DNA-mediated immunization of glycoprotein 350 of Epstein-Barr virus induces the effective humoral and cellular immune responses against the antigen

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human pathogen that is involved in numerous d iseases and tumors. Since the EBV infection occurs in the early ages of lif e, and most of the population is subsequently exposed to EBV, the conventio nal method of vaccination to induce the prophylactic immunity cannot be con sidered effective in coping with the virus infection. In this study, we tes ted whether the injection of a plasmid vector that contained the gene for g lycoprotein 350 (gp350), which had been identified as a ligand for virus' a dsorption and a target for virus neutralizing antibodies, could induce effe ctive immune responses against the antigen. As a result, the injection of t he constructed plasmid vector into mice induced the production of gp350-spe cific antibodies. A major isotype of the gp350-specific antibodies was IgG1 . The antibodies efficiently mediated the antibody-dependent cellular cytot oxicity against the cells expressing the gp350 antigen. In addition, the in jection of the constructed plasmid vector stimulated the precursor T cell p opulation that was specific to the gp350 antigen. In addition, gp350-specif ic cytotoxic T lymphocytes were efficiently stimulated by the injection of the constructed plasmid vector. These results suggested that the injection of the plasmid vector, containing the gp350 gene of Epstein-Barr virus, cou ld be one of the most effective ways to induce both prophylactic and therap eutic vaccinations against the virus infection.