title: Topical delivery of imiquimod to a mouse model as a novel adjuvant for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DNA.
abstract: We evaluated the compound imiquimod as a possible adjuvant for DNA immunization against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We found that gene-gun epidermal delivery of the DNA in combination with imiquimod resulted in the strongest HIV specific immune responses. The effect of imiquimod was further compared to that of recombinant granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a known DNA vaccine adjuvant. Both adjuvants were able to enhance the immune responses induced by the HIV-1 genes alone. The delivery of an adjuvant as a topical cream rather than through injections has a clear clinical benefit. We show for the first time that imiquimod can act as an adjuvant for DNA vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, SE-17182 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anne Kjerrström
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Zuber
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bråve
authors.forename: Gunnel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Engström
authors.forename: Bartek
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zuber
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ljungberg
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fredriksson
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benthin
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Isaguliants
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sandström
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hinkula
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wahren
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D019470:Biolistics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D016207:Cytokines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000077271:Imiquimod