Construction and characterization of chimeric BHIV (BIV/HIV-1) viruses carrying the bovine immunodeficiency virus gag gene.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possibility of the replacement of the gag gene between human immunodeficiency virus and bovine immunodeficiency virus, to achieve chimeric virions, and thereby gain a new kind of AIDS vaccine based on BHIV chimeric viruses.


METHODS
A series of chimeric BHIV proviral DNAs differing in the replacement regions in gag gene were constructed, and then were transfected into 293T cells. The expression of chimeric viral genes was detected at the RNA and protein level. The supernatant of 293T cell was ultra centrifuged to detect the probable chimeric virion. Once the chimeric virion was detected, its biological activities were also assayed by infecting HIV-sensitive MT4 cells.


RESULTS
Four chimeric BHIV proviral DNAs were constructed. Genes in chimeric viruses expressed correctly in transfected 293T cells. All four constructs assembled chimeric virions with different degrees of efficiency. These virions had complete structures common to retroviruses and packaged genomic RNAs, but the cleavages of the precursor Gag proteins were abnormal to some extent. Three of these virions tested could attach and enter into MT4 cells, and one of them could complete the course of reverse transcription. Yet none of them could replicate in MT4 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The replacement of partial gag gene of HIV with BIV gag gene is feasible. Genes in chimeric BHIVs are accurately expressed, and virions are assembled. These chimeric BHIVs (proviral DNA together with virus particles) have the potential to become a new kind of HIV/AIDS vaccine.
Zhu
Yi-Xin
YX
College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Liu
Chang
C
Liu
Xin-Lei
XL
Qiao
Wen-Tao
WT
Chen
Qi-Min
QM
Zeng
Yi
Y
Geng
Yun-Qi
YQ
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000235:genetics*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015750:Genes, gag / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016087:Immunodeficiency Virus, Bovine / Q000235:genetics*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins