DNA vaccines have been termed The Third Generation of
Vaccines. The recent successful immunization of experimental animals against a range of infectious agents and several tumour models of disease with plasmid
DNA testifies to the powerful nature of this revolutionary approach in vaccinology. Among numerous advantages, a major attraction of
DNA vaccines over conventional
vaccines is that they are able to induce protective cytotoxic T-cell responses as well as helper T-cell and humoral immunity. Here we review the current state of
nucleic acid vaccines and cover a wide range of topics including delivery mechanisms, uptake and expression of plasmid
DNA, and the types of immune responses generated. Further, we discuss safety issues, and document the use of
nucleic acid vaccines against viral, bacterial and
parasitic diseases, and
cancer. The early potential promise of
DNA vaccination has been fully substantiated with recent, exciting developments including the movement from testing
DNA vaccines in laboratory models to non-human primates and initial human clinical trials. These advances and the emerging voluminous literature on
DNA vaccines highlight the rapid progress that has been made in the
DNA immunization field. It will be of considerable interest to see whether the progress and optimism currently prevailing can be maintained, and whether the approach can indeed fulfil the medical and commerical promise anticipated.