Gene gun particle-mediated vaccination with plasmid DNA confers protective immunity against rabies virus infection.

Accell gene gun particle-mediated immunization with DNA encoding the glycoprotein gene of the challenge virus standard strain of rabies virus was evaluated for its ability to elicit protective levels of serum anti-rabies virus neutralizing antibody. Strong primary and booster neutralizing antibody responses were detected in mice following immunization with 2 micrograms of DNA coated on 2.6-micron gold beads. Protective levels of antibody persisted for over 300 days. Mice challenged intraplantarly 315 days post-primary immunization (225 days post-booster vaccination) survived lethal rabies virus challenge. Our data demonstrate a potentially significant role for gene gun-based delivery of DNA in the field of rabies virus vaccination.