DNA vaccination by immersion and ultrasound to trout viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus

This work reports preliminary data on the application of a novel method, ultrasound, for the DNA vaccination of rainbow trout. First, the best formulations were selected that increased the transfer by immersion of a plasmid coding for the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene into trout fry. Quantification of GFP expression by fluorescence in the fin cells was used to study time course, DNA concentration dependence and comparison of different formulations. The best GFP expression results were obtained with short pulses of ultrasound. DOTAP liposomes and recombinant bacteria or bactofection. Other liposomes or microencapsulation formulations resulted in a GFP fluorescence similar to background values. Second, DNA immersion-vaccination of immunocompetent fingerling trout with the selected formulations was performed by using a plasmid coding for the glycoprotein G gene of the viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV). The immunization of fingerling trout was estimated by measuring humoral antibody, lymphoproliferation and VHSV challenge responses. Short pulses or low intensity ultrasound were the only method by which both humoral antibody responses and survival after VHSV challenge were obtained. Immersion DNA-vaccination using short pulses of ultrasound could eventually lead to a practical way to vaccinate small fish. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.