Intranasal immunization of mice with VP2 DNA of human rotavirus a induces cellular and humoral immunity.

DNA vaccination using a plasmid encoding Human rotavirus A (HuRV-A) inner capsid VP2 was examined in a mouse model. BALB/c mice were immunized intranasally (i.n.) with a VP2 DNA vaccine that induced cellular and humoral immune response to HuRV-A. The increased levels of cytokines IFN-gamma and IL-4 and the production of anti-VP2 IgG antibodies were detected. In addition, splenocyte proliferation detected by MTT test was enhanced in the mice treated with the vaccine. These results may encourage the development of a HuRV-A DNA vaccine derived from the inner layer of viral capsid that can be administered i.n.