Enhanced immunogenicity using an alphavirus replicon DNA vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Journal article

With the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic expanding at increasing speed, development of a safe and effective vaccine remains a high priority. One of the most central vaccine platforms considered is plasmid DNA. However, high doses of DNA and several immunizations are typically needed to achieve detectable T-cell responses. In this study, a Semliki Forest virus replicon DNA vaccine designed for human clinical trials, DREP.HIVA, encoding an antigen that is currently being used in human trials in the context of a conventional DNA plasmid, pTHr.HIVA, was generated. It was shown that a single immunization of DREP.HIVA stimulated HIV-1-specific T-cell responses in mice, suggesting that the poor immunogenicity of conventional DNA vaccines may be enhanced by using viral replicon-based plasmid systems. The results presented here support the evaluation of Semliki Forest virus replicon DNA vaccines in non-human primates and in clinical studies.

Authors: Nordström, E; Forsell, M; Barnfield, C; Bonin, E; Hanke, T

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of general virology
• Volume: 86
• Issue: Pt 2
• Pages: 349-354
• Publication date: 2005-02-01
• DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.80481-0
• EISSN: 1465-2099
• ISSN: 0022-1317
• Language: English
• Keywords: Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Semliki forest virus; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Replicon; Female; HIV Infections; Viral Vaccines; T-Lymphocytes; Vaccines, DNA; HIV-1; DNA, Viral; Vaccination; Animals