Vaccination with a plasmid vector carrying the rabies virus glycoprotein gene induces protective immunity against rabies virus.

A plasmid vector, termed pSG5rab.gp, that expresses the rabies virus glycoprotein under the control of an SV40 early promoter, was tested in C3H/He mice for induction of rabies virus-specific immune responses. Mice immunized intramuscularly with the pSG5rab.gp vector developed rabies virus glycoprotein-specific cytolytic T cells, lymphokine-secreting T helper cells of the TH1 subset, and rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies. Mice vaccinated with the pSG5rab.gp vector were fully protected against a subsequent challenge with rabies virus.