scholarly journals Enhancement of Primary and Secondary Cellular Immune Responses against Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Gag by Using DNA Expression Vectors That Target Gag Antigen to the Secretory Pathway

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (13) ◽  
pp. 5997-6005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Tai Qiu ◽  
Bindong Liu ◽  
Chunjuan Tian ◽  
George N. Pavlakis ◽  
Xiao-Fang Yu

ABSTRACT In this study, we have investigated the influence of antigen targeting after DNA vaccination upon the induction of cellular immune responses against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag. In addition to the standard version of HIV-1 Gag, we constructed Gag expression vectors that encode a secreted (Sc-Gag) and a cytoplasmic (Cy-Gag) Gag molecule. Although all three HIV-1 Gag expression vectors induced detectable humoral and cellular immune responses, after intramuscular injection the DNA vector encoding the Sc-Gag generated the highest primary cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and T-helper responses. Mice immunized with one of the HIV-1 Gag DNA vectors (but not with the control vector pcDNA3.1) developed a protective immune response against infection with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HIV-1 Gag, and this response persisted for 125 days. The magnitude of the protection correlated with the levels of Gag-specific ex vivo CTL activity and the number of CD8+ T cells producing gamma interferon. The DNA vector encoding the Sc-Gag induced higher levels of protection and greater secondary CTL responses than did the DNA vector encoding Cy-Gag.

2001 ◽  
Vol 184 (4) ◽  
pp. 488-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline N. M. Mwinzi ◽  
Diana M. S. Karanja ◽  
Daniel G. Colley ◽  
Alloys S. S. Orago ◽  
W. Evan Secor

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 2817-2826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg M. Lauer ◽  
Tam N. Nguyen ◽  
Cheryl L. Day ◽  
Gregory K. Robbins ◽  
Theresa Flynn ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) lead to chronic infection in a high percentage of persons, and an expanding epidemic of HIV-1-HCV coinfection has recently been identified. These individuals provide an opportunity for simultaneous assessment of immune responses to two viral infections associated with chronic plasma viremia. In this study we analyzed the breadth and magnitude of the CD8+- and CD4+-T-lymphocyte responses in 22 individuals infected with both HIV-1 and HCV. A CD8+-T-lymphocyte response against HIV-1 was readily detected in all subjects over a broad range of viral loads. In marked contrast, HCV-specific CD8+-T-lymphocyte responses were rarely detected, despite viral loads in plasma that were on average 1,000-fold higher. The few HCV-specific responses that were observed were relatively weak and limited in breadth. CD4-proliferative responses against HIV-1 were detected in about half of the coinfected subjects tested, but no proliferative response against any HCV protein was found in these coinfected persons. These data demonstrate a major discordance in immune responses to two persistent RNA viruses. In addition, they show a consistent and profound impairment in cellular immune responses to HCV compared to HIV-1 in HIV-1-HCV-coinfected persons.


2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (13) ◽  
pp. 5879-5890 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Montefiori ◽  
Jeffrey T. Safrit ◽  
Shari L. Lydy ◽  
Ashley P. Barry ◽  
Miroslawa Bilska ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The ability to generate antibodies that cross-neutralize diverse primary isolates is an important goal for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine development. Most of the candidate HIV-1 vaccines tested in humans and nonhuman primates have failed in this regard. Past efforts have focused almost entirely on the envelope glycoproteins of a small number of T-cell line-adapted strains of the virus as immunogens. Here we assessed the immunogenicity of noninfectious virus-like particles (VLP) consisting of Gag, Pro (protease), and Env from R5 primary isolate HIV-1Bx08. Immunogens were delivered to rhesus macaques in the form of either purified VLP, recombinant DNA and canarypox (ALVAC) vectors engineered to express VLP, or a combination of these products. Seroconversion to Gag and Pro was detected in all of the immunized animals. Antibodies that could neutralize HIV-1Bx08 were detected in animals that received (i) coinoculations with DNABx08 and VLPBx08, (ii) DNABx08 followed by ALVACBx08 boosting, and (iii) VLPBx08 alone. The neutralizing antibodies were highly strain specific despite the fact that they did not appear to be directed to linear epitopes in the V3 loop. Virus-specific cellular immune responses also were generated, as judged by the presence of Gag-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing cells. These cellular immune responses required the inclusion of DNABx08 in the immunization modality, since few or no IFN-γ-producing cells were detected in animals that received either VLPBx08 or ALVACBx08 alone. The results demonstrate the feasibility of generating neutralizing antibodies and cellular immune responses that target an R5 primary HIV-1 isolate by vaccination in primates.


2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (16) ◽  
pp. 7651-7655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan C. Ramírez ◽  
M. Magdalena Gherardi ◽  
Dolores Rodríguez ◽  
Mariano Esteban

ABSTRACT A problem associated with the use of vaccinia virus recombinants as vaccines is the existence of a large human population with preexisting immunity to the vector. Here we showed that after a booster with attenuated recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (rMVA), higher humoral and cellular immune responses to foreign antigens (human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Env and β-galactosidase) were found in mice preimmunized with rMVA than in mice primed with the virulent Western Reserve strain and boosted with rMVA. This enhancement correlated with higher levels of expression of foreign antigens after the booster.


2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (23) ◽  
pp. 12764-12772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wing-Pui Kong ◽  
Yue Huang ◽  
Zhi-Yong Yang ◽  
Bimal K. Chakrabarti ◽  
Zoe Moodie ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The ability to elicit an immune response to a spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene products from divergent strains is a desirable feature of an AIDS vaccine. In this study, we examined combinations of plasmids expressing multiple HIV-1 genes from different clades for their ability to elicit humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. Immunization with a modified Env, gp145ΔCFI, in combination with a Gag-Pol-Nef fusion protein plasmid elicited similar CD4+ and CD8+ cellular responses to immunization with either vector alone. Further, when mice were immunized with a mixture of Env from three clades, A, B, and C, together with Gag-Pol-Nef, the overall potency and balance of CD4+- and CD8+-T-cell responses to all viral antigens were similar, with only minor differences noted. In addition, plasmid mixtures elicited antibody responses comparable to those from individual inoculations. These findings suggest that a multigene and multiclade vaccine, including components from A, B, and C Env and Gag-Pol-Nef, can broaden antiviral immune responses without immune interference. Such combinations of immunogens may help to address concerns about viral genetic diversity for a prospective HIV-1 vaccine.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (8) ◽  
pp. 4927-4935 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Poon ◽  
J. T. Safrit ◽  
H. McClure ◽  
C. Kitchen ◽  
J. F. Hsu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The lack of success of subunit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccines to date suggests that multiple components or a complex virion structure may be required. We previously demonstrated retention of the major conformational epitopes of HIV-1 envelope following thermal treatment of virions. Moreover, antibody binding to some of these epitopes was significantly enhanced following thermal treatment. These included the neutralizing epitopes identified by monoclonal antibodies 1b12, 2G12, and 17b, some of which have been postulated to be partially occluded or cryptic in native virions. Based upon this finding, we hypothesized that a killed HIV vaccine could be derived to elicit protective humoral immune responses. Shedding of HIV-1 envelope has been described for some strains of HIV-1 and has been cited as one of the major impediments to developing an inactivated HIV-1 vaccine. In the present study, we demonstrate that treatment of virions with low-dose formaldehyde prior to thermal inactivation retains the association of viral envelope with virions. Moreover, mice and nonhuman primates vaccinated with formaldehyde-treated, thermally inactivated virions produce antibodies capable of neutralizing heterologous strains of HIV in peripheral blood mononuclear cell-, MAGI cell-, and U87-based infectivity assays. These data indicate that it is possible to create an immunogen by using formaldehyde-treated, thermally inactivated HIV-1 virions to induce neutralizing antibodies. These findings have broad implications for vaccine development.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 1020-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Garulli ◽  
Yoshihiro Kawaoka ◽  
Maria R. Castrucci

ABSTRACT The humoral and cellular immune responses in the genital mucosa likely play an important role in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Here we show that vaginal infection of progesterone-treated BALB/c mice with a recombinant influenza virus bearing the immunodominant P18IIIB cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitope of the gp160 envelope protein from an HIV-1 IIIB isolate (P18IIIB; RIQRGPGRAFVTIGK) can induce a specific immune response in regional mucosal lymph nodes, as well as in a systemic site (the spleen). A single inoculation of mice with the recombinant influenza virus induced long-lasting (at least 5 months) antigen-specific CTL memory detectable as a rapid recall of effector CTLs upon vaginal infection with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HIV-1 IIIB envelope gene products. Long-term antigen-specific CTL memory was also induced and maintained in distant mucosal tissues when mice were intranasally immunized with the recombinant influenza virus. These results indicate that mucosal immunization and, in particular, local vaginal immunization with recombinant influenza virus can provide strong, durable immune responses in the female genital tract of mice.


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