title: Expression and characterization of genetically engineered human immunodeficiency virus-like particles containing modified envelope glycoproteins: implications for development of a cross-protective AIDS vaccine.
abstract: Noninfectious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viruslike particles containing chimeric envelope glycoproteins were expressed in mammalian cells by using inducible promoters. We engineered four expression vectors in which a synthetic oligomer encoding gp120 residues 306 to 328 (amino acids YNKRKRIHIGP GRAFYTTKNIIG) from the V3 loop of the MN viral isolate was inserted at various positions within the endogenous HIV-1LAI env gene. Expression studies revealed that insertion of the heterologous V3(MN) loop segment at two different locations within the conserved region 2 (C2) of gp120, either 173 or 242 residues away from the N terminus of the mature subunit, resulted in the secretion of fully assembled HIV-like particles containing chimeric LAI/MN envelope glycoproteins. Both V3 loop epitopes were recognized by loop-specific neutralizing antibodies. However, insertion of the V3(MN) loop segment into other regions of gp120 led to the production of envelope-deficient viruslike particles. Immunization with HIV-like particles containing chimeric envelope proteins induced specific antibody responses against both the autologous and heterologous V3 loop epitopes, including cross-neutralizing antibodies against the HIV-1LAI and HIV-1MN isolates. This study, therefore, demonstrates the feasibility of genetically engineering optimized HIV-like particles capable of eliciting cross-neutralizing antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Connaught Centre for Biotechnology Research, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rovinski
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: S X
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zolla-Pazner
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins