Bovine herpesvirus 1: immune responses in mice and cattle injected with plasmid DNA

Mice and cattle injected with plasmids encoding bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) glycoproteins developed gene-specific antibody responses capable of neutralizing BHV-1. The ability of animals to respond serologically to DNA injections was in part dependent on the quantity of DNA injected and was also negatively affected by carrier DNA. Calves injected with a plasmid encoding BHV-1 gIV developed significant antibody titers to gIV and shed less virus than did the control calf after challenge. This report indicates the potential of DNA injection as a method of vaccination.