Overexpression of recombinant HIV-1 Subtype C Tat and Nef in a Salmonella vaccine vector.
Tat and Nef are very important regulatory proteins of HIV-1. They enhance viral replication and down-regulate expression of MHC Class I molecules, respectively. The antigens are now considered to be targets for HIV vaccine development. The expression of Tat and Nef in Salmonella vaccines has not previously been investigated. In this study, HIV-1 Subtype C tat and nef genes were cloned into an expression plasmid and their expression investigated in Salmonella. Very high-level expression of the two HIV-1 antigens was demonstrated in the recombinant Salmonella. The antigens were also successfully purified in bulk from the bacterium.Salmonella can therefore potentially be used to overexpress HIV-1 antigens and used as a possible delivery system in HIV-1 vaccine development.
Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa ; Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box A178 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Nyasha
N
Chin'ombe
Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.
Maribanyana
M
Lebeko
Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.
Mankgopo
M
Kgatle
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D022562:Salmonella Vaccines / Q000235:genetics*; D019076:Transgenes; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics*
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D022562:Salmonella Vaccines; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C514837:nef protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HIV; Overexpression; Salmonella; recombinant; regulatory proteins; viral replication