Specific immune response and pathological findings in BALB/c mice inoculated with recombinant BCG expressing HIV-1 antigen.
Recombinant BCGs (rBCGs) containing extrachromosomal plasmids with different HIV-1 insert sequences: nef, env (V3J1 and E9Q), gag p17 or whole gag p55 were evaluated for their immunogenicity, safety and persistent infection in BALB/c mice. Animal injected with, rBCG-plJKV3J1, rBCG-pSO gag p17 or rBCG-pSO gag p55 could elicit lymphocyte proliferation as tested by specific HIV-1 peptides or protein antigen. Inoculation with various concentration of rBCG-pSO gag p55 generated satisfactory specific lymphocyte proliferation in dose escalation trials. The rBCG-pSO gag p55 recovered from spleen tissues at different time interval post-inoculation could express the HIV protein as determined by ELISA p24 antigen detection kit. This result indicated that the extrachromosomal plasmid was stable and capable to express Gag protein. It was also demonstrated that rBCGs did not cause serious pathological change in the inoculated animals. The present study suggested the role of BCG as a potential vehicle for using in HIV vaccine development.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Witthawat
W
Wiriyarat
Sanya
S
Sukpanichnant
Nopporn
N
Sittisombut
Kruavon
K
Balachandra
Duanthanorm
D
Promkhatkaew
Raywadee
R
Butraporn
Ruengpung
R
Sutthent
Jotika
J
Boonlong
Kazuhiro
K
Matsuo
Mitsuo
M
Honda
Paijit
P
Warachit
Pilaipan
P
Puthavathana
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D004279:DNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins