Similar T-cell immune responses induced by group M consensus env immunogens with wild-type or minimum consensus variable regions.
Abstract
Consensus HIV-1 genes can decrease the genetic distances between candidate immunogens
and field virus strains. To ensure the functionality and optimal presentation of immunologic
epitopes, we generated two group-M consensus env genes that contain variable regions
either from a wild-type B/C recombinant virus isolate (CON6) or minimal consensus
elements (CON-S) in the V1, V2, V4, and V5 regions. C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were primed
twice with CON6, CON-S, and subtype control (92UG37_A and HXB2/Bal_B) DNA and boosted
with recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV). Mean antibody titers against 92UG37_A, 89.6_B,
96ZM651_C, CON6, and CON-S Env protein were determined. Both CON6 and CON-S induced
higher mean antibody titers against several of the proteins, as compared with the
subtype controls. However, no significant differences were found in mean antibody
titers in animals immunized with CON6 or CON-S. Cellular immune responses were measured
by using five complete Env overlapping peptide sets: subtype A (92UG37_A), subtype
B (MN_B, 89.6_B and SF162_B), and subtype C (Chn19_C). The intensity of the induced
cellular responses was measured by using pooled Env peptides; T-cell epitopes were
identified by using matrix peptide pools and individual peptides. No significant differences
in T-cell immune-response intensities were noted between CON6 and CON-S immunized
BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. In BALB/c mice, 10 and eight nonoverlapping T-cell epitopes
were identified in CON6 and CON-S, whereas eight epitopes were identified in 92UG37_A
and HXB2/BAL_B. In C57BL/6 mice, nine and six nonoverlapping T-cell epitopes were
identified after immunization with CON6 and CON-S, respectively, whereas only four
and three were identified in 92UG37_A and HXB2/BAL_B, respectively. When combined
together from both mouse strains, 18 epitopes were identified. The group M artificial
consensus env genes, CON6 and CON-S, were equally immunogenic in breadth and intensity
for inducing humoral and cellular immune responses.
Type
Journal articleSubject
AIDS VaccinesAmino Acid Sequence
Animals
Consensus Sequence
Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
Female
HIV Antibodies
HIV Infections
HIV-1
Immunization
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Molecular Sequence Data
T-Lymphocytes
Vaccines, DNA
Vaccinia virus
env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/3291Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1089/aid.2009.0258Publication Info
Weaver, EA; Camacho, ZT; & Gao, F (2010). Similar T-cell immune responses induced by group M consensus env immunogens with wild-type
or minimum consensus variable regions. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses, 26(5). pp. 577-584. 10.1089/aid.2009.0258. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/3291.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Feng Gao
Professor Emeritus in Medicine
Dr. Feng Gao is Professor of Medicine at Duke University. The Gao laboratory has a
long-standing interest in elucidating the origins and evolution of human and simian
inmmunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV), and in studying HIV/SIV gene function and
pathogenic mechanisms from the evolutionary perspective. These studies have led to
new strategies to better understand HIV origins, biology, pathogenesis and drug resistance,
and to design new AIDS vaccines.

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