Evaluation of Japanese encephalitis virus polytope DNA vaccine candidate in BALB/c mice

Vaccination is the most important measure available to control the spread of Japanese encephalitis virus. We have previously described the in silico design, in vitro and primary in vivo analyses of polytope construct (P-JEV). Present study indicates that, P-JEV induces significant specific humoral and cellular immune responses in BALB/c mice. Mice were immunized intra-dermally with 1 μg plasmid DNA using gene gun and boosted twice. After the second booster, all the mice seroconverted and developed JEV neutralizing antibodies. Enhancement of post-challenge neutralizing antibody titres indicates the dominant role of anamnestic antibody-mediated protection in the mice JEV challenge model. Our study provides an insight demonstrating, intra-dermal DNA administration led to higher seroconversion rates and potentiated TH2 type of immune responses. The P-JEV construct is thus capable of generating protective neutralizing antibodies in mice and prime the immune system effectively against subsequent exposure to the virus.

► Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of JEV polytope (P-JEV) construct in murine model was analysed. ► The P-JEV construct is capable of generating protective neutralizing antibodies in mice and prime the immune system effectively against subsequent exposure to the virus. ► This study demonstrated that intra-dermal DNA administration led to higher seroconversion rates and potentiated TH2 type of immune responses.