title: Immune responses in baboons vaccinated with HIV-2 genetic expression libraries.
abstract: Immunization using genetic expression libraries may be an improvement over conventional DNA immunization using a single gene because more epitopes are simultaneously presented to the immune system. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of an HIV-2 vaccine made from a genomic expression library in baboons. We found that HIV-2 expression library immunization induced HIV-2-specific memory responses but low levels of CD8+ cell anti-viral responses and neutralizing antibodies. After intravenous virus challenge using a homologous pathogenic variant, HIV-2UC2/9429, viral loads were similar in the HIV-2-immunized and control baboons. We conclude that although immunization using HIV-2 expression libraries induces immune responses, this approach does not provide protection in baboons against intravenous challenge with HIV-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-1270, USA. christopher.locher@maxygen.com
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Locher
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Sykes
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Blackbourn
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D015723:Gene Library; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010215:Papio / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015483:HIV Antibodies