DNA Vaccine Against Anthrax

A new DNA vaccine against anthrax has shown that it provides complete protection against aerosolized spores in rabbits. These results were reported at a Biodefense Research Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Baltimore (MD, USA).

After the researchers had first shown that the DNA vaccine was effective in mice, they tested the vaccine on rabbits. The vaccine 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 vaccine's ability to stimulate antibody production as well as protect against lethal infection. Although the LF-based DNA vaccine appeared to stimulate higher levels of antibodies, only 56% of the rabbits survived an aerosolized spore challenge. In stark 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,” noted Matthew Bell, of Ohio State University (Columbus, USA), a member of the research team.






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