Genetic immunization is augmented by murine polyomavirus VP1 pseudocapsids.
To improve immune responses induced by DNA immunization, murine polyomavirus major capsid protein (VP1) pseudocapsids were complexed with a DNA plasmid encoding the p37 (p24 and p17) nucleocapsid proteins of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). A 10-fold increase in antibody titer was noted in mice given DNA plasmid together with VP1 pseudocapsids in comparison to animals that received DNA plasmid alone. Cell mediated responses to HIV-1 p24 occurred, but were not significantly augmented by delivering the DNA as a VP1 complex. We have consequently for the first time shown a carrier/adjuvant effect of polyomavirus pseudocapsids that strongly increased the humoral immune response in DNA immunization.
Department of Virology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control and the Microbiology and Tumor Biology Center, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 82, Solna, Sweden. erik.rollman@smi.ki.se
E
E
Rollman
T
T
Ramqvist
B
B
Zuber
K
K
Tegerstedt
A
A
Kjerrström Zuber
J
J
Klingström
L
L
Eriksson
K
K
Ljungberg
J
J
Hinkula
B
B
Wahren
T
T
Dalianis
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C062481:VP1 protein, polyomavirus; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014765:Viral Vaccines