Regarding the infectivity of naked DNA

[Mike Poidinger]

Patrick O'Neil <patrick at corona> wrote:



>On 15 May 1995, Chuckles wrote:

>> >
>> >As regard DNA and RNA not being able to infect, DNA is being used to 
>> >inoculate animals and cause disease.  DNA not being infectious used to be 
>> >the dogma but, this is no longer true.  Viral DNA is used to infect.  Mary
>> >
>> I haven't heard this before.  Could you please post the references for this.
>> 

>I have never heard of an injection/inoculation of any animal or tissue
>with viral DNA _in_a_manner_similar_to_what_appears_to_be_suggested_above. 
>On the other hand, a tried and true direct injection of certain viruse's
>DNA into host cells can lead to viral infection.  It is one thing to
>directly inject the DNA _into_ a cell and quite another to attempt the
>same outcome by injection into the circulatory system or simple
>application of a DNA-containing solution to the skin (neither method would
>work). 

Well, actually, it would. Please be less dogmatic, especially when you are
wrong.

With reference to an NH&MRC grant that a friend of mine has submitted this year:

"...Aim 2 To examine whether vaccination with cDNA segments from the
nonstructural polyprotein region can provide protection..."

Preliminary un published results:  Mice inocculated with 50 ug of cDNA in saline
intra muscularly were partly protected from subsequent viral challenge

FYI the virus in question here is the flavivirus Murray Valley encephalitis
virus.

On the same topic I remember hearing about initial experiments with mice
genetically engineered to have cystic fibrosis who's symptoms were relieved by
application of the wt gene to the lungs, and similar results for penetration of
naked DNA through arterial walls.

Mike

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Dr Mike Poidinger      Now don't be lazy, 
Microbiology, UQ       with the pleasure of sin  (Nitzer Ebb)
Australia              
mikep at biosci.uq.oz.au  
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