Characterization of recombinant influenza A virus as a vector for HIV-1 p17Gag

Vaccine. 2009 Sep 25;27(42):5735-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.07.032. Epub 2009 Jul 31.

Abstract

We have generated a recombinant influenza A virus with the HIV-1 p17(Gag) (rFlu-p17) gene inserted into the influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) gene. Expression of HIV-1 p17 protein was detected by conventional Western blot analysis and also by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of rFlu-p17 infected cells. The latter method does not depend on protein-specific antibody preparations and proved to be a powerful tool to detect proteins of interest. Next, antigen presentation of p17 expressed after infection of antigen-presenting cells was determined. Cloned p17-specific CD8+ T-cells were co-cultured with rFlu-p17 infected B-cells and produced IFN-gamma upon stimulation. Furthermore, we showed that immunization with rFlu-p17 elicited a humoral immune response in mice. This study shows that replication-deficient rFlu-p17 is antigenic in vitro and immunogenic in vivo and warrants further development as a candidate vaccine vector.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • HIV Antibodies / blood
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology
  • HIV Antigens / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • HIV-1
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus / genetics
  • Influenza A virus / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology*

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Antigens
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • p17 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1