Tat-neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated macaques

J Virol. 2003 Mar;77(5):3157-66. doi: 10.1128/jvi.77.5.3157-3166.2003.

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus Tat protein is essential for virus replication and is a candidate vaccine antigen. Macaques immunized with Tat or chemically modified Tat toxoid having the same clade B sequence developed strong antibody responses. We compared these antisera for their abilities to recognize diverse Tat sequences. An overlapping peptide array covering three clade B and two clade C Tat sequences was constructed to help identify reactive linear epitopes. Sera from Tat-immunized macaques were broadly cross-reactive with clade B and clade C sequences but recognized a clade B-specific epitope in the basic domain. Sera from Tat toxoid-immunized macaques had a more restricted pattern of recognition, reacting mainly with clade B and with only one clade B basic domain sequence, which included the rare amino acids RPPQ at positions 57 to 60. Monoclonal antibodies against the amino terminus or the domain RPPQ sequence blocked Tat uptake into T cells and neutralized Tat in a cell-based transactivation assay. Macaques immunized with Tat or Tat toxoid proteins varied in their responses to minor epitopes, but all developed a strong response to the amino terminus, and antisera were capable of neutralizing Tat in a transactivation assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / biosynthesis
  • Gene Products, tat / administration & dosage
  • Gene Products, tat / chemistry
  • Gene Products, tat / immunology*
  • HIV Antibodies / blood*
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • HIV-1 / immunology
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Macaca
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Gene Products, tat
  • HIV Antibodies
  • Peptides
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus