Recombinant HIV-1 Pr55gag virus-like particles: potent stimulators of innate and acquired immune responses.
Several previous reports have clearly demonstrated the strong effectiveness of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Gag polyprotein-based virus-like particles (VLP) to stimulate humoral and cellular immune responses in complete absence of additional adjuvants. Yet, the mechanisms underlying the strong immunogenicity of these particulate antigens are still not very clear. However, current reports strongly indicate that these VLP act as "danger signals" to trigger the innate immune system and possess potent adjuvant activity to enhance the immunogenicity of per se only weakly immunogenic peptides and proteins. Here, we review the current understanding of how various particle-associated substances and other impurities may contribute to the observed immune-activating properties of these complex immunogens.
Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Straurr-Allee 11, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany. ludwig.deml@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Ludwig
L
Deml
Cornelia
C
Speth
Manfred P
MP
Dierich
Hans
H
Wolf
Ralf
R
Wagner
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C059767:p55 gag precursor protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1