DNA vaccination in mice using HIV-1 nef, rev and tat genes in self-replicating pBN-vector.
The immunogenicity of a self-replicating DNA-vector containing HIV-1 nef gene (pBN-Nef) was characterized using various DNA delivery methods. In addition, gene gun immunisation was used for assessing immunogenicity of two other HIV-1 genes (rev and tat) given in the same vector. The pBN-Nef was the most immunogenic raising both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in mice; these responses lasted for up to six months. The pBN-Nef vector was immunogenic also when given intramuscularly or intradermally. The pBN-Rev construct did not elicit humoral responses but did elicit proliferative as well as CTL-response against the corresponding protein. The pBN-Tat was a poor immunogen in all respects. The antibodies elicited with various DNA delivery methods belonged to different antibody subclasses; however, two main epitopes in Nef were frequently recognized by all of them.
Institute of Medical Technology, Tampere University, 33014, Tampere, Finland. mtahtine@csc.fi
M
M
Tähtinen
M
M
Strengell
A
A
Collings
J
J
Pitkänen
A
A
Kjerrström
K
K
Hakkarainen
P
P
Peterson
B
B
Kohleisen
B
B
Wahren
A
A
Ranki
M
M
Ustav
K
K
Krohn
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019470:Biolistics; D019556:COS Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D015870:Gene Expression; D005814:Genes, Viral; D015754:Genes, nef; D015757:Genes, rev; D015756:Genes, tat; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D019444:Vaccines, DNA