Non-cytolytic antigen clearance in DNA-vaccinated mice with electroporation.

Aim: To explore the potential of electroporation (EP)-mediated hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA vaccination for the treatment of chronic HBV infection.

Methods: BALB/c mice were vaccinated with HBV DNA vaccine encoding for the HBV preS(2)-S antigen, combined with or without EP. HBV surface antigen expression plasmid was administered into mice liver via a hydrodynamic injection to mimic HBV infection.