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Journal of Virology, September 2001, p. 8424-8433, Vol. 75, No. 18
Department of Veterinary Pathology,
University of Glasgow, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom
Received 12 February 2001/Accepted 7 June 2001
The expectation that cell-mediated immunity is important in the
control of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection led us to test a DNA
vaccine administered alone or with cytokines that favored the
development of a Th1 immune response. The vaccine consisted of two
plasmids, one expressing the gag/pol genes and the other expressing the env gene of FeLV-A/Glasgow-1. The genetic
adjuvants were plasmids encoding the feline cytokines interleukin-12
(IL-12), IL-18, or gamma interferon (IFN-
0022-538X/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.75.18.8424-8433.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Feline Leukemia Virus DNA Vaccine Efficacy Is
Enhanced by Coadministration with Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-18
Expression Vectors

). Kittens were immunized
by three intramuscular inoculations of the FeLV DNA vaccine alone or in
combination with plasmids expressing IFN-
, IL-12, or both IL-12 and
IL-18. Control kittens were inoculated with empty plasmid. Following
immunization, anti-FeLV antibodies were not detected in any kitten.
Three weeks after the final immunization, the kittens were challenged
by the intraperitoneal inoculation of FeLV-A/Glasgow-1 and were then
monitored for a further 15 weeks for the presence of virus in plasma
and, at the end of the trial, for latent virus in bone marrow. The
vaccine consisting of FeLV DNA with the IL-12 and IL-18 genes conferred
significant immunity, protecting completely against transient and
persistent viremia, and in five of six kittens protecting against
latent infection. None of the other vaccines provided significant protection.
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of
Veterinary Pathology, University of Glasgow, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom. Phone: 44-141-330-6012. Fax: 44-141-330-5602. E-mail:
lh40w{at}udcf.gla.ac.uk.
Present address: Biomedical Research Centre, Ninewells Hospital and
Medical School, Dundee University, Dundee DD1 9SY, United Kingdom.
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