title: Immunogenic combinations of HIV-1 B- and heterologous T-cell epitopes.
abstract: Peptides were synthesized which combined HIV-1 B-epitopes from gp41, p34pol and heterologous T-cell epitopes from hepatitis B virus (HBV) core or tetanus toxoid. Mixtures of these composite peptides and peptides representing single HIV-1 B-epitopes were used to immunize rabbits in an adjuvant-free immunization regimen. Fusion to T-cell epitopes made the HIV-1 B-epitopes immunogenic and high titers of anti-HIV-1 antibodies were reached. Efficient antibody response against an immunorecessive HIV-1 B-epitope from p34 pol introduced as a B+T-composite also developed in rabbits pre-immunized by composites of the same T-cell epitopes but with a B-epitope from gp41. Fusion changed the fine antigenicity of the epitopes, but at least part of the antibodies against gp41-containing B+T composites recognized whole viral gp160. Composite peptides stimulated T-cells in the majority of the immunized animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Stockholm.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isaguliants
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rudén
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gilljam
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wahren
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011817:Rabbits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid