Removal of vaccinia virus genes that block interferon type I and II pathways improves adaptive and memory responses of the HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate NYVAC-C in mice.

ABSTRACT: Poxviruses encode multiple inhibitors of the interferon (IFN) system, acting at different levels and blocking the induction of host defense mechanisms. Two viral gene products, B19 and B8, have been shown to act as decoy receptors of type I and type II IFNs, blocking the binding of IFN to its receptor. Since IFN plays a major role in innate immune responses, in this investigation we asked to what extent the viral inhibitors of the IFN system impact the capacity of poxvirus vectors to activate immune responses. This was tested in a mouse model with single and double deletion mutants of the vaccine candidate NYVAC-C, which expresses the HIV-1 Env, Gag, Pol, and Nef antigens. When deleted individually or in double, the type I (B19) and type II (B8) IFN binding proteins were not required for v

SUBMITTER: Gomez CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3347383 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature