Benjamin Rovinski

Induction of Neutralizing Antibodies and Gag-Specific Cellular Immune Responses to an R5 Primary Isolate of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Rhesus Macaques

ABSTRACT The ability to generate antibodies that cross-neutralize diverse primary isolates is an important goal for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine development. Most of the candidate HIV-1 vaccines tested in humans and nonhuman primates have failed in this regard. Past efforts have focused almost entirely on the envelope glycoproteins of a small number of T-cell line-adapted strains of the virus as immunogens. Here we assessed the immunogenicity of noninfectious virus-like particles (VLP) consisting of Gag, Pro (protease), and Env from R5 primary isolate HIV-1Bx08. Immunogens were delivered to rhesus macaques in the form of either purified VLP, recombinant DNA and canarypox (ALVAC) vectors engineered to express VLP, or a combination of these products. Seroconversion to Gag and Pro was detected in all of the immunized animals. Antibodies that could neutralize HIV-1Bx08 were detected in animals that received (i) coinoculations with DNABx08 and VLPBx08, (ii) DNABx08 followed by ALVACBx08 boosting, and (iii) VLPBx08 alone. The neutralizing antibodies were highly strain specific despite the fact that they did not appear to be directed to linear epitopes in the V3 loop. Virus-specific cellular immune responses also were generated, as judged by the presence of Gag-specific gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing cells. These cellular immune responses required the inclusion of DNABx08 in the immunization modality, since few or no IFN-γ-producing cells were detected in animals that received either VLPBx08 or ALVACBx08 alone. The results demonstrate the feasibility of generating neutralizing antibodies and cellular immune responses that target an R5 primary HIV-1 isolate by vaccination in primates.

Production of HIV-1 p24 protein in transgenic tobacco plants

The production of antigens for vaccines in plants has the potential as a safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional production systems. Toward the development of a plant-based expression system for the production of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) p24 capsid protein, the p24 gene was introduced into the genome of tobacco plants using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer. Southern blot analyses confirmed the presence of the p24 coding sequence within the genome of transgenic lines. Western blot analysis of protein extracts from transgenic plants identified plant-expressed p24 protein that cross-reacted with a p24-specific monoclonal antibody, thus confirming the maintenance of antigenicity. Quantification of the p24 protein using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) estimated yields of approx 3.5 mg per g of soluble leaf protein. Similar accumulation levels of p24 were also detected in T1 plants, confirming that the p24 gene is transmitted stably. Our results indicate that plant-based transgenic expression represents a viable means of producing p24 for the development of HIV vaccine and for use in HIV diagnostic procedures.

In planta expression of HIV-1 p24 protein using an RNA plant virus-based expression vector.

Plant viruses show significant potential as expression vectors for the production of foreign proteins (e.g., antigens) in plants. The HIV-1 p24 nucleocapsid protein is an important early marker of HIV infection and has been used as an antigen in the development of HIV vaccines. Toward developing a plant-based expression system for the production of p24, we have investigated the use of a (positive)-strand RNA plant virus, tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), as an expression vector. The HIV p24 open reading frame (ORF) was introduced into a cloned cDNA copy of the TBSV genome as an in-frame fusion with a 5′-terminal portion of the TBSV coat protein ORF. In vitro-generated RNA transcripts corresponding to the engineered virus vector were infectious when inoculated into plant protoplasts; Northern and Western blot analyses verified the accumulation of a predicted p24-encoding viral subgenomic mRNA and the production of p24 fusion product. Whole-plant infections with the viral vector led to the accumulation of p24 fusion protein in inoculated leaves, which cross-reacted with p24-specific antibodies, thus confirming the maintenance of key antigenic determinants. This study is the first to demonstrate that TBSV can be engineered to express a complete foreign protein of clinical importance. Strategies for optimizing protein yield from this viral vector are discussed.

Genetically Engineered Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Vaccines

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the etiological agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and related disorders (Barre-Sinoussi et al., 1983; Gallo et al., 1984; Popovic et al., 1984). The World Health Organization has recently estimated that 8–10 million people worldwide are infected with HIV-1 and that this number will rise to 40 million by the year 2000 (Ksparza et al., 1991). Global projections of cumulative total cases of AIDS patients by this time are in the neighbourhood of 15–18 million. The development of an effective, long-lasting vaccine against HIV-1 represents, therefore, a formidable scientific challenge for the international AIDS research community in its efforts to control the spread of this epidemic.