Protective effect of DNA vaccine with the gene encoding 55kDa antigen fragment against Pneumocystis carinii in mice

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of DNA vaccine with the gene encoding 55kDa antigen fragment of Pneumocystis carinii (P. carinii) against P. carinii in mice.

Methods: The fragment of the antigen within p55(p55-582) was cloned. Then recombinant plasmid was constructed based on the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+). BALB/c mice were used as experimental models to examine the immunogenicity of pcDNA3.1(+)-p55-582. ELISA and RT-PCR were used to evaluate the role of this kind of DNA vaccine.

Results: The results of western blot indicated that the recombinant DNA[pcDNA3.1(+)-p55-582] could be expressed correctly and had antigenicity in transfected COS-7 cells. ELISA and RT-PCR showed that pcDNA3.1(+)-p55-582 elicited antibody production, stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and provided partial protection by reducing the P. carinii burden.

Conclusions: The data demonstrate that pcDNA3.1(+)-p55-582 might be potent vaccination that can afford the partial protection for the immunized animals.