Immunization of non-human primates with DNA vaccines.

The pre-clinical efficacy of DNA vaccines has been demonstrated in a number of animal models, but more limited data exist regarding their immunogenicity in non-human primates. The studies described below demonstrate that DNA vaccines in reasonable dosages encoding a variety of viral proteins could result in the generation of antibodies, neutralizing antibodies, or cytotoxic T lymphocytes in primates. Furthermore, these responses could be boosted by repeat administration of the DNA vaccine. In an effort to assess the safety of such vaccines sera from primates was shown to lack anti-DNA antibodies.