| abstract |
This invention relates to DNA vaccines for eliciting an immune response and/or protective immunity in a vertebrate by introducing into the vertebrate the DNA vaccine which consists essentially of DNA encoding an antigen or antigens, e.g. capsid proteins or polypeptides, of rotavirus. The uptake of the DNA vaccine by a host vertebrate results in the expression of the capsid protein, thereby eliciting humoral or cell-mediated immune responses, or both, which can provide protection against infection and/or prevent clinically significant rotavirus-caused disease. In addition, the invention demonstrates that an internal viral antigen provides protective immunity in a host. The host can be any vertebrate, including birds, piglets, and humans. |