title: Induction of a strong HIV-specific CD8+ T cell response in mice using a fowlpox virus vector expressing an HIV-1 multi-CTL-epitope polypeptide.
abstract: Recombinant avipoxvirus vectors are attractive candidates for use in vaccination strategies for infections such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), where induction of a CD8+ T cell response is thought to be an important component of protective immunity. Here, we report the expression of a multiepitope polypeptide (TAB9) composed of the central 15 amino acids of the V3 loop from six different isolates of HIV-1 in a fowlpox virus (FWPV) vector, and the use of this vector (FPTAB9LZ) to induce strong HIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses in mice. In animals immunized twice intravenously with FPTAB9LZ, almost 2% of the CD8+ T cells in the spleen were shown to produce IFN-gamma in response to stimulation with HIV-1 peptides 1 week after the second immunization. The most dominant response was to the HIV-1 IIIB peptide. A strong HIV-specific response was also induced by intraperitoneal immunization of mice with FPTAB9LZ, whilst subcutaneous immunization elicited a weaker response. Intraperitoneal immunization with FPTAB9LZ was also shown to provide protection against challenge with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing antigens, including those in TAB9. These results confirm the potential of FWPV vectors for use in HIV vaccination strategies.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología, Ciudad Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Dania
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vázquez Blomquist
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Laidlaw
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: Persephone
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borrow
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Duarte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005587:Fowlpox virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D051379:Mice; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination; D014616:Vaccinia virus
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015488:HIV Antigens; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; C417682:TAB9