title: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C Gag virus-like particle boost substantially improves the immune response to a subtype C gag DNA vaccine in mice.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C is the predominant HIV in southern Africa, and is the target of a number of recent vaccine candidates. It has been proposed that a heterologous prime/boost vaccination strategy may result in stronger, broader and more prolonged immune responses. Since HIV-1 Gag Pr55 polyprotein can assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs) which have been shown to induce a strong cellular immune response in animals, we showed that a typical southern African subtype C Pr55 protein expressed in insect cells via recombinant baculovirus could form VLPs. We then used the baculovirus-produced VLPs as a boost to a subtype C HIV-1 gag DNA prime vaccination in mice. This study shows that a low dose of HIV-1 subtype C Gag VLPs can significantly boost the immune response to a single subtype C gag DNA inoculation in mice. These results suggest a possible vaccination regimen for humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaffray
authors.affiliation: MRC Liver Research Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.
authors.forename: Enid
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shephard
authors.affiliation: Division of Virology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Harmelen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.|Division of Virology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: National Health Laboratory Service, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.|Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.|Division of Virology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.
authors.forename: Anna-Lise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.|Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
authors.forename: Edward P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Rybicki
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000378:metabolism; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D018411:Spodoptera; D014162:Transfection; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C059767:p55 gag precursor protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D007371:Interferon-gamma