title: Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 DNA vaccine provides partial protection from acute baboon infection.
abstract: We determined if the genetic adjuvants, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and B7-2, could improve the immunogenicity and efficacy of an HIV-2 DNA vaccine. The vaccine consisted of the HIV-2 tat, nef, gag, and env genes synthesized using optimized codons and formulated with cationic liposomes. Baboons (Papio cynocephalus hamadryas) were immunized by the intramuscular, intradermal, and intranasal routes with these expression constructs and challenged with HIV-2(UC2) by the intravaginal route. In the first month after HIV-2 vaginal challenge, the baboons receiving the HIV-2 DNA vaccine with or without the genetic adjuvants had significant reductions in the viral loads in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) (P = 0.028) while the reductions in their plasma viremia were suggestive of a protective effect (P = 0.1). These data demonstrate that partial protection against HIV-2 vaginal challenge, as measured by reduced viral load, can be achieved using only a DNA vaccine formulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, 514 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143-1270, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Locher
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.forename: Brittany M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ashlock
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Polacino
authors.forename: Shiu Lok
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiboski
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Agy
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Silvija I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Staprans
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: zur Megede
authors.forename: Jay A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008081:Liposomes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010215:Papio; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015703:Antigens, CD; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015693:Gene Products, nef; D015696:Gene Products, tat; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D008081:Liposomes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor