The use of electroporation to deliver DNA-based vaccines

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Nucleic acids represent a promising platform for creating vaccines. One disadvantage of this approach is its relatively low immunogenicity. Electroporation (EP) is an effective way to increase the DNA vaccines immunogenicity. However, due to the different configurations of devices used for EP, EP protocols optimization is required not only to enhance immunogenicity, but also to ensure greater safety and tolerability of the EP procedure.

Area covered

An data analysis for recent years on the DNA vaccines delivery against viral and parasitic infections using EP was carried out. The study of various EP physical characteristics, such as frequency, pulse duration, pulse interval, should be considered along with the immunogenic construct design and the site of delivery of the vaccine, through the study of the immunogenic and protective characteristics of the latter.

Expert opinion

Future research should focus on regulating the humoral and cellular response required for protection against infectious agents by modifying the EP protocol. Significant efforts will be directed to establishing the possibility of redirecting the immune response toward the Th1 or Th2 response by changing the EP physical parameters. It will allow for an individual selective approach during EP, depending on the pathogen type of an infectious disease.

KEYWORDS:

• Vaccines
• DNA
• electroporation
• virus
• bacteria
• protection
• immunity
• antibodies

Article highlights

• An advantage of electroporation is that more than 100-1000-fold increases in plasmid delivery and gene expression can be achieved compared to delivery of naked DNA without electroporation.

• Immunization by electroporation leads to the activation of both humoral and cellular immune response, acting as an adjuvant, increasing local inflammation.

• Depending on the tasks set when creating vaccines, the emphasis can be shifted toward T-cell or humoral immunity by modifying the design and enhancing it with EP.

• There is a tendency to increase the safety and tolerability of the EP procedure, however, the solution of this problem has not been completed and still remains relevant and requires additional research.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or material discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or mending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (075-15-2019-1665).