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.
Rollman
E
E
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
Ramqvist
T
T
Zuber
B
B
Tegerstedt
K
K
Kjerrström Zuber
A
A
Klingström
J
J
Eriksson
L
L
Ljungberg
K
K
Hinkula
J
J
Wahren
B
B
Dalianis
T
T
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