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Infection and Immunity, November 1999, p. 5848-5853, Vol. 67, No. 11
0019-9567/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Coadministration of Interleukin 12 Expression Vector with Antigen 2 cDNA Enhances Induction of Protective Immunity against Coccidioides immitis

Chengyong Jiang, D. Mitchell Magee,* and Rebecca A. Cox

Department of Clinical Investigation, Texas Center for Infectious Disease, San Antonio, Texas 78223

Received 29 April 1999/Returned for modification 8 June 1999/Accepted 30 July 1999

Interleukin 12 (IL-12) plays an important role in the induction of protective immunity against cancer and infectious diseases. In this study we asked whether IL-12 cDNA could increase the protective capacity of the antigen 2 (Ag2) gene vaccine in experimental coccidioidomycosis. Coimmunization of BALB/c mice with a single-chain IL-12 cDNA (p40-L-p35) and Ag2 cDNA, both subcloned into the pVR1012 plasmid, significantly enhanced protection against systemic challenge with 2,500 arthroconidia, as evidenced by a greater-than-1.3-log-unit reduction in the fungal load in the lungs and spleens compared to mice receiving the pVR1012 vector alone, Ag2 cDNA alone, or IL-12 cDNA alone. The enhanced protection was associated with increased gamma interferon secretion; production of immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a), IgG2b, and IgG3 antibodies to Coccidioides immitis antigen; and the influx of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lungs and spleens. When challenged by the pulmonary route, mice covaccinated with Ag2 cDNA and IL-12 cDNA were not protected at the lung level but did show a significant reduction in the fungal load in their livers and spleens compared to mice vaccinated with Ag2 cDNA or IL-12 cDNA alone. These results suggest that IL-12 acts as a therapeutic adjuvant to enhance Ag2 cDNA-induced protective immunity against experimental coccidioidomycosis through the induction of Th1-associated immune responses.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Clinical Investigation, Texas Center for Infectious Disease, 2303 SE Military Dr., San Antonio, TX 78223. Phone: (210) 534-8857, ext. 2600. Fax: (210) 531-4550. E-mail: mitch.magee{at}tdh.state.tx.us.

Infection and Immunity, November 1999, p. 5848-5853, Vol. 67, No. 11
0019-9567/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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Copyright © 1999 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.