Engineering enhancement of the immune response to HBV DNA vaccine in mice by the use of LIGHT gene adjuvant

DNA vaccines could induce protective immune responses in several animal models. Many strategies have been employed to improve the effect of nucleic acid vaccines. LIGHT is a member of the TNF superfamily and functions as a co-stimulatory molecule for T cell proliferation. In the study, the immunogenicity in the induction of humoral and cellular immune responses by HBV DNA vaccine and the adjuvant effect of LIGHT were studied in a murine model. The eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA-L was constructed by inserting mouse LIGHT gene into the vector pcDNA3.1(+). In vitro expression of LIGHT was detected by RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence assay in transfected HeLa cells. MLR assay showed that LIGHT-transfected DCs induced markedly higher allogeneic lymphocyte proliferation than pcDNA-transfected DCs and untreated DCs at all dilutions. After BALB/c mice were immunized by three intramuscular injections of the HBV DNA vaccine plasmids alone or in combination with LIGHT expression plasmids, the different levels of anti-HBV immune responses were measured comparable to the control groups immunized with parent plasmid pcDNA or PBS. The HBsAg-specific splenocytes proliferation and specific cytotoxic activities of splenic CTLs in the coinoculation group were both significantly higher than those in the HBV DNA single inoculation group, and an enhancement of antibody response was also observed in the coinoculation group compared with the single inoculation group. Taken together, coimmunization of HBV DNA vaccine plasmids and LIGHT expression plasmids can elicit stronger humoral and cellular immune responses in mice than HBV DNA vaccine plasmids alone, and LIGHT may be an effective immunological adjuvant in HBV DNA vaccination.     

HIV-1 DNA vaccine efficacy is enhanced by coadministration with plasmid encoding IFN-alpha

Numerous strategies have been employed in an attempt to improve the immunogenicity and efficacy of nucleic acid vaccines. In the present study, the immunogenicity in the induction of humoral and cellular immune responses to HIV-1 DNA vaccine expressing a chimeric gene of gag and gp120 and the adjuvant effect of IFN-alpha on HIV-1 DNA vaccine were studied in a murine model. The DNA vaccine plasmid pVAX1-gag-gp120 and eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAX1-IFN were constructed by inserting the chimeric gene of gag and gp120 of HIV-1 and IFN-alpha into the downstream of CMV promoter of eukaryotic expression vector pVAX1, respectively. In vitro expression detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that the genes of interest could be expressed in transfected HeLa cells. After BALB/c mice were immunized by three intramuscular inoculations of the HIV-1 DNA vaccine plasmids alone or in combination with IFN-alpha expression plasmids, the different levels of anti-HIV-1 humoral and cellular responses were measured comparable to the control groups immunized with pVAX1-IFN, parent plasmid pVAX1 or PBS. The percentage of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ subgroups of spleen T lymphocytes and the specific cytotoxicity activities of splenic CTLs in the coinoculation group were significantly higher than those in the separate inoculation group, and an enhancement of antibody response was also observed in the coinoculation group compared with the separate inoculation group. Take together, coadministration of HIV-1 DNA vaccine plasmids and IFN-alpha expression plasmids can elicit stronger humoral and cellular immune responses in mice than HIV-1 DNA vaccine plasmids alone, and IFN-alpha can be an effective immunological adjuvant in DNA vaccination against HIV-1.     

中国株HIV-1外膜蛋白基因疫苗诱导免疫小鼠免疫应答的实验研究

目的 :构建中国流行株HIV 1外膜蛋白 (gp12 0 )基因疫苗并接种小鼠 ,评价其诱导的体液和细胞免疫应答。方法 :将HIV 1gp12 0基因插入到真核表达载体pVAX1中 ,构建重组真核表达质粒pVAX1 GP12 0 ,并经EcoRI和PstI双酶切以及测序鉴定。同时以pVAX1 GP12 0和空载体pVAX1分别免疫BALB/c小鼠 ,采用ELISA检测免疫小鼠的特异性抗体和IFN γ水平 ,用MTT比色法检测免疫小鼠脾淋巴细胞的增殖 ,用乳酸脱氢酶 (LDH)试验检测小鼠特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞 (CTL)的应答。结果 :酶切及测序结果表明 ,成功地构建了HIV 1gp12 0基因疫苗。与空载体pVAX1组相比较 ,pVAX1 GP12 0免疫组小鼠血清抗HIV 1gp12 0抗体的滴度和IFN γ的水平均升高 ,两者差异显著 (P <0 .0 1)。pVAX1 GP12 0免疫组小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖的刺激指数 (SI)及特异性CTL的杀伤活性 ,均高于空载体pVAX1组 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :构建了针对我国HIV 1流行株的gp12 0基因疫苗。以其免疫BALB/c小鼠可诱导特异性体液和细胞免疫应答 ,为进一步将其用于我国的HIV的治疗奠定了基础。     

IL-18和HIV-1 gag-gp120嵌合基因DNA疫苗联合免疫小鼠的免疫应答

目的 :探讨IL 18和HIV 1gag gp12 0嵌合基因的DNA疫苗联合免疫小鼠的免疫应答。方法 :构建含IL 18的真核表达质粒pVAXIL18,将他与表达HIV 1gag gp12 0嵌合基因的核酸疫苗质粒pVAXGE共同肌注免疫BALB/c小鼠 ,检测免疫小鼠脾特异性CTL杀伤活性和血清抗体滴度。结果 :联合免疫组小鼠脾特异性CTL杀伤活性和血清抗体水平均显著高于单独免疫组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,空白质粒对照组 (P <0 .0 1)和PBS对照组 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :IL 18和HIV 1gag gp12 0嵌合基因的DNA疫苗联合免疫可诱导小鼠产生特异性细胞和体液免疫 ,且IL 18发挥了免疫佐剂的作用。     

乙型肝炎病毒基因疫苗诱导小鼠产生特异免疫应答

构建编码乙型肝炎病毒（ＨＢＶ）表面蛋白Ｓ的重组质粒ｐＣＲ３．１－Ｓ。将之直接肌肉注射Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠,观察小鼠ＨＢＶ特异的免疫应答。以ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测小鼠血清,＾３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ掺入法测定淋巴细胞增殖,＾５１Ｃｒ４ｈ释放法检测淋巴细胞杀伤功能。结果表明,与空载体对照组相比较,基因疫苗诱发小鼠产生良了的抗ＨＢｓ反应及ＨＢＶ特异的细胞免疫应答（Ｐ〈０．０５）,提示基因疫苗ｐＣＲ３．１－Ｓ有可能成为控制ＨＢ     

Attenuated nef DNA vaccine construct induces cellular immune response: role in HIV-1 multiprotein vaccine

HIV-1 positive patients generate Nef-specific CTL response, indicating that Nef is a potent immunogen. However, Nef is also known to down regulate the expression of CD4 and MHC-I molecules, thereby protecting virally infected target cells. We compared the immunogenicity of non-functional nef vaccine constructs to wild type functional nef as potential immunogen. Mice were immunized with different nef constructs and assessed for their ability to induce cellular immune responses. Evaluation of T cell immune responses in mice showed that non-functional nef vaccine constructs are capable of inducing a significant T cell immune response measured by IFN-gamma ELISPOT. Further epitope mapping studies indicate that one of our attenuated constructs, Nef R-38, has multiple CTL epitopes spanning throughout the gene. Our results indicate that functionally attenuated Nef antigen might be a better candidate for future multiprotein HIV-1 vaccine.     

Interactions of single and combined human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA vaccines

DNA immunization permits evaluation of possible antagonistic or synergistic effects between the encoded components. The protein expression capacity in vitro was related to the immunogenicity in vivo of plasmids encoding the HIV-1 regulatory genes tat rev, and nef. Neither Tat nor Rev expression was influenced by co-expression in vitro of all three proteins, while Nef expression was slightly inhibited. With the combination of genes, the T-cellular responses of mice against Rev and Nef were inhibited compared with those when single gene immunization was used. No interference was detected for the Tat T-cell response. Thus, co-immunization with certain genes may result in inhibition of specific immune responses.     

Design, construction, and characterization of a dual-promoter multigenic DNA vaccine directed against an HIV-1 subtype C/B' recombinant

An effective vaccine against HIV-1 is generally considered the best hope for controlling the raging AIDS pandemic. As a part of our AIDS vaccine development effort, we constructed a dual-promoter plasmid capable of high-level expression of 2 independent transgenes. HIV-1 gag, pol, env, nef, and tat from a primary subtype C/B' CCR5-tropic HIV-1 were "codon" optimized, modified to eliminate known functional activity, and assembled using an overlapping polymerase chain reaction into 2 plasmids: ADVAX-I (containing env and gag) and ADVAX-II (containing pol and nef-tat). These 2 dual-promoter candidate vaccines showed levels of HIV-1 gene expression comparable to those observed with single-gene plasmids in vitro. Importantly, immunization of mice with these vaccine constructs resulted in dose-dependent multigenic CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses equivalent to those provided by vaccination with single-gene plasmids. With input from the US Food and Drug Administration, ADVAX-I and ADVAX-II have since been combined as a single candidate DNA vaccine, ADVAX. A phase 1 clinical trial of this product has been successfully completed, and its use in prime-boost studies is now underway.     

SARS病毒S蛋白受体结合区DNA疫苗及免疫效果研究

目的 研究SARS冠状病毒(SARS-CoV)靶细胞受体结合区所构建之DNA疫苗的免疫效果,为进一步的SARS-CoV免疫机理研究及疫苗研制奠定基础.方法 选取SARS-CoV S基因包含靶细胞受体结合区和S1亚单位C端2个基因片段作为目的基因,构建真核表达质粒pVAX-RBD(receptor binding domain)、pVAX-S1C作为DNA疫苗免疫BALB/c小鼠,检测其特异性体液免疫及细胞免疫情况.结果 体液免疫方面,以SARS全病毒裂解产物和原核表达的RBD蛋白作为诊断抗原,用ELISA均可检测到高滴度的小鼠血清抗体IgG的产生.而且,血清中和试验显示pVAX-RBD质粒激发了小鼠保护性中和抗体的产生.通过流式细胞分析和酶联免疫斑点实验(ELISPOT)检测,pVAX-RBD和pVAX-S1C两组质粒均诱导免疫小鼠产生了特异性细胞免疫反应.结论 证明SARS-CoV S蛋白受体结合区上中和表位的存在;体液免疫在抗SARS-CoV感染方面起到重要作用.     

HIV DNA疫苗与重组腺病毒伴随病毒联合免疫效果的研究

目的 构建含HIV-1B亚型中国株gagV3基因的DNA疫苗及重组腺病毒伴随病毒(rAAV)疫苗，并研究DNA疫苗和rAAV联合免疫的免疫效果。方法 将HIV-1B亚型中国株gagV3基因克隆入真核表达载体pCI-neo上，构建了含HIV-1 gagV3基因的DNA疫苗pCI-gagV3。采用电击法将pCI-gagV3质粒转染p815细胞，用G418压力筛选，得到转入重组质粒的细胞系p815-gagV3，用免疫酶法检测细胞系中HIV-1基因的表达。用该DNA疫苗进行小鼠免疫实验，检测免疫效果；用该DNA疫苗初次免疫，含同样gagV3基因的重组腺病毒伴随病毒rAAV-gagV3加强免疫，采用免疫酶法检测免疫小鼠血清中HIV-1特异性的抗体水平，用乳酸脱氢酶法检测免疫小鼠的HIV-1特异性CTL水平。结果 pCI-gagV3可以在p815细胞中表达HIV-1的基因，免疫BALB／c小鼠后可以在小鼠体内诱发HIV-1特异性的细胞和体液免疫反应。HIV-1特异性抗体滴度为1：20；效靶比为50：1时，CTL平均杀伤率为41．7％。pCI-gagV3与rAAV-gagV3联合免疫并不能明显提高抗体水平，但可以提高CTL反应，效靶比为50：1时，CTL平均杀伤率为61.3％，高于单独用DNA疫苗或重组AAV疫苗免疫后产生的CTL活性。结论 DNA疫苗与重组腺病毒伴随病毒联合免疫可以提高免疫小鼠产生的HIV-1特异性CTL反应。     

SARS冠状病毒S基因重组DNA诱导的体液免疫反应

目的 以严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒（SARS-CoV）密码子优化的S、S1和S2基因分别构建其真核表达质粒，免疫BALB／c小鼠，以初步评价其诱导特异性体液免疫的效果。方法将人工合成密码子优化的S、S1和S2基因克隆入pcDNA4／HisMax-TOPO表达载体，重组质粒转染293T细胞，Western blot和免疫组化检测其真核表达，重组质粒免疫BALB／c小鼠，酶联免疫（ELISA）检测抗S蛋白抗体，伪病毒中和试验、细胞融合抑制试验检测中和抗体。结果3种重组质粒均可在真核细胞中获得表达，免疫小鼠后可诱导针对S蛋白的特异性抗体，抗体在12周观察期内呈持续上升趋势；其中，仅S和S1蛋白重组质粒能够诱导中和抗体的产生，以S蛋白的效价为高。结论密码子优化S和S1蛋白重组质粒可以有效诱导BALB／c小鼠产生中和抗体，其抗体可能具有阻断SARS-CoV侵袭易感细胞的能力。该结果为进一步研究SARS-CoV DNA疫苗提供了参考依据。     

小鼠MIP-1α真核表达质粒的构建及在HSV-Ⅱ核酸疫苗中的应用

目的：构建小鼠巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-1α（MIP-1α）的真核表达质粒,观察其作为分子佐剂对单纯疱疹病毒Ⅱ型（HSV-Ⅱ）DNA疫苗免疫效果的影响.方法：以LPS刺激RAW264.7细胞提取总RNA.采用RT-PCR扩增出MIP-1α基因的全部编码序列,利用克隆载体pUCm-T,将其亚克隆入pcDNA3中,构建出小鼠MIP-1α的真核表达质粒Pm;将其转染COS-7细胞,并用Boyden趋化小室法检测MIP-1α的生物学活性.然后用其与HSV-ⅡgD的DNA疫苗一起免疫BALB/c小鼠,检测免疫小鼠的特异性抗体、脾T细胞增殖反应及病毒攻击小鼠后对小鼠的保护率,观察MIP-1α对HSV-Ⅱ DNA疫苗免疫效果的影响.结果：成功构建了小鼠MIP-1α的重组真核表达质粒;免疫BALB/c小鼠发现,其作为分子佐剂可加强HSV-ⅡgDNA疫苗的免疫效果.结论：小鼠MIP-1α可作为HSV-Ⅱ gD DNA疫苗的分子佐剂,为研制新型有效的HSV-Ⅱ DNA疫苗提供一定的依据.     

A DNA vaccine encoding the FMDV capsid precursor polypeptide P1 and the enhancing effect of bovine herpesvirus 1 VP22 protein as molecular adjuvant

DNA vaccines containing the capsid precursor polypeptide P1 gene of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) alone or combined with the VP22 gene of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BVP22) as molecular adjuvant were constructed and used for immunization of BALB/c mice. The latter were challenged with FMDV and their humoral as well as cell-mediated immune responses and virus clearance capacity were assayed. Both DNA vaccines elicited specific immune responses, however, the DNA vaccine with the BVP22 adjuvant showed stronger responses and more efficient virus clearance. A?stronger Th1 response was indicated by the IgG2a/IgG1 ratio. These results indicate that (i) a?DNA vaccine based on FMDV P1 can stimulate significant immune responses and virus clearance and (ii) BVP22 is a?potentially useful molecular adjuvant for such a?vaccine. Keywords: DNA vaccine; foot-and-mouth disease virus; bovine herpesvirus 1.     

表达HIV-1 gag-gp120嵌合基因的DNA疫苗在小鼠体内的免疫应答

目的 :检测表达HIV 1gag gp12 0嵌合基因的DNA疫苗在小鼠体内的免疫应答效果。方法 :将真核表达质粒pVAXGE肌肉注射BALB C小鼠 ,观察免疫小鼠脾T淋巴细胞亚群的数量、特异性CTL杀伤率及小鼠免疫后不同时间点血清中IgG抗体滴度。结果 :重组质粒pVAXGE免疫组小鼠脾淋巴细胞进行了增殖 ,脾特异性CTL杀伤率显著高于对照组 (P <0 0 1) ;小鼠免疫后于第 8周血清抗体达到最高。结论 :表达HIV 1gag gp12 0嵌合基因的DNA疫苗质粒可诱导BALB C小鼠发生免疫应答     

Generation of multivalent genome-wide T cell responses in HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice by an HIV-1 expression library immunization (ELI) vaccine

HIV-1 is a fundamentally difficult target for vaccines because of its high mutation rate and its repertoire of immune evasion strategies. To address these difficulties, a multivalent genetic vaccine or "live genetic vaccine" was recently developed against HIV-1 using the expression library immunization (ELI) approach. In this HIV-1 vaccine, all open reading frames of HTLV-IIIb are expressed as protein fragments to retain all viral T cell epitopes, but destroy protein toxicity, inactivate immune escape functions, and reveal subdominant epitopes. In addition, each antigen fragment is fused to the ubiquitin protein to increase antigen expression and target these antigens to the proteasome to enhance cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. This multivalent vaccine also has the advantage of being incapable of generating infectious HIV-1 virus because of the segregation of the HIV genome into 32 separate plasmids. In this work, we demonstrate the ability of this genetic vaccine to provoke robust HLA-A*0201-restricted T cell responses in MHC class I humanized mice against gag, pol, env, and nef after a single round of immunization. In addition, this HTLV-IIIb-derived vaccine demonstrated cross-clade, envelope-specific, HLA-restricted CD8 responses against clades A, D, and E. HLA-restricted CD8 responses were generated against all 32 open reading frames encoded by the multi-plasmid genetic vaccine demonstrating that a broad repertoire of human relevant CD8 responses are provoked by this vaccine. This work supports this approach to generate multivalent T cell responses to control the highly mutable and immuno-evasive HIV-1 virus.     

Adjuvant effect of Ubenimex on a DNA vaccine for HIV-1

Enhancement of DNA vaccine immunogenicity is a current topic of high priority in the field of applied immunology, especially as a means of controlling HIV infection. The adjuvant effect of Ubenimex (UBX), an anti-cancer immunomodulator, on a DNA AIDS vaccine which we developed was examined in a murine model. UBX was formulated into a preparation containing DNA plasmids encoding env and rev genes of HIV-1 strain III_B, and was inoculated intramuscularly into BALB/c mice. The sera obtained with this mixture had 2³–2⁵ times higher specific IgG titres than those obtained without the use of the adjuvant. UBX also elicited both a stronger HIV-1-specific DTH reaction, as measured by the footpad swelling test, and stronger cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, as assayed by the ⁵¹Cr-release method, compared with responses using DNA alone. The cytokine secretion profile of restimulated immune lymphoid cells showed that UBX raised IL-2 and interferon-gamma levels and decreased IL-4 production. HIV-1-specific immunoglobulin subtype analysis demonstrated that UBX stimulated IgG2a production but suppressed synthesis of IgG1 and IgE. These results indicate that activation of the T-helper type 1 subset was induced by UBX, suggesting a mechanism of immunomodulation mediated by this agent. We conclude that UBX acts as an immunologic adjuvant for DNA vaccination against HIV-1. UBX may be a suitable adjuvant for clinical use because of its lack of antigenicity and low toxicity.     

Enhancement of a human immunodeficiency virus env DNA vaccine using a novel polycationic nanoparticle formulation

In an effort to develop a more effective DNA immunization strategy for HIV, we synthesized an HIV-2 env DNA vaccine and delivered it in a novel polycationic adjuvant formulation that forms nanoparticles in solution and enhances protein expression. The polycationic adjuvant contained imidazole moieties to facilitate endosomal escape. Nanoparticles containing the DNA vaccine plasmid were formed by electrostatic condensation with the polycationic adjuvant. We hypothesized that this formulation would improve immune responses to the gp140 env gene from HIV-2_UC2 by increasing the level of expressed antigen. We found that the nanoparticles were superior at inducing high levels of systemic antibody responses compared to naked DNA when delivered by the intradermal route in BALB/c mice. In addition, the nanoparticles induced higher levels of IgM, IgG, and IgA antibodies. These results suggest that nanoparticles may be an important adjuvant formulation to improve the effectiveness of genetic immunization and rationalize its use in the evaluation of vaccine candidates in non-human primate models for AIDS.     

CVB3VP1/pcDNA3真核表达质粒的构建及免疫效果观察

用ＲＴ ＰＣＲ从ＣＶＢ３ 感染细胞中扩增出ＶＰ１ 片段,重组入真核表达质粒ｐｃＤＮＡ３ 中,转化大肠杆菌Ｃ６００,扩增后的质粒经ＣｓＣｌ 密度梯度离心纯化,体外转染ＣＯＳ ７ 细胞,用ＳＤＳ ＰＡＧＥ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔｔｉｎｇ 检测表达产物;并经胫骨前肌注射小鼠,每鼠１００μｇ／ 次,隔４ 周加强一次,共３ 次。免疫后不同时间检测抗体、淋巴细胞增殖反应等免疫指标。结果显示重组质粒体外转染真核细胞表达ＶＰ１ 蛋白,免疫小鼠后产生了特异性抗体和淋巴细胞增殖反应。表明ＣＶＢ３ ＶＰ１ ＤＮＡ疫苗获得初步有效结果。     

tPA信号肽和鼠疫杆菌保护性抗原V融合基因的构建及免疫效果鉴定

获得含有鼠疫杆菌V抗原编码基因以及tPA信号肽编码序列的重组质粒,并测定其诱导特异性免疫应答的能力。采用PCR扩增鼠疫菌杆菌V基因构建到pVAX1质粒中产生pVAX1/V重组质粒,PCR扩增tPA信号肽编码序列片段并将其插入到pVAX1/V中V基因的上游,构建tPA-pVAX1/V重组质粒;转染COS-7细胞,免疫细胞化学方法鉴定V蛋白的表达;二重组质粒分别加mGM-CSF质粒免疫BALB/c小鼠,观察免疫应答反应;以400个LD50强毒鼠疫杆菌皮下攻击免疫小鼠观察保护效率。结果显示,tPA-pVAX1/V在COS-7细胞中表达了V蛋白;免疫小鼠血清产生了特异性抗体和细胞免疫应答;攻毒保护率达80%。成功构建了分泌型V蛋白的真核表达质粒载体,具有诱导特异性细胞免疫和体液免疫应答的能力,对强毒鼠疫杆菌攻毒有一定的保护效力,为鼠疫杆菌新型疫苗研制奠定了基础。     

鼠疫耶尔森氏菌核酸疫苗的构建及其免疫学评价

目的获得鼠疫F1和V抗原的重组质粒pVAX1/F1和pVAX1/V,并比较其诱导的特异性免疫应答的能力。方法PCR扩增鼠疫菌F1和V编码基因,分别与pGEMT连接测序,构建pVAX1/F1和pVAX1/V重组质粒,转染COS7细胞。用细胞免疫化学方法鉴定目的蛋白的表达,重组质粒加GMCSF免疫Balb/c小鼠,观察免疫效果。结果F1和V均在COS7细胞中表达;免疫鼠体内产生特异性抗体,pVAX1/V所诱导的抗体水平比pVAX1/F1高;通过抗体亚型分析、细胞因子和CD分子等指标的测定表明所构建DNA疫苗以诱发Th1型免疫为主。结论成功构建重组真核表达质粒pVAX1/F1和pVAX1/V,并且均具有诱导特异性细胞免疫和体液免疫应答的能力,为鼠疫菌新型疫苗研制奠定了基础。