Title:Comparison of the Efficacy of HIV-1 Nef-Tat-Gp160-p24 Polyepitope
Vaccine Candidate with Nef Protein in Different Immunization Strategies
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Author(s): Fatemeh Namazi, Saba Davoodi and Azam Bolhassani*
Affiliation:
- Department of Hepatitis
and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Keywords:
HIV-1, Therapeutic vaccine, Polyepitope construct, Prime/boost strategy, Cell-penetrating peptides, Adjuvant.
Abstract:
Objectives: One of the promising strategies for effective HIV-1 vaccine design involves
finding the polyepitope immunogens using T cell epitopes.
Methods: Herein, an HIV-1 polyepitope construct (i.e., Nef-Tat-Gp160-P24) comprising of several
epitopes from Nef, Tat, Gp160, and P24 proteins was designed. To improve its immunogenicity in
BALB/c mice, cell-penetrating peptides (HR9 and MPG for DNA delivery, and LDP-NLS and Cy-
LoP-1 for protein transfer), Montanide adjuvant, and heterologous DNA prime/polypeptide boost
strategy were used. To compare the immunogenicity, Nef was utilized as a vaccine candidate. The
levels of total IgG and its subclasses, cytokines, and Granzyme B were assessed using ELISA.
Results: Immunological studies showed that heterologous prime-boost regimens for both antigens
could considerably augment the levels of IgG2a, IgG2b, IFN-γ, and Granzyme B directed toward
Th1 and CTL immune responses in comparison with homologous prime-boost strategies. The levels
of IFN-γ, IL-10, total IgG, IgG1, and IgG2b were drastically higher in groups immunized with
Nef-Tat-Gp160-P24 in heterologous prime-boost regimens than those in groups immunized with
Nef.
Conclusion: The use of the Nef-Tat-Gp160-P24 polyepitope immunogen in heterologous primeboost
strategy could generate the mixture of Th1 and Th2 responses directed further toward Th1 response
as a hopeful method for improvement of HIV-1 vaccine.