title: Kunjin virus replicon vectors for human immunodeficiency virus vaccine development.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated the ability of the vaccine vectors based on replicon RNA of the Australian flavivirus Kunjin (KUN) to induce protective antiviral and anticancer CD8+ T-cell responses using murine polyepitope as a model immunogen (I. Anraku, T. J. Harvey, R. Linedale, J. Gardner, D. Harrich, A. Suhrbier, and A. A. Khromykh, J. Virol. 76:3791-3799, 2002). Here we showed that immunization of BALB/c mice with KUN replicons encoding HIV-1 Gag antigen resulted in induction of both Gag-specific antibody and protective Gag-specific CD8+ T-cell responses. Two immunizations with KUNgag replicons in the form of virus-like particles (VLPs) induced anti-Gag antibodies with titers of > or =1:10,000. Immunization with KUNgag replicons delivered as plasmid DNA, naked RNA, or VLPs induced potent Gag-specific CD8+ T-cell responses, with one immunization of KUNgag VLPs inducing 4.5-fold-more CD8+ T cells than the number induced after immunization with recombinant vaccinia virus carrying the gag gene (rVVgag). Two immunizations with KUNgag VLPs also provided significant protection against challenge with rVVgag. Importantly, KUN replicon VLP vaccinations induced long-lasting immune responses with CD8+ T cells able to secrete gamma interferon and to mediate protection 6 to 10 months after immunization. These results illustrate the potential value of the KUN replicon vectors for human immunodeficiency virus vaccine design.
authors.affiliation: Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4029 Australia.
authors.forename: Tracey J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anraku
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Linedale
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harrich
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suhrbier
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khromykh
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D015195:Drug Design; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012093:Replicon / Q000235:genetics*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015483:HIV Antibodies