CpG Motif as an Adjuvant in Immunization of a Recombinant Plasmid Encoding Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein

Abstract

The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of DNA vaccines have been demonstrated in numerous animal<br />models of infectious diseases. In order to increase the potency of DNA vaccines, in this study, conventional<br />adjuvants such as aluminium phosphates, dendrosome, CpG motif and mixture of aluminium phosphate<br />and CpG motif have been tested. Female BALB/c mice were immunized with mixture of 10, 25 and 50 μg HCV<br />core pcDNA3. Each dose of recombinant pcDNA3 together with different adjuvants used as an immunogen<br />were injected three times on day; 0, 30 and 50 days. Blood samples were collected at four different times intervals and antibody response against HCV core antigen was determined by HCV core ELISA kit. The results indicate that the best antibody response was with mixture of aluminium phosphate and CpG motif as an adjuvant. This data suggest that the antibody response induced following DNA immunization can be modified by formulation strategies.