News and Research
Immune System

DNA Vaccine Protects Against Anthrax

3-9-2004 BALTIMORE, MD A new DNA vaccine against anthrax provides complete protection against aerosolized spores in rabbits, say researchers from the Ohio University and the Naval Medical Research Center. They report their results today at the American Society for Microbiology's Biodefense Research Meeting.

"The naked DNA approach is vaccination at its simplest. The gene encoding the vaccine is introduced into the host and expressed in vivo where it stimulates a protective immune response," says Matthew Bell, of the Ohio State University, one of the researchers on the study.

Having previously shown the effectiveness of a DNA vaccine in mice, Bell and his colleagues tested the vaccine on a higher form of mammal: rabbits. The animals were given a vaccine made of DNA that coded for either the lethal factor (LF) or the protective antigen (PA) component of the anthrax toxin in order to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against those compounds. The researchers tested the ability of the vaccine to both stimulate antibody production and protect against lethal infection. While the LF-based DNA vaccine appeared to stimulate higher levels of antibodies, only 56% of the rabbits survived an aerosolized spore challenge. In contrast all of the rabbits given the PA-based DNA vaccine survived.

"Although LF stimulates higher antibody titers than PA, immunization with PA induces antibodies that are more capable of neutralizing toxin and conferring protection," says Bell.

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is the largest single life science society, composed of over 42,000 scientists, teachers, physicians, and health professionals. Its mission is to promote research and training in the microbiological sciences and to assist communication between scientists, policymakers, and the public to improve health, economic well being, and the environment.

Further information on the ASM Biodefense Research Meeting can be found online at www.asmbiodefense.org.

This story has been adapted from a news release issued by American Society For Microbiology, www.asm.org.

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