What is the mechanism of DNA vaccines?

A DNA vaccine is a type of vaccine that induces an immune response by transfecting a specific antigen-coding DNA sequence into an organism’s cells. 

When a person gets a DNA vaccine, the cells in their body translate the gene particle from the bacteria or virus into a protein. The body recognizes this newly created protein as a foreign element. This triggers the immune system, which produces antibodies that attack these ‘foreign’ proteins and prevent them from attaching to the cells. Eventually, the antibodies destroy the foreign proteins. 

DNA vaccines work further to instruct the body to recognize and fight these proteins to prevent any future infections.