There are provided methods of generating antibodies in a mammal against recombinant antigens using DNA plasmids capable of expressing said antigens in cells of said mammal, comprising: injecting into tissue of said mammal a DNA plasmid comprising an encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter, electroporating said tissue with an electroporation device capable of delivering an electrical pulse effective to electroporate cells of said tissue to allow entry of said DNA plasmid and expression of said antigen, and allowing said mammal to respond to said expressed antigen in order to generate antibodies to said antigen. Furthermore, there are provided methods of isolating antibodies specific against desired antigens wherein said antibodies are generated in a mammal using DNA plasmids capable of expressing said antigens.