Abstract
AS is evident from the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic, there is no systematic method for producing a vaccine. Genetic immunization1is a new approach to vaccine production that has many of the advantages of live/attenuated pathogens but no risk of infection. It involves introducing DNA encoding a pathogen protein into host cells and has shown promise in several disease models2-13. Here we describe a new method for vaccine development, expression-library immunization, which makes use of the technique of genetic immunization and the fact that all the antigens of a pathogen are encoded in its DNA. An expression library of pathogen DNA is used to immunize a host thereby producing the effects of antigen presentation of a live vaccine without the risk. We show that even partial expression libraries made from the DNA of Mycoplasma pulmonis, a natural pathogen in rodents, provide protection against challenge from the pathogen. Expression library immunization may prove to be a general method for vaccination against any pathogen.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 632-635 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Nature |
Volume | 377 |
Issue number | 6550 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1995 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General