Comparative evaluation of three different intramuscular delivery methods for DNA immunization in a nonhuman primate animal model

Although plasmid DNA vaccines induce potent cell-mediated immune responses and prime for antibody responses in experimental laboratory animals, their immunogenicity in humans has been less remarkable. A number of strategies have been proposed to improve the immunogenicity of these vaccines, including using novel means of vaccine delivery. In the present study, the immunogenicity of three different methods of intramuscular plasmid DNA administration was compared in cynomolgus monkeys: needle and syringe, Biojector® 2000, and Mini-Ject™. The elicited cellular and humoral immune responses were comparable in monkeys immunized using these different delivery techniques, suggesting that the needle-free approaches to vaccine administration do not significantly improve the immunogenicity of the plasmid DNA vaccine used in the study.