Novel IFN-γ ELISpot reveals robust T cell responses elicited after influenza nucleoprotein DNA vaccination in New Zealand White rabbits. Issue 7 (8th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yung, Bryan S.; Pugh, Holly; Generotti, Alison A.; Phanhthilath, Nikki; Schultheis, Katherine; Muthumani, Kar; Broderick, Kate E.; Smith, Trevor R.F.
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 37:Issue 7(2019)
• Page Start: 903
• Page End: 909
• Publication Date: 2019-02-08
• Subjects: DNA vaccine -- T cell -- Rabbit -- ELISpot; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.01.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Abstract: The New Zealand White rabbit is a highly accessible animal model which is regularly employed in biomedical research. However, the paucity of rabbit-specific reagents available limits its use in certain fields. Specifically, the lack of a reliable T cell assay has limited its employment in immune prophylactic and therapeutic studies. To address this inadequacy, we have developed an ELISpot assay to detect cellular immune responses (IFN-γ production) after antigenic stimulation. We have applied this assay to model the T cell responses elicited by a DNA vaccine. Immunization with an influenza nucleoprotein (NP) DNA vaccine revealed strong antigen-specific T cell responses in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell population. We believe this is the first report of such an assay in rabbit species, and it will become a useful tool to monitor in vivo responses to vaccines and permit the wider adoption of this model to measure immunological responses.