Innovative plasmids for DNA vaccination
The EC-funded MVAC project sought to improve the scientific knowledge on lentivirus DNA vaccination using sheep models. The aim was to evaluate DNA vaccines in sheep challenged with maedi visna virus (MVV). The immunisation of the sheep included a series of genes encoding for MVV core or envelope elements. The MVV genes were included in adenoviral plasmids. Project partners cloned the p55gag and gp150env precursor MVV genes and used them for the synthesis of a eukaryotic plasmid expression vector. These vectors can be used as immunogens but can also be utilised for the study of the gag and env proteins. The gag and env gene products are essential precursor viral components, which give rise to a series of viral proteins. Research teams involved in this area could indeed benefit from the use of these plasmids. The env precursor gene from MVV had in fact not been expressed from a plasmid construct until this research and represents an innovative successful element of the entire project. The development of an effective vaccine strategy in this field is also likely to boost the application and utilisation of these plasmids.
