title: Four cross-linked HIV Gag peptides prime the immune response to HIV proteins in mice.
abstract: The functional help provided by four cross-linked synthetic peptides from HIV-1 Gag structural proteins was investigated in the mouse model. These peptides, selected upon non-self-criteria, are not predicted as T epitopes by classical prediction methods such as the Rothbard consensus or the amphipathy rule. Priming mice with these peptides allows the enhancement of the antibody response to HIV-1 Gag proteins (p55, p18, p24) given in the viral particle form. Furthermore, all of them also induce spleen and lymph node cells from primed mice to proliferate in vitro, in a MHC class II restricted context. This approach may help to identify relevant immunogenic viral epitopes that may be involved in a vaccinal strategy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neuropathologie expérimentale et de Neurovirologie, DSV/DPTE/SSA, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Benveniste
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaslin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dormont
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011994:Recombinant Proteins