Immunogenicity studies of nucleic acid-based antirabies vaccines in BALB/c mice: A systematic review

Improved vaccine efficacy has a major impact on future rabies prevention and control. In this systematic review, a comparative assessment of different nucleic acid-based antirabies vaccination tools developed using different methods, in different countries, was undertaken. The comprehensive search was done in three databases. Articles were carefully selected based on predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria and eight articles were included in this systematic review. Studies have demonstrated dose-dependent immune response following intramuscular vaccination and improved immune response following intranasal vaccination and gene-gun delivery method. Nucleic acid-based antirabies vaccines have shown higher immune response and protective levels in Bagg's albino (BALB/c) mouse models than cell culture-derived vaccines. It has been demonstrated that the route/method of administration and the vaccine formulation could be improved in various ways to enhance immune response following vaccination. These new vaccine tools and their implementation in pre- and postexposure prophylaxis could be further evaluated and to be adopted by rabies endemic countries.