Leishmania mexicana promastigotes induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vivo that do not recognize infected macrophages

The question is addressed whether antigens of Leishmania, a parasite residing in the endosomal compartment of macrophages, can be presented in the context of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. We used E. coli β-galactosidase as a model antigen which can be expressed in high levels in L. mexicana promastigotes (L. mexicana-gal). Infection of BALB/c mice with L. mexicanagal induces β-galactosidase-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL), which can be isolated using a β-galactosidase-expressing mastocytoma line as an antigen-presenting cell. These CTL recognize epitopes of β-galactosidase in the context of H-2K^d; however, they do not recognize L. mexicanagal-infected macrophages even after killing of the intracellular amastigotes by drug treatment or macrophage activation by lymphokines, although class I-peptide interaction and the presentation of endogenously produced antigens is normal. It is concluded that parasite antigens can induce a CTL response in vivo but that these CTL cannot recognize infected macrophages because the relevant epitopes cannot gain access to class I molecules. The effect of priming in vivo may be explained by the well-known but ill-understood phenomenon of cross-priming.     

Therapeutic effect of co-transplantation of neuregulin-1-transfected Schwann cells and bone marrow stromal cells on spinal cord hemisection syndrome

To develop a safe and efficient vaccine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, we constructed a novel adenovirus vaccine encoding ten repeats of Aβ3-10 and CpG motif as an adjuvant and investigated the immune response in BALB/c mouse after intranasal inoculation with this vaccine. The Ad-10 × Aβ3-10-CpG induces an IgG1 predominant humoral response and production of IL-4 and IL-10 in splenocytes in vitro, indicating a Th2-polarized immune response. Stimulation of splenocytes with Aβ3-10 peptide induces robust proliferation but not with full-length Aβ42 peptide, demonstrating that Ad-10 × Aβ3-10-CpG does not induces Aβ42 specific T cell immune response. The findings raise the possibility that the adenovirus vaccine Ad-10 × Aβ3-10-CpG could be a safe and effective alternative for immunotherapy in Alzheimer's disease.     

Trypanosoma cruzi infection does not impair major histocompatibility complex class I presentation of antigen to cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, lives free within the cytoplasm of infected host cells. This intracellular niche suggests that parasite antigens may be processed and presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules for recognition by CD8⁺ T cells. However, the parasite persists indefinitely in the mammalian host, indicating its success at evading immune clearance. It has been shown that T. cruzi interferes with processing and presentation of antigenic peptides in the MHC class II pathway. This investigation sought to determine whether interference in MHC class I processing and presentation occurs with T. cruzi infection. Surface expression of MHC class I molecules was found to be unaffected or up-regulated by T. cruzi infection in vitro. A model system employing a β-galactosidase (β-gal)-specific murine cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line (0805B) showed: (i) in vitro infection of mouse peritoneal macrophages or J774 cells with T. cruzi did not inhibit MHC class I presentation of exogenous peptide (a nine-amino acid epitope of β-gal) to the CTL line, (ii) in vitro infection of a β-gal-expressing 3T3 cell line (LZEJ) with T. cruzi did not inhibit MHC class I presentation of the endogenous protein to the CTL line and (iii) mouse renal adenocarcinoma cells infected with T. cruzi and subsequently infected with adenovirus expressing β-gal were able to present antigen to the β-gal-specific CTL line. These findings indicate that the failure of the immune response to clear T. cruzi does not result from global interference by the parasite with MHC class I processing and presentation. Parasites engineered to express β-gal were unable to sensitize infected antigen-presenting cells in vitro to lysis by the CTL 0805B line. This was probably due to the intracellular localization of the β-gal within the parasite and its inaccessibility to the host cell cytoplasm.     

Direct and indirect T cell priming by dendritic cell vaccines

The mechanisms by which dendritic cell (DC) vaccines prime host T cells in vivo was analyzed. Mice were immunized with syngeneic bone marrow-derived DC and as surrogate antigen β-galactosidase (β-gal) was used. DC either pulsed with peptide, loaded with β-gal antigen or gene-modified induced β-gal-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and moderate rejection of an in vivo challenge with β-gal expressing tumors. In addition, β-gal-specific CTL lysed the syngeneic DC that were used as vaccines. Using SCID mice reconstituted with F1 lymphocytes, direct priming by gene-modified DC vaccines was demonstrated by the presence of β-gal-specific CTL of the haplotype exclusively expressed by DC while indirect priming by host antigen-presenting cells (APC) was shown by the detection of CTL of the haplo type exclusively present on host APC and absent on DC vaccines. Since DC immunization in syngeneic mice was associated with an increase in NK1.1⁺/Ly49C⁻ cells and detectable lysis of DC in vitro by lymphokine-activated killer cells, DC vaccines appear to interact with host natural killer cells as well as with antigen-specific T cells. These effector cells in turn may lyse DC vaccines thereby leading to the release of antigens that can be taken up by host APC.     

Ad-LMP2重组腺病毒疫苗在恒河猴体内免疫效果的研究

目的观察带有EBV-LMP2的非复制型Ad-LMP2重组腺病毒疫苗免疫恒河猴诱导的针对EBV-LMP2的特异性细胞和体液免疫应答。方法分别使用高剂量(4·5×1011VP/kg)、中剂量(1·5×1011VP/kg)、低剂量(0·5×1011VP/kg)三个剂量的Ad-LMP2重组腺病毒,肌内注射免疫恒河猴,每5d免疫一次,共免疫6次,第7周时使用ELISPOT方法检测猴外周血细胞毒性T细胞应答,同时应用免疫酶方法检测血清中抗LMP2抗体。结果3个剂量免疫恒河猴均可以诱导出有效的细胞免疫应答及一定的抗体应答,免疫应答水平的高低与病毒剂量的高低有一定的关系,较高剂量产生的细胞及体液免疫应答水平比低剂量的要高。抗腺病毒中和抗体和抗LMP2抗体免疫2周后就可以检测到,其中抗LMP2抗体在免疫3~4周时滴度较高,7周时则与3~4周时接近或有所下降。结论非复制型Ad-LMP2重组腺病毒疫苗可以有效的诱导恒河猴产生EBV-LMP2特异性细胞和体液免疫反应。     

Comparative immunization in BALB/c mice with recombinant replication-defective adenovirus vector and DNA plasmid expressing a SARS-CoV nucleocapsid protein gene

In order to investigate immunogenicity in the induction of humoral and cellular immune responses, severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus （SARS-CoV）-N gene recombinant replication-defective adenoviral vector, rAd-N, was generated and immunized BALB/c mice in a pcDNA3.1-N prime-rAd-N boost regimen. After humoral and cellular immune response detection, different levels of SARS-CoV N protein specific antibodies and interferon-γ （IFN-γ） secretion are shown compared to controls. The humoral immune response was induced more effectively by the DNA priming and recombinant adenovirus boosting regimen. There is a significant difference between heterogeneous and homologous vaccinations. The heterogeneous combinations were all higher than those of the homologous combinations in the induction of anti-N antibody response. Among the three heterogeneous combinations, pcDNA3.1-N/pcDNA3.1-N/pcDNA3.1-N/rAd-N induced the strongest antibody response. In the induction of IFN-γ production, the homologous combination of rAd-N/rAd-N/rAd-N/rAd-N was significantly stronger than that of pcDNA3.1-N/pcDNA3.1-N/pcDNA3.1-N/pcDNA3.1-N, but was relatively weaker than the heterogeneous combination of pcDAN3.1-N/pcDAN3.1-N/pcDAN3.1-N/rAd-N. This combination was a most efficient immunization regimen in induction of SARS-CoV-N-specific （IFN-γ） secretion just as the antibody response. These results suggest that DNA immunization followed by recombinant adenovirns boosting could be used as a potential SARS-CoV vaccine.     

Modulation of amplitude and direction of in vivo immune responses by co-administration of cytokine gene expression cassettes with DNA immunogens

Immunization with nucleic acids has been shown to induce both antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses in vivo. We hypothesize that immunization with DNA could be enhanced by directing specific immune responses induced by the vaccine based on the differential correlates of protection known for a particular pathogen. Recently we and others reported that specific immune responses generated by DNA vaccine could be modulated by co-delivery of gene expression cassettes encoding for IL-12, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and the co-stimulatory molecule CD86. To further engineer the immune response in vivo, we investigated the induction and regulation of immune responses following the co-delivery of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1α, TNF-α, and TNF-β), Th1 cytokine (IL-2, IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18), and Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10) genes. We observed enhancement of antigen-specific humoral response with the co-delivery of Th2 cytokine genes IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 as well as those of IL-2 and IL-18. A dramatic increase in antigen-specific T helper cell proliferation was seen with IL-2 and TNF-α gene co-injections. In addition, we observed a significant enhancement of the cytotoxic response with the co-administration of TNF-α and IL-15 genes with HIV-1 DNA immunogens. These increases in CTL response were both MHC class I restricted and CD8⁺ T cell dependent. Together with earlier reports on the utility of co-immunizing using immunologically important molecules together with DNA immunogens, we demonstrate the potential of this strategy as an important tool for the development of more rationally designed vaccines.     

Optimized Adenovirus-Antibody Complexes Stimulate Strong Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses against an Encoded Antigen in Na?ve Mice and Those with Preexisting Immunity

The immune response to recombinant adenoviruses is the most significant impediment to their clinical use for immunization. We test the hypothesis that specific virus-antibody combinations dictate the type of immune response generated against the adenovirus and its transgene cassette under certain physiological conditions while minimizing vector-induced toxicity. In vitro and in vivo assays were used to characterize the transduction efficiency, the T and B cell responses to the encoded transgene, and the toxicity of 1 × 10¹¹ adenovirus particles mixed with different concentrations of neutralizing antibodies. Complexes formed at concentrations of 500 to 0.05 times the 50% neutralizing dose (ND₅₀) elicited strong virus- and transgene-specific T cell responses. The 0.05-ND₅₀ formulation elicited measurable anti-transgene antibodies that were similar to those of virus alone (P = 0.07). This preparation also elicited very strong transgene-specific memory T cell responses (28.6 ± 5.2% proliferation versus 7.7 ± 1.4% for virus alone). Preexisting immunity significantly reduced all responses elicited by these formulations. Although lower concentrations (0.005 and 0.0005 ND₅₀) of antibody did not improve cellular and humoral responses in naïve animals, they did promote strong cellular (0.005 ND₅₀) and humoral (0.0005 ND₅₀) responses in mice with preexisting immunity. Some virus-antibody complexes may improve the potency of adenovirus-based vaccines in naïve individuals, while others can sway the immune response in those with preexisting immunity. Additional studies with these and other virus-antibody ratios may be useful to predict and model the type of immune responses generated against a transgene in those with different levels of exposure to adenovirus.     

The defined attenuated Listeria monocytogenes Δmpl2 mutant is an effective oral vaccine carrier to trigger a long-lasting immune response against a mouse fibrosarcoma

Listeria monocytogenes has been proposed as a carrier to elicit major histocompatibility complex class-I restricted immune responses able to protect against tumor challenge. In this study the properties of the attenuated L. monocytogenes Δmpl2 mutant has been evaluated in vivo against a highly aggressive mouse fibrosarcoma which expresses β-galactosidase (β-gal) as a tumor-associated antigen (TAA). Immunization with the vaccine prototypes resulted in both elicitation of specific antibodies and generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL). Oral vaccination protected 55–64% of the immunized animals from tumor take (p < 0.01) and strongly reduced the average size of the tumor in the other 34–45% (p < 0.01). Vaccinated mice developed a long-lasting response, which resulted in 100% protection from a subsequent tumor challenge. Substitution of the whole TAA by its CTL-defined immunodominant epitope resulted in 43% protection, suggesting a contribution of the humoral response to the observed antitumor effect. No statistically significant differences were observed in the antitumor response when mice were immunized with strains expressing the immunodominant TAA epitope in the context of carrier proteins which were either exported or restricted to the bacterial cytoplasm. This suggests that the topology of the recombinant antigen does not play a major role in the outcome of the protective response.     

Immunogenicity of the recombinant adenovirus type 5 vector with type 35 fiber containing HIV-1 gag gene

The immune efficiency of a recombinant adenovirus type 5 with type 35 fiber containing HIV-1 gag gene (rAd5/F35-mod.gag) was investigated in BALB/c mice, in which the rAd5/F35-mod.gag was firstly identified with PCR, then transfected to 293 cells and the in vitro expression level of Gag protein was determined by Western blotting and indirect immuno-fluorescent assay. Mice were immunized with intramuscular injections of rAd5/F35-mod.gag, rAd5-mod.gag or DNA and were boosted after 3 weeks. To test the effect of pre-existing anti-viral immunity on immunization, mice were also injected with Ad5-GFP vector and then immunized 4 and 7 weeks later with Ad5/F35-mod. gag vector. The P24-specific IgG antibody in sera of immunized mice was determined by ELISA and the specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response was assayed by intracellular cytokine staining. It was demonstrated that the rAd5/F35-mod. gag vector could express efficiently the HIV Gag protein in 293 cells in vitro and induce strong HIV-specific immune responses in vivo. The strongest CTL and serum IgG response occurred when mice were immunized twice with injection of rAd5/F35 alone, but the anti-Ad5 antibody after primary infection with adenovirus could inhibit the specific immune responses induced by rAd5/F35 vector. It is concluded that single immunization with recombinant adenovirus rAd5/F35-mod. gag can induce specific CTL and serum IgG antibody responses in mice, but the immunogenicity of rAd5/F35 is comparably weaker than that of rAd5.     

Ad5F35-LMP2重组腺病毒免疫效果的研究

目的了解含有EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白2的非复制型重组腺病毒(Ad5F35-LMP2),免疫恒河猴的特异性细胞和体液免疫的效果。方法分别使用高剂量(1.5×1010TCID50/只)、中剂量(1.5×109TCID50/只)、低剂量(1.5×108TCID50/只)Ad5F35-LMP2重组腺病毒,同时设对照组(PBS4.0ml/只)。肌内注射免疫恒河猴,每个月一次,共免疫3次,第0、4、8、12周时使用Elispot方法检测猴外周血EBV-LMP2细胞毒性T细胞应答,同时应用免疫酶方法检测血清中LMP2抗体。结果3个剂量Ad5F35-LMP2腺病毒免疫恒河猴均可以诱导出有效的细胞免疫应答及一定的抗体应答,免疫应答水平的高低与病毒剂量的高低有一定的关系,较高剂量产生的细胞及体液免疫应答水平比低剂量的高。结论Ad5F35-LMP2非复制型重组腺病毒疫苗可以有效的诱导恒河猴产生EBV-LMP2特异性细胞和体液免疫反应。     

Major histocompatibility complex class I presentation of exogenously acquired minor alloantigens initiates skin allograft rejection

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules present peptides from endogenous proteins. However, in some cases class I-restricted peptides can also derive from exogenous antigens. This MHC class I exogenous presentation could be involved in minor histocompatibility antigen (mHAg)-disparate allograft rejection when donor alloantigens are not expressed in graft antigen-presenting cells (APC) that initiate the rejection mechanism. Here we addressed this question by using a skin graft experimental model where donors (H-2^b or H-2^d Tgβ-gal mice) expressed the mHAg like β-galactosidase (β-gal) in keratinocytes but not in Langerhans' cells (LC) which have an APC function. Rejection of Tgβ-gal skin by a β-gal-specific CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effector mechanism should require presentation by donor and/or recipient LC of MHC class I-restricted peptides of exogenous β-gal shed by keratinocytes. Indeed, our results showed that 1) H-2^b Tgβ-gal skin was rejected by H-2^bxs and H-2^bxd recipients; 2) rejection was mediated by β-gal-specific CD8⁺ CTL effectors; and 3) H-2^bxd mice having rejected H-2^b Tgβ-gal skin generated β-gal-specific CTL restricted by H-2^b and H-2^d class I molecules and rejected subsequently grafted H-2^d Tgβ-gal skin in an accelerated fashion, demonstrating that recipient LC have presented exogenous β-gal-derived MHC class I epitopes. These results lead to the conclusion that MHC class I exogenous presentation of donor mHAg can initiate allograft rejection.     

Vaccination with T cell receptor peptides primes anti-receptor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and anergizes T cells specifically recognized by these CTL

We selected three peptides from the germ-line sequence of the Vβ8.2 and Jβ2.3 gene segments of the murine T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) which contained putative K^d- and L^d-restricted epitopes. Immunization of BALB/c (H-2^d) mice with the Vβ8.2(67–90) 23-mer peptide 1 as well as the 15-mer Vβ8.2(95–108)-peptide 2 efficiently primed specific CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in vivo against natural TCR-Vβ8.2 epitopes. Vβ8.2⁺ T cells were not deleted in TCR peptide-immunized mice because the fractions of Vβ8.2⁺ CD4⁺ and Vβ8.2⁺ CD8⁺ T cells in spleen and lymph nodes were not altered. The proliferative response of Vβ8.2⁺ T cells to stimulation by monoclonal antibody F23.2 was selectively suppressed (by 60–80%) in peptide-immunized BALB/c mice, indicating partial anergy of this T subset. Immunization of BALB/c mice with the Jβ2.3-derived peptide 3 stimulated a CD8⁺ CTL response against a class I-restricted epitope within this Jβ segment that was also generated during natural “endogenous” processing of this self antigen. These data confirm the predictive value of major histocompatibility complex class I allele-specific motifs. The described experiments indicate that TCR peptide-primed CD8⁺ CTL recognize class I-restricted, natural Vβ/Jβ-TCR epitopes. Such anti-TCR CTL may, thus, operate in Vβ-specific immunoregulation of the T cell system suppressing their functional reactivity without deleting them.     

Induction of murine cytotoxic T lymphocytes against Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface protein 2

Sporozoite surface protein 2 has been identified as a target of malaria vaccines designed to produce protective CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) because mice immunized with mastocytoma cells expressing a fragment of Plasmodium yoelii sporozoite surface protein 2 (PySSP2) are protected against malaria by an immune response that requires CD8⁺ CTL. To define CTL epitopes in the Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface protein 2 (PfSSP2), spleen cells (SC) from mice immunized with irradiated sporozoites (irr spz), were stimulated with synthetic peptides, and these effectors were tested for cytolytic activity against peptide-pulsed, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched targets. Two peptides containing CTL epitopes, A6 (Pf SSP2 3D7 214–233) and BH1 (Pf SSP2 3D7 3–11) were identified in bulk cultures of SC from immune C57BL/6 mice, and by production of CTL lines. Immunization with recombinant vaccinia expressing the full length PfSSP2 induced antigen specific, MHC-restricted, CD8⁺ T cell-dependent cytolytic activity against these two peptides. Finally, CTL were induced by immunization with a bacteria-derived recombinant fragment of PfSSP2 (rPfSSP2) mixed with a liposomal formulation containing a cationic lipid (Lipofectin® Reagent, LPF). Induced CTL lysed target cells pulsed with peptide A6 or with LPF/rPfSSP2, but not targets pulsed with only rPfSSP2. These studies demonstrate that CTL specific to PfSSP2 are present in C57BL/6 mice and that immunization with purified rPfSSP2 delivered with LPF induces a cytotoxic T cell response.     

Humoral immune response to the capsid components of recombinant adenoviruses: Routes of immunization modulate virus-induced Ig subclass shifts

This study examines in detail the capsid-specific humoral immune response of BALB/c mice after one single injection of a replication-defective adenovirus. Two routes of immunization, intravenous (i.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.), were compared for the response induced against the adenovirus particle and the three major components of the viral capsid, hexon, penton base, and fiber. A single immunization with the replication-defective adenovirus induces a long and persistent humoral response specific for the virus. However, the molecular components of the viral capsid are differentially recognized depending on the route of immunization. The sera from mice immunized i.p. recognized only the hexon protein and a preferential switch to the IgG2a subclass was obtained which remained stable 100 days post-immunization. The sera obtained from mice immunized i.v. gave a more complex response. At the beginning of the response, an isotype bias toward the IgG2a subclass was observed, but the isotype distribution changed during the whole period of the response. Neutralizing activity was maximum 45 days after immunization by both routes, and no activity was detectable after 3 months. However, the i.v. serum displayed a higher neutralizing activity than the i.p. serum. The IgM antiviral antibodies appeared to be an important component of the neutralizing activity, and the two routes of immunization do not induce the same IgG isotypes to neutralize viral infectivity. Extension of these findings to human gene therapy using recombinant adenoviruses may help to characterize the precise viral protein targets of neutralizing antibodies.     

Induction of Antigen-Specific Th1-Type Immune Responses by Gamma-Irradiated Recombinant Brucella abortus RB51

Brucella abortus strain RB51 is an attenuated rough mutant used as the live vaccine against bovine brucellosis in the United States and other countries. We previously reported the development of strain RB51 as a bacterial vaccine vector for inducing Th1-type immune responses against heterologous proteins. Because safety concerns may preclude the use of strain RB51-based recombinant live vaccines, we explored the ability of a gamma-irradiated recombinant RB51 strain to induce heterologous antigen-specific immune responses in BALB/c mice. Exposure of strain RB51G/LacZ expressing Escherichia coli β-galactosidase to a minimum of 300 kilorads of gamma radiation resulted in complete loss of replicative ability. These bacteria, however, remained metabolically active and continued to synthesize β-galactosidase. A single intraperitoneal inoculation of mice with 10⁹ CFU equivalents of gamma-irradiated, but not heat-killed, RB51G/LacZ induced a β-galactosidase-specific Th1-type immune response. Though no obvious differences were detected in immune responses to B. abortus-specific antigens, mice vaccinated with gamma-irradiated, but not heat-killed, RB51G/LacZ developed significant protection against challenge with virulent B. abortus. In vitro experiments indicated that gamma-irradiated and heat-killed RB51G/LacZ induced maturation of dendritic cells; however, stimulation with gamma-irradiated bacteria resulted in more interleukin-12 secretion. These results suggest that recombinant RB51 strains exposed to an appropriate minimum dose of gamma radiation are unable to replicate but retain their ability to stimulate Th1 immune responses against the heterologous antigens and confer protection against B. abortus challenge in mice.     

柔性肽串联四价Aβ_(15)重组腺病毒的构建及纯化

目的构建并纯化含有柔性肽串联四价β-淀粉样蛋白(Aβ15)的重组腺病毒疫苗,用于老年性痴呆的预防和治疗。方法酶切获取带有IgGк轻链信号肽序列的柔性肽串联四价Aβ15基因,定向克隆于穿梭质粒pAdTrack-CMV中。通过与腺病毒骨架载体pAdeasy-1在细菌内同源重组形成重组腺病毒质粒pAd-4×Aβ15,转染人胚肾293细胞后包装成有感染能力的重组腺病毒颗粒(Ad-4×Aβ15)。Western检测4×Aβ15在培养液中的分泌表达。氯化铯密度梯度离心纯化重组腺病毒Ad-4×Aβ15。结果 pAdTrack-4×Aβ15测序结果和预期一致,同源重组并经293细胞包装后形成重组腺病毒Ad-4×Aβ15,western检测4×Aβ15在培养上清中表达。经氯化铯密度梯度离心纯化后Ad-4×Aβ15病毒颗粒数约为4.6×1012 VP/mL。结论成功制备了重组腺病毒Ad-4×Aβ15,感染细胞证实其呈分泌表达,经氯化铯密度梯度离心纯化后得到高滴度的重组腺病毒。为老年性痴呆(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)的实验治疗打下基础。     

Evaluation of recombinant vaccinia virus--measles vaccines in infant rhesus macaques with preexisting measles antibody

Immunization of newborn infants with standard measles vaccines is not effective because of the presence of maternal antibody. In this study, newborn rhesus macaques were immunized with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing measles virus hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) proteins, using the replication-competent WR strain of vaccinia virus or the replication-defective MVA strain. The infants were boosted at 2 months and then challenged intranasally with measles virus at 5 months of age. Some of the newborn monkeys received measles immune globulin (MIG) prior to the first immunization, and these infants were compared to additional infants that had maternal measles-neutralizing antibody. In the absence of measles antibody, vaccination with either vector induced neutralizing antibody, cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses to measles virus and protection from systemic measles infection and skin rash. The infants vaccinated with the MVA vector developed lower measles-neutralizing antibody titers than those vaccinated with the WR vector, and they sustained a transient measles viremia upon challenge. Either maternal antibody or passively transferred MIG blocked the humoral response to vaccination with both WR and MVA, and the frequency of positive CTL responses was reduced. Despite this inhibition of vaccine-induced immunity, there was a reduction in peak viral loads and skin rash after measles virus challenge in many of the infants with preexisting measles antibody. Therefore, vaccination using recombinant vectors such as poxviruses may be able to prevent the severe disease that often accompanies measles in infants.     

Induction of humoral and cellular immune responses against hepatitis C virus by vaccination with replicon particles derived from Sindbis-like virus XJ-160

A replication-defective, recombinant Sindbis virus vector was utilized in a novel immunization strategy to induce humoral and cellular responses against hepatitis C virus (HCV). The recombinant vector, pVaXJ-E1E2, expressing the gene for HCV glycoproteins E2 and E1, was constructed by inserting the E1E2 gene into the replicon pVaXJ, a DNA vector derived from Sindbis-like virus XJ-160. The defective replicon particles, XJ-E1E2, were produced by transfecting BHK-21^E+Capsid cells, the packaging cell lines for the vector from XJ-160 virus, with pVaXJ-E1E2. Both glycoproteins, E2 and E1, were stably expressed, as indicated by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and Western blotting. Mice were vaccinated using a prime-boost strategy with XJ-E1E2 particles combined with Freund’s incomplete adjuvant via intramuscular injection at 0 and 2 weeks. HCV-specific IgG antibody levels and cellular immune responses were evaluated by IFA and IFN-γ ELISPOT, respectively. The results showed that the defective XJ-E1E2 particles in combination with Freund’s incomplete adjuvant induced effective humoral and cellular immune responses against HCV glycoprotein E1 or E2, suggesting that a defective Sindbis particle vaccine is capable of eliciting an effective immune response. These findings have important implications for the development of HCV vaccine candidates.