Mycobacterial codon optimization enhances antigen expression and virus-specific immune responses in recombinant Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guerin expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag.

ABSTRACT: Although its potential for vaccine development is already known, the introduction of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) genes to Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has thus far elicited only limited responses. In order to improve the expression levels, we optimized the codon usage of the HIV type 1 (HIV-1) p24 antigen gene of gag (p24 gag) and established a codon-optimized recombinant BCG (rBCG)-p24 Gag which expressed a 40-fold-higher level of p24 Gag than did that of nonoptimized rBCG-p24 Gag. Inoculation of mice with the codon-optimized rBCG-p24 Gag elicited effective immunity, as evidenced by virus-specific lymphocyte proliferation, gamma interferon ELISPOT cell induction, and antibody production. In contrast, inoculation of animals with the nonoptimized rBCG

SUBMITTER: Kanekiyo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1168777 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature