Induction of primary virus-cross-reactive human immunodeficiency virus type 1-neutralizing antibodies in small animals by using an alphavirus-derived in vivo expression system.

ABSTRACT: We have studied the induction of neutralizing antibodies by in vivo expression of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope by using a Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) replicon system with mice and rabbits. The HIV-1 envelope, clone R2, has broad sensitivity to cross-reactive neutralization and was obtained from a donor with broadly cross-reactive, primary virus-neutralizing antibodies (donor of reference serum, HIV-1-neutralizing serum 2 [HNS2]). It was expressed as gp160, as secreted gp140, and as gp160deltaCT with the cytoplasmic tail deleted. gp140 was expressed in vitro at a high level and was predominantly uncleaved oligomer. gp160deltaCT was released by cells in the form of membrane-bound vesicles. gp160deltaCT induced stronger neutralizing responses than th

SUBMITTER: Dong M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC149731 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature