title: Virus-like particle and DNA-based candidate AIDS vaccines.
abstract: Both humoral and cellular immune responses are critical for the control of HIV infection and replication. We have established systems for production of HIV and SIV virus-like particles containing high levels of viral Env proteins using the baculovirus expression system. Evaluation of immunogenicity showed that immunization with virus-like particles induced both cellular and neutralizing antibody responses. Furthermore, mucosal administration of virus-like particles effectively induced both mucosal and systemic immune responses. These results indicate that virus-like particles consisting of HIV structural proteins are an attractive vaccine platform for eliciting anti-viral immune responses, especially neutralizing antibody responses. We have also synthesized codon-optimized genes for HIV Env proteins and evaluated their immunogenicity. Combinations of virus-like particle and DNA-based vaccination are promising for inducing strong cellular and neutralizing antibody responses against HIV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Qizhi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Zhigao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.forename: Andrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vzorov
authors.forename: Chinglai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Compans
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000818:Animals; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D019444:Vaccines, DNA