Protective efficacy and immunogenicity of a combinatory DNA vaccine against Influenza A Virus and the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 14;8(8):e72217. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072217. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Influenza A Virus (IAV) are both two major causative agents of severe respiratory tract infections in humans leading to hospitalization and thousands of deaths each year. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of a combinatory DNA vaccine in comparison to the single component vaccines against both diseases in a mouse model. Intramuscular electroporation with plasmids expressing the hemagglutinin (HA) of IAV and the F protein of RSV induced strong humoral immune responses regardless if they were delivered in combination or alone. In consequence, high neutralizing antibody titers were detected, which conferred protection against a lethal challenge with IAV. Furthermore, the viral load in the lungs after a RSV infection could be dramatically reduced in vaccinated mice. Concurrently, substantial amounts of antigen-specific, polyfunctional CD8⁺ T-cells were measured after vaccination. Interestingly, the cellular response to the hemagglutinin was significantly reduced in the presence of the RSV-F encoding plasmid, but not vice versa. Although these results indicate a suppressive effect of the RSV-F protein, the protective efficacy of the combinatory vaccine was comparable to the efficacy of both single-component vaccines. In conclusion, the novel combinatory vaccine against RSV and IAV may have great potential to reduce the rate of severe respiratory tract infections in humans without increasing the number of necessary vaccinations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Female
  • Immunity, Cellular / immunology
  • Immunity, Humoral / immunology
  • Immunization
  • Influenza A virus / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / immunology*
  • Vaccines, Combined / immunology
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Vaccines, Combined
  • Vaccines, DNA

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the German Research Foundation (GK1045/3), the Heinrich and Alma Vogelsang-Stiftung and the Mercator Research Center Ruhr (St-2010-0004). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.