Complementing Nuclear Techniques with DNA Vaccine Technologies for Improving Animal Health

Abstract

The use of nuclear methods can enhance several features of DNA vaccinesin protecting livestock against pathogens. While DNA vaccines alreadyhave several advantages over their traditional predecessors (e.g. cheapproduction, stability over a wide range of temperature, amenability togenetic manipulation, and no risk of reversion to pathogenicity),conventional gene delivery systems make immunization of livestock andaquaculture populations tedious. For this reason, we are developingradiation-synthesized intelligent delivery systems for DNA vaccines. Weencapsulated a reporter construct pCMV center dot SPORT-beta-gal inradiation-synthesized kappa-carrageenan-polyvinylpyrrolidonemicrospheres IP20 (for stomach release) and IP18 (for intestinalrelease). The DNA-loaded polymers were orally administered toOreochromis niloticus (black Nile tilapia), and whole organs werestained with X-gal to observe beta-galactosidase activity. Intensestaining was observed in the stomach regions with IP20, while minimalstaining was observed with IP18. The gills, in contrast, did not expressbeta-galactosidase activity. Our results show evidence of the successfulgene delivery capabilities of radiation-synthesized microspheres.