Date of Award
2018
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Microbiology and Immunology
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of the virus family flaviviridae and is transmitted via Aedes aegypti mosquitos. Monoclonal antibodies against dengue virus have been found to cross-react with ZIKV but show no ability to neutralize it. Further studies have shown that Stat2-/- mice given plasma from dengue positive donors exhibit a heightened disease phenotype when challenged with ZIKV. Antibody dependent enhancement is theorized to cause such effect. The goal of this study was to design a plasmid which, when encoded, creates an antigen that will be used to stimulate exclusively CD8+ T cells. The gene sequence of NS3 was rearranged and fused with the open reading frame of ubiquitin for the innate targeting of the resultant protein to the proteasome. Plasmid was subsequently packaged into virus-like particles and injected into mice. Generation of ZIKV-specific CD8+ T cells was observed by use of MHC dextramer and 7-AAD/CFSE assay.
Recommended Citation
Gambino, Frank Jr., "Induction of Zika Virus-Specific Cd8+ T Cells by Means of DNA Vaccine" (2018). Master's Theses. 3674.
https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_theses/3674
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2018 Frank Gambino Jr
