Gene gun-mediate DNA vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease virus

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most dangerous diseases of clove n-hoofed animals and is a constant threat in the Middle-East and other regi ons throughout the world despite intensive Vaccination programs. In this wo rk, we describe the ability of FMDV expression constructs to protect pigs f rom FMDV challenge when used as a vaccine. The construct consists of enceph alomyocarditis virus (EMCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES), the entire P1 and 2A together with 3CD sequences, all in the same reading frame. Anot her plasmid that was tested, carries the serotype O1 (G) VPI, Asia1 VP1 and O1 (G) 3C. Between each of the genes the 3C cleavage sequences were insert ed. All constructs carried the cytomegalo virus (CMV) promoter. Using immun ofluorescent and immunoblot techniques, we could show the expression and pr ocessing of viral proteins. Following the application of FMDV expression co nstructs into pigs skin by 'Gene Gun', pigs were partially protected from F MDV challenge. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.