Immunogenicity of multiple gene and clade human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA vaccines.
The ability to elicit an immune response to a spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene products from divergent strains is a desirable feature of an AIDS vaccine. In this study, we examined combinations of plasmids expressing multiple HIV-1 genes from different clades for their ability to elicit humoral and cellular immune responses in mice. Immunization with a modified Env, gp145DeltaCFI, in combination with a Gag-Pol-Nef fusion protein plasmid elicited similar CD4(+) and CD8(+) cellular responses to immunization with either vector alone. Further, when mice were immunized with a mixture of Env from three clades, A, B, and C, together with Gag-Pol-Nef, the overall potency and balance of CD4(+)- and CD8(+)-T-cell responses to all viral antigens were similar, with only minor differences noted. In addition, plasmid mixtures elicited antibody responses comparable to those from individual inoculations. These findings suggest that a multigene and multiclade vaccine, including components from A, B, and C Env and Gag-Pol-Nef, can broaden antiviral immune responses without immune interference. Such combinations of immunogens may help to address concerns about viral genetic diversity for a prospective HIV-1 vaccine.
Kong
Wing-Pui
WP
Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-3005, USA.
Huang
Yue
Y
Yang
Zhi-Yong
ZY
Chakrabarti
Bimal K
BK
Moodie
Zoe
Z
Nabel
Gary J
GJ
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005814:Genes, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D019444:Vaccines, DNA