ABSTRACT
Research into the use o f D N A vaccines has shown that this mode o f immunization has much potential for widescale application. The ability to elicit an immune response by injection o f D N A encoding the gene for the protein-antigen o f interest has been dem onstrated by a variety o f methods. The genes may be introduced into eukaryotic cells by viral or bacterial vectors or through uptake o f naked or complexed plasmid DNA. All allow an exog enous gene to be transcribed inside the host (vaccinees) cell and allow the presentation o f the expressed protein to the immune system in a manner that will generate a potentially protective response. This review will describe the methods by which D N A vaccines are delivered to the cells and how the genes are expressed and presented to the immune system. Other important issues such as the safety and manufacturing o f D N A vaccines will also be addressed.
