Small animal jet injection technique results in enhanced immunogenicity of hantavirus DNA vaccines

• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.01.002
• Publication Date: 2021-01-19T13:47:39Z
• Authors: Rebecca L. Brocato; Steven A. Kwilas; Matthew D. Josleyn; Simon Long; Xiankun Zeng; Casey C. Perley; Lucia M. Principe; Brandon Somerville; Melanie V. Cohen; Jay W. Hooper
• Keywords: Naked DNA

DNA vaccine evaluation in small animals is hampered by low immunogenicity when the vaccines are delivered using a needle and syringe. To overcome this technical hurdle we tested possibility that device developed for human intradermal medicine delivery might be adapted to successfully deliver animals. Disposable syringe jet injection (DSJI) does not currently exist However, commercialized, used administer medicines dermis 0.1 mL volume was evaluated Syrian hamsters. Here, found hantavirus administered hamsters DSJI were substantially more immunogenic than same needle/syringe or particle mediated epidermal (gene gun) vaccination. By adjusting how could either subcutaneous tissues, through skin into muscle. RNA and/or antigen expression detected epidermal, subepidermal fibroblast cells. We directly compared six optimized non-optimized Optimization, including codon-usage mRNA stability, did necessarily result increased all tested; however, optimization of Andes virus (ANDV) protected vaccinated from lethal disease. This first time active vaccination with an ANDV has shown protective efficacy hamster model. The adaptation use as method intramuscular will advance development nucleic acid based medical countermeasures diseases modeled