Genetic immunization with Hantavirus vaccine combining expression of G2 glycoprotein and fused interleukin-2

Huang Hao,Jia Min,Zhu Zhenhua,Huang Hanju,Hu Hongbo,Zhang Zehua,Wan Xiaohong,Wu Zhihong,Li Xiu

doi:10.1186/1479-0556-6-15

Huang Hao, Jia Min + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-0556-6-15

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Abstract

In this research, we developed a novel chimeric HTNV-IL-2-G2 DNA vaccine plasmid by genetically linking IL-2 gene to the G2 segment DNA and tested whether it could be a candidate vaccine. Chimeric gene was first expressed in eukaryotic expression system pcDNA3.1 (+). The HTNV-IL-2-G2 expressed a 72 kDa fusion protein in COS-7 cells. Meanwhile, the fusion protein kept the activity of its parental proteins. Furthermore, BALB/c mice were vaccinated by the chimeric gene. ELISA, cell microculture neutralization test in vitro were used to detect the humoral immune response in immunized BALB/c mice. Lymphocyte proliferation assay was used to detect the cellular immune response.- The results showed that the chimeric gene could simultaneously evoke specific antibody against G2 glycoprotein and IL-2. And the immunized mice of every group elicited neutralizing antibodies with different titers. Lymphocyte proliferation assay results showed that the stimulation indexes of splenocytes of chimeric gene to G2 and IL-2 were significantly higher than that of other groups. Our results suggest that IL-2-based HTNV G2 DNA can induce both humoral and cellular immune response specific for HTNV G2 and can be a candidate DNA vaccine for HTNV infection.

Highlights

The Hantaan virus (HTNV) is a member of the genus Hantavirus of the family Bunyaviridae and a causative agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) [1,2]
It is well known that the G1 and G2 of HTNV may both play important roles in evoking neutralizing antibody for protecting against HTNV infection and in cell-mediated protective immune response
Previous studies showed the potential of the IL-2 gene as a molecular adjuvant, which appear promising for protective immunity against virus infection [19,20]

Summary

Introduction

The Hantaan virus (HTNV) is a member of the genus Hantavirus of the family Bunyaviridae and a causative agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) [1,2]. More than 100,000 cases of HFRS are reported annually, with a mortality rate between 2% and 10% [3]. HTNV is a spherical, enveloped virus with a genome consisting of three segments of single-stranded, negativesense RNA. The three segments are designated as large (L), medium (M), and small (S) segments that encode RNAdependent RNA polymerase, respectively [4]]. It is indicated that the glycoprotein (GP), which was encoded by M segment, could elicit organism to produce neutralizing antibody and could protect infected animal and human (page number not for citation purposes)

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