DNA VACCINES

DNA Vaccines



DNA Vaccines

Traditional vaccines were to save people from dozens of infectious diseases, in many cases remain ineffective or too unsafe. Opportunity to overcome the inherent limitations appeared with the development of genetic engineering. As an alternative to the usual methods of immunization a DNA vaccine was developed.

DNA vaccines are a promising tool in vaccinology modern. Being a technology easy to apply and highly versatile capable of stimulating an immune response humoral and cellular essential in the fight against viral infections, is a primary line of research and development. This review addresses characteristics of a DNA vector and mechanisms proposed for the generation of response immune by such of vaccination. Similarly, is discuss some vaccination regimens, sample protective immune responses obtained species of veterinary interest, and refers to issues safety inherent in this type of vaccine.

Discussion

Although during the past century showed that vaccination can protect against infection by various pathogens, it is known that many human diseases and veterinary, such as HIV, tuberculosis, African swine fever (Pastoret, 2005), methods can be inefficient vaccine based on their ability to confer protective immunity or not yet available.

DNA vaccines are based on immunization with a plasmid containing the genetic information from one or more genes that code for immunogenic proteins particular pathogen. The plasmid acts as a vector allowing the expression in the within cells that are transfected as a result of immunization. The generated immune response, humoral or cellular, prepares the individual vaccinated for countering a pathogen infection, so its use is constitutes a potential prophylactic tool to implement, especially in those diseases requiring both arms of the immune response, such as those caused by virus (Davis and Whalen, 1995). Among the advantages that can be attributed to the use of DNA vaccines may include: its ability to stimulate a cell-type-mediated cytotoxic CD8 T-lymphocyte + , Which is not achieved with current conventional vaccines inactivated and recombinant subunit, in addition to obviating the use of vaccines living and safety issues associated with this type of vaccination, its relatively low production cost and the fact that do not require cold chain for distribution, given its greater stability.

This review focuses on aspects of the production of DNA vaccines, the strategies immunization, antigen presentation mechanisms responsible for levels protection achieved with this type of vaccine and immune response generation mucosal. Likewise, the themes are developed concerning immunological memory, duration immune response, mentioning the safety issues concerning the use of this type of vaccine.

Experiments on the production of DNA vaccines mainly carried out with bacterial plasmids - small stable circular DNA that contains the outside of the chromosomes. Plasmids are good in the sense that by themselves do not cause infection. In fact, they are used only as a vector - a means of delivery. To induce the necessary immune response, plasmids isolated from bacteria modified by making certain changes in the structure of DNA. Namely sewn genes that encode one or more of certain proteins-antigens produced by specific bacteria or ...