title: Enhanced immunogenicity of gp120 protein when combined with recombinant DNA priming to generate antibodies that neutralize the JR-FL primary isolate of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
abstract: Strategies are needed for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vaccine development that improves the neutralizing antibody response against primary isolates of the virus. Here we examined recombinant DNA priming followed by subunit protein boosting as a strategy to generate neutralizing antibodies. Both plasmid-based and recombinant protein envelope (Env) glycoprotein immunogens were derived from a primary viral isolate, JR-FL. Serum from rabbits immunized with either gp120 or gp140 DNA vaccines delivered by gene gun inoculation followed by recombinant gp120 protein boosting was capable of neutralizing JR-FL. Neither the DNA vaccines alone nor the gp120 protein alone generated a detectable neutralizing antibody response against this virus. Neutralizing antibody responses using gp120 DNA and gp140 DNA for priming were similar. The results suggest that Env DNA priming followed by gp120 protein boosting provides an advantage over either approach alone for generating a detectable neutralizing antibody response against primary isolates that are not easily neutralized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Lazare Research Building, Worcester, MA 01605-2397, USA.
authors.forename: Shixia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arthos
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Ryk
authors.forename: Innocent
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mboudjeka
authors.forename: Siyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Te-Hui W
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Montefiori
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D019444:Vaccines, DNA