Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for conserved viral antigens can respond to different strains of virus, in contrast to antibodies, which are generally strain-specific. The generation of such CTLs in vivo usually requires endogenous expression of the antigen, as occurs in the case of virus infection. To generate a viral antigen for presentation to the immune system without the limitations of direct peptide delivery or viral vectors, plasmid DNA encoding influenza A nucleoprotein was injected into the quadriceps of BALB/c mice. This resulted in the generation of nucleoprotein-specific CTLs and protection from a subsequent challenge with a heterologous strain of influenza A virus, as measured by decreased viral lung titers, inhibition of mass loss, and increased survival.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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DNA, Viral / genetics*
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DNA, Viral / therapeutic use
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Gene Expression
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Genetic Vectors
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
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Immunization
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Influenza A virus / genetics*
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Influenza A virus / immunology
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Influenza A virus / isolation & purification
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Lung / microbiology
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Muscles / metabolism
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Nucleocapsid Proteins
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Nucleoproteins / genetics*
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Nucleoproteins / immunology*
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Orthomyxoviridae Infections / microbiology
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Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control*
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Plasmids
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RNA-Binding Proteins*
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
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Transfection
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Viral Core Proteins / genetics*
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Viral Core Proteins / immunology*
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Viral Vaccines / genetics*
Substances
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DNA, Viral
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Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
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NP protein, Influenza A virus
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Nucleocapsid Proteins
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Nucleoproteins
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RNA-Binding Proteins
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Viral Core Proteins
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Viral Vaccines