Enhanced immunogenicity of SIV Gag DNA vaccines encoding chimeric proteins containing a C-terminal segment of Listeriolysin O

Virus Res. 2003 Nov;97(1):7-16. doi: 10.1016/s0168-1702(03)00216-8.

Abstract

We investigated the potential of the C-terminal 59-amino acid segment of Listeriolysin O (LLO) in enhancing immune responses against the SIV Gag antigen in the context of DNA immunization. Genes with codons optimized for mammalian expression were synthesized for the SIVmac239 Gag, a secreted SIV Gag protein with the tissue plasminogen antigen (tPA) signal fused to its N-terminus (tPA/Gag), as well as their corresponding chimeric proteins Gag/LLO and tPA/Gag/LLO containing the C-terminal 59 amino acids of LLO. Analysis of immune responses to these DNA constructs in a Balb/c mouse model showed that the Gag/LLO construct induced higher levels of both CD4 and CD8 T cell responses against SIV Gag, whereas the tPA/Gag construct induced higher levels of CD4 T cell responses. Moreover, immunization with the tPA/Gag/LLO construct further enhanced both CD4 and CD8 T cell responses. DNA constructs encoding secreted Gag proteins (tPA/Gag and tPA/Gag/LLO) were also more effective in eliciting antibody responses against SIV Gag. Our results demonstrate that the C-terminal segment of LLO can be effectively employed to enhance both cellular and humoral immune responses in the context of a DNA vaccine.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Codon
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Products, gag / genetics*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Genes, Viral
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics*
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Interferon-gamma / analysis
  • Interleukin-2 / analysis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Plasminogen / genetics*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • SAIDS Vaccines / genetics
  • SAIDS Vaccines / immunology*
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • Vaccines, DNA / genetics
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Codon
  • Gene Products, gag
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Interleukin-2
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • SAIDS Vaccines
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Plasminogen
  • hlyA protein, Listeria monocytogenes