Therapeutic immunisation with COPV early genes by epithelial DNA delivery.

Following challenge with COPV (canine oral papillomavirus), DNA plasmids encoding COPV L1, E1 or E2 protein were delivered into oral mucosal and cutaneous sites in beagles using particle-mediated immunotherapeutic delivery (PMID). Two weeks post-challenge, a priming dose of 8 microg DNA was delivered followed by a booster dose after a further two weeks. A group of control dogs were vaccinated using plasmid DNA encoding Hepatitis B virus surface (HBVs) gene.

Intraepithelial DNA immunisation with a plasmid encoding a codon optimised COPV E1 gene sequence, but not the wild-type gene sequence completely protects against mucosal challenge with infectious COPV in beagles.

DNA plasmids encoding the open reading frames of canine oral papillomavirus (COPV) nonstructural early genes E1, E2, or E7 protein were delivered into both oral mucosal and cutaneous epithelial sites in beagle dogs using particle-mediated immunotherapeutic delivery (PMID) technology. Control dogs were vaccinated with plasmid encoding either hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBVs) or COPV L1. Using a prophylactic immunisation protocol, a priming dose of plasmid DNA was followed by a booster dose 6 weeks later.