Cationic lipid-mediated enhancement of nucleic acid immunization of cats
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a method to introduce a nucleic acid molecule into a felid by administration of a nucleic acid-cationic lipid complex composition. The method includes the step of administering to the felid, by a parenteral route, a nucleic acid-cationic lipid complex to elicit and/or enhance an immune response. In one embodiment, this method enhances the immune response in a felid compared to a method in which a naked DNA vaccine is administered to a felid. Also provided is a method to deliver a nucleic acid to a felid. This method comprises parenterally administering to the felid a composition that includes a nucleic acid molecule complexed with a cationic lipid.
1. A method to elicit an immune response to a feline leukemia virus antigen in a felid, said method comprising parenterally administering to said felid a composition comprising a nucleic acid molecule complexed with a cationic lipid, wherein said nucleic acid molecule encodes said antigen.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said immune response comprises an antibody response.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said immune response comprises a cell-mediated response.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said immune response protects said felid from disease.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cationic lipid comprises a tetramethyltetraalkyl spermine analog lipid.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said felid is selected from the group consisting of domestic cats, wild cats, and zoo cats.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the felid is selected from the group consisting of domestic cats, lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, cougars, bobcats, lynx, bobcats, lynx, jaguars, cheetahs, and servals.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the felid is a domestic cat.
9. A method to produce enhanced expression of a nucleic acid molecule in a felid comprising
obtaining an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule comprises an operative regulatory sequence linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a feline leukemia virus protein;
complexing said isolated nucleic acid molecule with a cationic lipid; and
parenterally administering said lipid-complexed nucleic acid molecule to a felid.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said method results in enhanced expression of said feline leukemia virus protein.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said leukemia virus protein is an antigen.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein said cationic lipid comprises a tetramethyltetraalkyl spermine analog lipid.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein said step of administering is selected from the group of intramuscular administration, intravenous administration, subcutaneous administration, intradermal administration, and intraperitoneal administration.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein said felid is selected from the group consisting of domestic cats, wild cats, and zoo cats.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the felid is selected from the group consisting of domestic cats, lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, cougars, bobcats, lynx, bobcats, lynx, jaguars, cheetahs, and servals.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the felid is a domestic cat.