Immunogenicity of a new HIV-1 DNA construct in a BALB/c mouse model.
BACKGROUND
Cell mediated immunity, especially cytotoxic T cell responses against HIV-1 infection, plays a critical role in controlling viral replication and disease progression. DNA vaccine is a novel technology which is known to stimulate strong cellular immune responses. Many DNA vaccines have been tested for HIV infection but there is still no effective vaccine against this infection. Construction of a vaccine consisting of multiple conserved and immunogenic epitopes may increase vaccine efficacy.


OBJECTIVE
In the present study a DNA vaccine candidate constructed from HIV-1 P24-Nef was evaluated and cellular immune responses were assessed in murine BALB/c model.


METHODS
HIV-1 P24-Nef gene was cloned in PCDNA3.1 expression vector. Mice were immunized with DNA construct and IL-4 and IFN-gamma evaluation was performed using ELISPOT. Cytotoxicity response was evaluated with Granzyme B ELISPOT assay and lymphocyte proliferation was evaluated with LTT assay.


RESULTS
Analysis of immune responses showed that, compared to control groups, the candidate vaccine induced production of higher levels of both IL-4 and IFN-gamma (p<0.05). Cytotoxicity and lymphocyte proliferation responses of mice vaccinated with the candidate vaccine were significantly increased compared to control groups (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-1 P24-Nef DNA construct displayed strong immunogenicity in a murine model.
Mahdavi
Mehdi
M
Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Ebtekar
Massoumeh
M
Mahboudi
Fereidoun
F
Khorram Khorshid
Hamidreza
H
Rahbarizadeh
Fatemeh
F
Azadmanesh
Kayhan
K
Darabi
Haydeh
H
Pourasgari
Farzaneh
F
Hassan
Zuhair Mohammad
ZM
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C514799:p24 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma