Development of rabies DNA vaccine using a recombinant plasmid.

A recombinant plasmid pTargeT.rabgp containing the glycoprotein (G) gene of Rabies virus (RV) was constructed and produced for immunogenicity studies on mice and dogs. The mice immunized twice with 50 microg or 100 microg of pTargeT.rabgp intramuscularly (i.m.), showed a serum antibody titer of 256 or 64, respectively 14 days post immunization (p.i.). When the vaccinated mice were challenged at 14 days p.i. with RV i.c., they were protected in 81.25% or 87.5%, respectively. A positive cell mediated immune response was observed by lymphocyte proliferation assay and macrophage migration inhibition test. These results indicate that the pTargeT.rabgp plasmid can be used as a rabies DNA vaccine.