Potent immunogenicity of an HIV-1 gag-pol fusion DNA vaccine delivered by in vivo electroporation.
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.
Otten
Gillis R
GR
Vaccines Research, Chiron Corporation 4560 Horton St., Mail Stop 4.3, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA. gillis.otten@chiron.com
Schaefer
Mary
M
Doe
Barbara
B
Liu
Hong
H
Megede
Jan Zur
JZ
Donnelly
John
J
Rabussay
Dietmar
D
Barnett
Susan
S
Ulmer
Jeffrey B
JB
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*
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015685:Fusion Proteins, gag-pol; D019444:Vaccines, DNA