Use of Adjuvants to Enhance the Immune Response Induced by a DNA Vaccine Against Bovine Herpesvirus-1.

This study investigated the induction of humoral and cellular immune response by a DNA vaccine based on the bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) glycoprotein D with commercial adjuvants (SEPPIC), in the murine model and in a preliminary assay in cattle, in order to select vaccines candidates that can improve cellular response. A DNA vaccine with most of the adjuvants used in this study was able to elicit a gD and viral-specific humoral immune response in vaccinated mice. Nevertheless, only a DNA vaccine with Montanide GEL 01 PR and Montanide Essai 903110 induced viral-specific proliferation and the highest levels of IFN-γ secretion. Since a cellular response is important to deal with BoHV-1 infection, both adjuvants were tested in a small trial using bovines to corroborate improvement of a cellular response in the natural host. It was observed that a DNA vaccine with Montanide Essai 903110 induced the highest BoHV-1 specific IFN-γ production in cattle. So, this adjuvant is proposed as a suitable candidate to be tested in a BoHV-1 DNA vaccine for protection against viral challenge in bovines.