The present invention relates to novel DNA vaccines, configured to induce a robust and sustained immune response, and methods of use thereof. DNA vaccines proposed herein are configured to achieve this immune response by fusing the extracellular domain of a viral fusion protein to selected antigens or antigen-binding polypeptides. After the expression and secretion of the viral fusion-antigen protein from the initially transfected cells, the natural ability of the viral fusion protein to fuse to cell membranes and actively enter cells will allow for passive delivery of the fused target epitopes into neighboring cells, thus inducing a more robust immune response. The presented method described herein allows for the use of this DNA vaccine against known antigens present in proteins produced by infectious agents or cancer cells within a subject, against unknown antigens produced by infectious agents or cancer cells within a subject, or against naturally-occurring or synthetically-derived antigens delivered by other routes, such as injection.
