title: Potent immunogenicity of an HIV-1 gag-pol fusion DNA vaccine delivered by in vivo electroporation.
abstract: A plasmid DNA vaccine containing a fusion gene consisting of an HIV-1 subtype C gag and a modified subtype C pol was compared to a mixture of gag plus pol or gag plus HIV env plasmids. Plasmid DNA was delivered by intramuscular injection followed by electroporation in vivo. Two vaccinations were sufficient to induce high levels of Gag- and Pol-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells in peripheral blood. The gag-pol fusion plasmid was as immunogenic as the plasmid mixtures. Thus, DNA vaccination by intramuscular electroporation was an effective means for inducing high levels of Gag- and Pol-specific T cells, and a single gag-pol fusion DNA vaccine was sufficient for eliciting immune responses against both antigens.
authors.affiliation: Vaccines Research, Chiron Corporation 4560 Horton St., Mail Stop 4.3, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA. gillis.otten@chiron.com
authors.forename: Gillis R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Otten
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doe
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jan Zur
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Megede
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rabussay
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ulmer
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D015685:Fusion Proteins, gag-pol / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015685:Fusion Proteins, gag-pol; D019444:Vaccines, DNA