Protection against Mycoplasma pulmonis infection by genetic vaccination

ABSTRACT The induction of an immune response against a foreign protein usually requires purification of that protein, which is injected into animals. The isolation of a pure protein is time consuming and costly. Recently, a technique called biolistic transformation (biological ballistic system) microparticle injection, gene gun, or particle bombardment was developed. The basic idea is that the DNA or biological material coated onto heavy tungsten or gold particles is shot into target cells or animals. We have vaccinated mice by introducing the gene (Mycoplasma pulmonis DNA or a specific fragment) encoding a protein recognized by a protective monoclonal antibody directly into the skin or muscle of mice by two methods: (i) using a hand-held form of the biolistic system that can propel DNA-coated gold microprojectiles (2 μg of DNA) directly into the skin; (ii) using a conventional intramuscular injection of the DNA (100 μg) into quadricep muscles of transfected mice. HeLa cells were transfected in vitro by t...