title: Recombinant rabies virus as potential live-viral vaccines for HIV-1.
abstract: Recombinant, replication-competent rabies virus (RV) vaccine strain-based vectors were developed expressing HIV type I (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (gp160) from both a laboratory-adapted (CXCR4-tropic) and a primary (dual-tropic) HIV-1 isolate. An additional transcription stop/start unit within the RV genome was used to express HIV-1 gp160 in addition to the other RV proteins. The HIV-1 gp160 protein was stably and functionally expressed, as indicated by fusion of human T cell lines after infection with the recombinant RVs. Inoculation of mice with the recombinant RVs expressing HIV-1 gp160 induced a strong humoral response directed against the HIV-1 envelope protein after a single boost with recombinant HIV-1 gp120 protein. Moreover, high neutralization titers up to 1:800 against HIV-1 could be detected in the mouse sera. These data indicate that a live recombinant RV, a rhabdovirus, expressing HIV-1 gp160 may serve as an effective vector for an HIV-1 vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Virology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Dorrance H. Hamilton Laboratories, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. matthias.schnell@mail.tju.edu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schnell
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Siler
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McGettigan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dietzschold
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pomerantz
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion; D017931:DNA Primers; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160 / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D017931:DNA Primers; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160