title: Enhanced avidity maturation of antibody to human immunodeficiency virus envelope: DNA vaccination with gp120-C3d fusion proteins.
abstract: DNA vaccination can elicit both humoral and cellular immune responses and can confer protection against several pathogens. However, DNA vaccines expressing the envelope (Env) protein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been relatively ineffective at generating high titer, long-lasting, neutralizing antibodies in a variety of animal models. In this study, we report that fusion of Env and the complement component, C3d, in a DNA vaccine, enhances the titers of antibody to Env. Plasmids were generated that expressed a secreted form of Env (sgp120) from three isolates of HIV and these same forms fused to three tandem copies of the murine homologue of C3d (sgp120-3C3d). Analyses of titers and avidity maturation of the raised antibody indicated that immunizations with each of the sgp120-3C3d-expressing DNAs accelerated both the onset and the avidity maturation of antibody to Env.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA. RossT@mail.ecu.edu
authors: T M
authors: TM
authors: Ross
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Xu
authors: T D
authors: TD
authors: Green
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Montefiori
authors: H L
authors: HL
authors: Robinson
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000915:Antibody Affinity / Q000276:immunology*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015870:Gene Expression; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010957:Plasmids; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA