In previous studies of a Brown Norway rat model we have demonstrated that rAlt a2-DNA based vaccine can be effective in decreasing Alternaria specific IgE and pulmonary responses to Alternaria sensitization. In this study we sought to determine if the plasmid DNA-vaccine can be detected in lungs, BAL fluid and other organs such as the trachea, liver, kidneys and spleen two weeks after vaccination.

Three, ten-week-old Brown Norway rats were given a rAlt a2-DNA vaccine once a week for two weeks, one animal received saline. Two weeks after the last treatment, the animals were sacrificed and their organs removed. Their lungs, BAL fluid, trachea, liver kidneys and spleen were homogenized and treated with proteinase K and phenol: chloroform for DNA extraction. The DNA was resolved in a 1% agarose gel.

We recovered plasmid DNA from BAL fluid and trachea. To determine the identity of the extracted plasmid a PCR reaction was prepared with rAlt a2 specific primers. The PCR products confirmed the plasmid contained rAlt a2-DNA vaccine.

We conclude that the DNA vaccine is detectable in the target organ for least two weeks and does not migrate via blood stream to any other of the organs tested.