HIV-specific humoral and cellular immunity in rabbits vaccinated with recombinant human immunodeficiency virus-like gag-env particles

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 183; no. 2; p. 487
• Main Authors: Haffar, O K, Smithgall, M D, Moran, P A, Travis, B M, Zarling, J M, Hu, S L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-08-1991
• Subjects: Animals; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Ficusin - pharmacology; Gene Products, gag - genetics; Gene Products, gag - immunology; HIV Antibodies - biosynthesis; HIV Antigens - genetics; HIV Antigens - immunology; HIV Core Protein p24; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 - genetics; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 - immunology; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 - genetics; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 - immunology; HIV-1 - immunology; HIV-1 - radiation effects; Immunity, Cellular - immunology; Immunoblotting; Neutralization Tests; Rabbits; Vaccines, Synthetic - genetics; Vaccines, Synthetic - immunology; Viral Core Proteins - genetics; Viral Core Proteins - immunology; Viral Vaccines - genetics; Viral Vaccines - immunology
• ISSN: 0042-6822
• DOI: 10.1016/0042-6822(91)90978-K

Recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)-like gag-env particles produced in mammalian cells were inoculated into two New Zealand white rabbits. In parallel, two control rabbits were inoculated with the homologous HIV-1 virions inactivated by ultra violet light (uv) and psoralen treatments. The humoral and cellular immune responses to HIV-1 were evaluated for both groups of animals. Recombinant particles elicited humoral immunity that was specific for all the viral structural proteins. The antibodies recognized both denatured and nondenatured proteins. Moreover, the sera neutralized the in vitro infectivity of the homologous virus in CEM cells. Importantly, the recombinant particles also generated a T helper response by priming with the HIV proteins. Similar results were observed with inactivated virus immunization. Therefore, our results suggest that the recombinant HIV-like particles elicit functional humoral immunity as well as cellular immunity and represent a novel vaccine candidate for AIDS.