Induction of Immune Responses to Glycoprotein gD of Aujeszky's Disease Virus with DNA Immunization

Abstract

In an attempt to produce a DNA vaccine to prevent Aujeszky's disease, the induction of immune responses against Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) gD was investigated in mice. The plasmid was constructed by placing ADV gD gene downstream of murine cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter of expression vector pMYK, which was injected twice on the skin of mice by using a gene-gun. All mice showed neutralizing antibodies against ADV gD at 4 weeks after immunization. The induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and splenic natural killer cells was also observed at 6 weeks post immunization. These results indicate that ADV gD gene in the form of DNA vaccine may induce specific as well as non-specific immune responses in vivo.