a lveoli, lung, liver, spleen, regional lymph nodes, kidney, fetus, and esoph agus, These HIV plasmids were detected 2 to 4 weeks after administration. W e detected messenger RNA production of HIV env gene in the lung, liver and spleen, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific proteins w ere detectable in the lung, These observations may provide important inform ation for understanding the mechanisms of strong immune activation induced by DNA vaccination via the intranasal route. This technology of DNA adminis tration suggests possible practical applications for vaccination and probab ly for gene therapy.