Fetal immunization by a DNA vaccine delivered into the oral cavity.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Fetal immunization by a DNA vaccine delivered into the oral cavity.

Nat Med. 2000 Aug;6(8):929-32. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/20392586
Gerdts V; Babiuk LA; van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk; Griebel PJ; Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization, University of; Saskatchewan, S7N 5E3 Saskatoon, Canada.

Abstract: Infectious diseases are the main cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in humans. The World Health Organization estimated that in 1995 approximately 8 million infants died within the first year of life from infectious diseases, including 5 million during the first week of life. Some of the salient pathogens involved include herpes simplex virus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, human cytomegalovirus, group B streptococcus, hemophilus and chlamydia. Infection with these pathogens usually occurs at the end of pregnancy, during birth or by breastfeeding. To reduce the risk of disease transmission, caesarian sections, prophylactic treatment with antibiotics or maternal antiviral therapy during the last trimester are used where available, together with improved neonatal care. None of these approaches, however, completely eliminates the risk of neonatal infection. Therefore, active or passive immunization of the fetus might represent an effective approach to reduce the high risk of neonatal diseases. Here, we demonstrate that a single immunization with a DNA vaccine delivered into the amniotic fluid in the oral cavity induces high serum antibody titers and a cell-mediated immune response, combined with induction of local immunity in the oral cavities of fetal lambs.

Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Administration, Oral Amniotic Fluid Animal Antibodies, Viral/BLOOD Female Fetal Blood/IMMUNOLOGY Fetus/*IMMUNOLOGY Human Immunity, Cellular Immunization/*METHODS Infant, Newborn Lymphocyte Transformation Pregnancy Sheep Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Vaccines, DNA/*ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE Viral Nonstructural Proteins/GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY

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