Final answer:
DNA vaccines are created through manipulation of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of a pathogen in the laboratory, with reduction in pathogen virulence. These vaccines represent a new and promising approach to vaccination, stimulating both humoral and cellular immunity without the risk of active disease. They are produced by incorporating genes for antigens into a recombinant plasmid vaccine.
Step-by-step explanation:
DNA vaccines are created through manipulation of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of a pathogen in the laboratory, with reduction in pathogen virulence. DNA vaccines represent a relatively new and promising approach to vaccination. A DNA vaccine is produced by incorporating genes for antigens into a recombinant plasmid vaccine. Introduction of the DNA vaccine into a patient leads to uptake of the recombinant plasmid by some of the patient's cells, followed by transcription and translation of antigens and presentation of these antigens with MHC I to activate adaptive immunity. This results in the stimulation of both humoral and cellular immunity without the risk of active disease associated with live attenuated vaccines.