A Genetic Immunization Adjuvant System Based on BVP22–Antigen Fusion

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Abstract
DNA vaccines must induce a greater immune response to be effective in the biomedical industry. Therefore, we tested the trafficking trait of the bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) protein VP22 (BVP22) fused to an antigen and applied this unique trait to genetic immunization. DNA immunization with BVP22–antigen stimulates immune responses superior to that of standard DNA immunization. Mice were injected intramuscularly with gene constructs expressing the antigen yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), YFP fused to BVP22, or YFP fused to BHV-1 tegument protein VP16 (BVP16). The results revealed a significantly enhanced YFP antibody response with BVP22-YFP DNA immunization compared with either YFP or BVP16–YFP gene immunization. Notably, the BVP22-YFP DNA construct induced a stronger T helper 1 (Th1) response, based on IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokine levels, and IgG2a/IgG1 ratios. Furthermore, BVP22–YFP genetic immunization induced a greater cytotoxic T lymphocyte response. The genetic adjuvant properties of BVP22 can make DNA vaccines much more effective clinically.
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