Immunogenicity of HIV-1-Based Virus-Like Particles with Increased Incorporation and Stability of Membrane-Bound Env.

ABSTRACT: An optimal prophylactic vaccine to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) transmission should elicit protective antibody responses against the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env). Replication-incompetent HIV-1 virus-like particles (VLPs) offer the opportunity to present virion-associated Env with a native-like structure during vaccination that closely resembles that encountered on infectious virus. Here, we optimized the incorporation of Env into previously designed mature-form VLPs (mVLPs) and assessed their immunogenicity in mice. The incorporation of Env into mVLPs was increased by replacing the Env transmembrane and cytoplasmic tail domains with those of influenza haemagglutinin (HA-TMCT). Furthermore, Env was stabilized on the VLP surface by introducing an interchain disulfide and

SUBMITTER: Gonelli CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8002006 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature