scholarly journals Interactions of Single and Combined Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) DNA Vaccines

Virology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 284 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Kjerrström ◽  
Jorma Hinkula ◽  
Gunnel Engström ◽  
Vladimir Ovod ◽  
Kai Krohn ◽  
...  
2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (9) ◽  
pp. 4710-4719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph F. Bower ◽  
Xinzhen Yang ◽  
Joseph Sodroski ◽  
Ted M. Ross

ABSTRACT DNA vaccines expressing the envelope (Env) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) have been relatively ineffective at generating high-titer, long-lasting immune responses. Oligomeric or trimeric (gp140) forms of Env that more closely mimic the native proteins on the virion are often more effective immunogens than monomeric (gp120) envelopes. In this study, several forms of Env constructed from the HIV-1 isolate YU-2 (HIV-1YU-2) were tested for their immunogenic potential: a trimeric form of uncleaved (−) Env stabilized with a synthetic trimer motif isolated from the fibritin (FT) protein of the T4 bacteriophage, sgp140YU-2(−/FT), was compared to sgp140YU-2(−) without a synthetic trimerization domain, as well as to monomeric gp120YU-2. DNA plasmids were constructed to express Env alone or fused to various copies of murine C3d (mC3d). BALB/c mice were vaccinated (day 1 and week 4) with DNA expressing a codon-optimized envelope gene insert, alone or fused to mC3d. Mice were subsequently boosted (week 8) with the DNA or recombinant Env protein. All mice had high anti-Env antibody titers regardless of the use of mC3d. Sera from mice vaccinated with DNA expressing non-C3d-fused trimers elicited neutralizing antibodies against homologous HIV-1YU-2 virus infection in vitro. In contrast, sera from mice inoculated with DNA expressing Env-C3d protein trimers elicited antibody that neutralized both homologous HIV-1YU-2 and heterologous HIV-1ADA, albeit at low titers. Therefore, DNA vaccines expressing trimeric envelopes coupled to mC3d, expressed in vivo from codon-optimized sequences, elicit low titers of neutralizing antibodies against primary isolates of HIV-1.


1994 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa Márcia Mussi-Pinhata ◽  
Maria Célia C. Ferez ◽  
Dimas T. Covas ◽  
Geraldo Duarte ◽  
Márcia L. Isaac ◽  
...  

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1798
Author(s):  
Grant R. Campbell ◽  
Stephen A. Spector

Effective antiretroviral therapy has led to significant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) suppression and improvement in immune function. However, the persistence of integrated proviral DNA in latently infected reservoir cells, which drive viral rebound post-interruption of antiretroviral therapy, remains the major roadblock to a cure. Therefore, the targeted elimination or permanent silencing of this latently infected reservoir is a major focus of HIV-1 research. The most studied approach in the development of a cure is the activation of HIV-1 expression to expose latently infected cells for immune clearance while inducing HIV-1 cytotoxicity—the “kick and kill” approach. However, the complex and highly heterogeneous nature of the latent reservoir, combined with the failure of clinical trials to reduce the reservoir size casts doubt on the feasibility of this approach. This concern that total elimination of HIV-1 from the body may not be possible has led to increased emphasis on a “functional cure” where the virus remains but is unable to reactivate which presents the challenge of permanently silencing transcription of HIV-1 for prolonged drug-free remission—a “block and lock” approach. In this review, we discuss the interaction of HIV-1 and autophagy, and the exploitation of autophagy to kill selectively HIV-1 latently infected cells as part of a cure strategy. The cure strategy proposed has the advantage of significantly decreasing the size of the HIV-1 reservoir that can contribute to a functional cure and when optimised has the potential to eradicate completely HIV-1.


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