Sublingual immunization of trivalent human papillomavirus DNA vaccine in baculovirus nanovector for protection against vaginal challenge

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 19;10(3):e0119408. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119408. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Here, we report the immunogenicity of a sublingually delivered, trivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA vaccine encapsidated in a human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) envelope-coated, nonreplicable, baculovirus nanovector. The HERV envelope-coated, nonreplicable, baculovirus-based DNA vaccine, encoding HPV16L1, -18L1 and -58L1 (AcHERV-triHPV), was constructed and sublingually administered to mice without adjuvant. Following sublingual (SL) administration, AcHERV-triHPV was absorbed and distributed throughout the body. At 15 minutes and 1 day post-dose, the distribution of AcHERV-triHPV to the lung was higher than that to other tissues. At 30 days post-dose, the levels of AcHERV-triHPV had diminished throughout the body. Six weeks after the first of three doses, 1×10(8) copies of SL AcHERV-triHPV induced HPV type-specific serum IgG and neutralizing antibodies to a degree comparable to that of IM immunization with 1×10(9) copies. AcHERV-triHPV induced HPV type-specific vaginal IgA titers in a dose-dependent manner. SL immunization with 1×10(10) copies of AcHERV-triHPV induced Th1 and Th2 cellular responses comparable to IM immunization with 1×10(9) copies. Molecular imaging revealed that SL AcHERV-triHPV in mice provided complete protection against vaginal challenge with HPV16, HPV18, and HPV58 pseudoviruses. These results support the potential of SL immunization using multivalent DNA vaccine in baculovirus nanovector for induction of mucosal, systemic, and cellular immune responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Sublingual
  • Animals
  • Baculoviridae / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / immunology
  • Female
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / genetics
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / immunology
  • Human papillomavirus 18 / genetics
  • Human papillomavirus 18 / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Papillomavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / immunology
  • Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology
  • Vagina / drug effects
  • Vagina / immunology

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines
  • Vaccines, DNA

Grants and funding

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. This work has been financially supported by grants from the Korean Health Technology R&D Project (No. A092010).