多种HIVB′/C亚型基因在复制型DNA疫苗中表达及免疫效果研究

为了解多种HIVB′/C亚型基因在复制型DNA疫苗中表达水平及对免疫效果影响,使用复制型DNA疫苗载体pSCK2,分别构建了7种含单种或多种HIVB′/C亚型基因gagpol、gp160和rtn(rev、tat和nef融合基因)的DNA疫苗质粒。免疫荧光检测表明,Gag、Gp160、Rev、Tat和Nef蛋白均能从相应7种DNA疫苗中表达,单基因表达质粒中的基因表达水平和双基因表达质粒中IRES上游的基因表达水平普遍较好。小鼠免疫后,Gag能诱发较高的抗体滴度,Gp160、Pol和RTN的抗体滴度很低;比较研究显示,Gag单独表达和Gag与RTN双表达的质粒均能诱发较好的Gag抗体反应,但Gag与Gp160双表达质粒免疫或含Gag、Gp160和RTN质粒联合免疫的Gag抗体反应均较弱。ELISPOT检测表明,7种DNA疫苗单独或不同组合方式免疫均能诱发针对Gag、Pol、Gp160、Tat和Nef的细胞免疫反应;单基因表达质粒单独免疫诱发的细胞免疫反应最好,含gagpol和gp160双基因表达质粒单独免疫或与含其它基因质粒联合免疫诱发的Gag、Pol和Gp160细胞免疫明显低于含Gagpol或Gp160单基因质粒诱发的相应免疫反应,但诱发的Tat和Nef细胞免疫与相应单基因质粒免疫组无明显差别。本研究结果显示,不同表达构建体的多种HIVB'/C亚型的基因gagpol、gp160和rtn均能从pSCK2质粒中较好地表达;不同基因结构和不同组合免疫的优化,特别是含gag和gp160基因疫苗联合免疫程序的进一步优化对提高其免疫效果是必要的。     

HIV gag基因修饰在不同载体系统中对免疫效果的影响

目的:了解gag基因修饰前后在不同载体系统中的表达水平差异对免疫效果的影响,为确定HIV疫苗中能诱发较高水平细胞免疫的Gag靶抗原奠定实验基础。方法:将含有优化前后gag基因的HIV-1 DNA(pVRC)疫苗和重组痘苗病毒(rVV)载体疫苗单独或联合免疫BALB/c小鼠,利用IFN-γ酶联免疫斑点法和胞内细胞因子染色检测各组的细胞免疫效果,ELISA检测体液免疫水平,分别比较基因优化前后及在不同载体内的Gag诱发的免疫效果。结果:DNA疫苗中gag基因修饰后细胞免疫反应由472提高至925 SFC/106MNC,抗体滴度随免疫次数增加而提高,基因修饰后第二针的抗体水平由104.2提高至105.3,三针后则没有差别;而以rVV为载体的疫苗基因修饰前后细胞免疫反应(~320 SFC/106MNC)和抗体水平(~104.4)均没有差异。2种疫苗联合免疫均可显著提高Gag修饰前后在小鼠体内的免疫效果,基因修饰后细胞免疫反应由1700提高至2100 SFC/106MNC,抗体水平则没有差别。结论:gag基因修饰明显提高常规DNA疫苗免疫效果,并可进一步提高联合免疫效果,但对rVV疫苗单独免疫效果无明显影响。     

HIV-1 p24 DNA和P24蛋白联合免疫小鼠的效果

DNA疫苗能够诱导机体产生特异的细胞免疫和体液免疫反应,在肿瘤和感染性疾病的疫苗开发中显示出巨大的潜能。以HIV-1核心蛋白P24为抗原基因,构建pVAX1-p24 DNA,经Western blotting和动物活体成像检测证明,pVAX1 DNA携带的外源基因可以在293T 细胞和小鼠肌肉组织有效表达。采用不同的免疫策略免疫BALB/c小鼠 (DNA/DNA,DNA/Protein),实验结果表明：pVAX1-p24单独免疫BALB/c小鼠,可诱导明显的体液免疫及细胞免疫反应;pVAX1-p24与P24蛋白联合免疫诱导的体液免疫反应高于pVAX1-p24单独免疫,所获得的抗体滴度是单独免疫的7.3~8.0倍,但细胞免疫反应则不及单独免疫组。研究结果表明采取不同的免疫策略可以诱导产生不同的免疫反应,根据具体情况调整免疫策略将获得更好的免疫效果。这些研究为艾滋病疫苗的研发提供了实验依据。     

表达HIV-1六种基因的非复制型重组痘苗病毒在CEF细胞中遗传稳定

本研究目的是了解表达HIV-1六种基因的非复制型重组痘苗病毒(rNTV-C)的遗传稳定性(包括病毒载体和六种外源基因:gp160、gag、polr、evt、at和nef)。我们将rNTV-C在原代鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)中连续传代至25代,对第9、12、15以及25代病毒载体基因的稳定性、六种外源基因的稳定性、外源基因表达的稳定性以及外源基因的丢失率进行研究。结果显示:各代病毒均保持了非复制型天坛株痘苗病毒载体特点且传代稳定;HIV-1目的基因序列与原设计序列相符、重组位点正确且遗传稳定,连续传25代核苷酸突变率低于万分之一;目的蛋白在各代rNTV-C中均能有效表达,而且各代病毒之间表达量和分子量无明显差别;以Gag和Nef蛋白表达为标记,rNTV-C各代病毒的基因丢失率均在5%以下。本研究结果为疫苗生产提供了确保毒种稳定的关键资料。     

携带EBV-LMP2基因的DNA疫苗、腺相关病毒疫苗和腺病毒疫苗免疫小鼠的特异性细胞免疫应答

细胞免疫应答, 尤其是CD3⁺CD8⁺细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(cytotoxic T lymphocyte, CTL), 在控制病毒感染中扮演着重要角色. 鼻咽癌(nasopharyngenl carcinoma, NPC)与EB病毒(epstein-barr virus, EBV)持续感染密切相关, 在鼻咽癌疫苗的研究中, 人们将研究重点放在增强特异性抗病毒CTL应答上. 本研究单独或联合使用表达EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白抗原2(epstein-barr virus latent membrane protein 2, EBV-LMP2)的DNA疫苗、腺相关病毒(adeno-associated virus, AAV)疫苗、非复制5型腺病毒疫苗(Ad5), 分别于0, 2, 4周肌肉注射免疫4~6周龄的雌性Balb/C小鼠, IFN-γ 免疫斑点法检测EBV-LMP2特异性细胞免疫应答水平. 疫苗诱导的特异性细胞应答水平与疫苗的免疫策略有关. 其中, 使用3种载体疫苗联合免疫的效果最好, 其次则是先使用DNA疫苗免疫两次, 再用腺病毒疫苗加强免疫一次的联合免疫方法. DNA疫苗和AAV疫苗单独免疫能够诱导出特异性的CTL, 但与联合免疫相比诱导的应答水平很低. 结果表明, 使用DNA, AAV和腺病毒载体疫苗联合免疫, 能够更好地诱导机体产生特异性细胞免疫应答, 为鼻咽癌的防治提供了很好的疫苗策略.     

5个HIV基因修饰可明显提高其在不同系统中的表达

目的:确定HIV-1疫苗中有效的交叉保护性细胞免疫抗原,提高各个基因在相应疫苗载体中的表达水平,为研究不同抗原在DNA载体和痘苗病毒载体中的免疫原性奠定实验基础。方法:选择HIV B′/C亚型5个以细胞免疫为主的抗原(Gag、Pol、Rev、Tat和Nef),进行基因序列优化及表达结构改造,并分别构建以质粒DNA和重组痘苗病毒为载体的两大类HIV-1疫苗。结果:优化前后5个目的基因均能够在这2种载体中有效表达;虽然采用相同的基因修饰策略,但与痘苗病毒载体相比,在DNA载体中各基因表达水平的提高均较为明显;含有抑制性序列(INS)的gag、pol基因经密码子优化后,Gag、Pol蛋白的表达均明显提高,其中Pol蛋白的提高更为明显,单独pol基因比gagpol天然结构表达水平要高,而gag基因却变化不大;对于rev、tat、nef基因而言,优化后的单独基因结构要略高于优化后的融合结构(hRTN),且二者均高于未优化的融合结构(RTN)。结论:为进一步确定HIV-1疫苗中有效的交叉保护性细胞免疫抗原、研究不同抗原在DNA载体和痘苗病毒载体中的免疫原性奠定了实验基础,为进一步研究DNA疫苗和重组痘苗病毒疫苗联合免疫提供了实验依据。     

含H5N1多个结构抗原的DNA疫苗与重组痘苗病毒疫苗联合免疫小鼠可明显增强免疫原性

本研究旨在研发经济、高效的人高致病性禽流感病毒H5N1实验疫苗并优化免疫方案。利用本实验室前期构建的含有H5N1(安徽株)结构基因的多个单顺反子(HAop和NAop)和双顺反子(HAop/M2和NAop/M1)DNA疫苗及重组痘苗病毒(天坛株)疫苗,采用不同方案(单独或联合)免疫BALB/c小鼠,初步分析了抗原特异性体液免疫(HA血凝抑制抗体,NA特异性抗体,中和抗体及M1与M2特异性抗体)和细胞免疫应答(IFN-γELIS-pot)的特点。结果表明:DNA疫苗与重组痘苗病毒(天坛株)疫苗联合免疫可以激发较强的多个抗原特异的免疫应答,尤其是体液免疫应答,明显优于DNA疫苗或重组痘苗病毒(天坛株)疫苗单独免疫;联合免疫方案中DNA疫苗初免所激发的HA与NA特异的体液免疫应答强于重组痘苗病毒(天坛株)疫苗初免,然而M1与M2特异的体液免疫应答则反之。本研究为新型H5N1疫苗的研发及免疫方案的优化奠定了基础。     

HIV-1 C/B'亚型多价重组MVA病毒疫苗

目的：检测人类免疫缺陷病毒1型（HIV-1） C/B'亚型与痘苗病毒安卡拉株（MVA）的多价重组疫苗的免疫原性,此疫苗中包含HIV-1 C/B'CRF 株的五个基因,分别是env、gag、pol、nef、tat。方法：设105 pfu/mL 、106 pfu/mL、107 pfu/mL ADMVA三个剂量组,用ELISPOT方法检测细胞免疫反应。同时,以Gag蛋白作为包被抗原,使用间接ELISA的方法检测体液免疫反应。结果：免疫后的小鼠对插入基因env、gag、pol和nef所表达蛋白均产生了特异性细胞免疫应答,且免疫效果与免疫剂量呈正相关。ELISA结果表明, MVA重组疫苗免疫诱导产生了特异性体液免疫,抗HIV-1Gag的抗体滴度与免疫次数和免疫剂量都存在正相关性。结论：多价MVA重组疫苗能有效地诱导小鼠产生特异地细胞免疫和体液免疫反应。     

融合表达小鼠IgG2b-Fc可增强人类免疫缺陷病毒1型Gag DNA疫苗的免疫原性

为阐明小鼠IgG2b-Fc对DNA疫苗免疫原性的增强作用,首先构建表达人类免疫缺陷病毒1型(human immunodeficiency virus type 1,HIV-1)CN54Gag基因的DNA疫苗及表达Gag与小鼠IgG2b-Fc融合基因的DNA疫苗,限制性酶切和DNA测序结果表明这两个疫苗均构建成功,蛋白免疫印迹结果也显示其正确表达。然后,利用上述DNA疫苗接种C57BL/6小鼠,比较两个DNA疫苗所诱导的特异性体液免疫反应和特异性细胞免疫反应。结果显示,融合表达小鼠IgG2b-Fc对特异性细胞免疫和体液免疫反应均有增强作用,但只有对特异性体液免疫反应的增强作用有统计学意义。     

传统DNA疫苗载体与Semliki森林病毒复制子对HIV-1 Pr55gag表达与体液免疫原性的比较性研究

为探索Semliki森林病毒(SFV)衍生的复制型DNA载体可否用于HIV疫苗的候选载体,对该载体与传统DNA疫苗载体对HIV-1Pr55gag的表达与体液免疫原性进行了系统比较研究.将野生型(wtgag)及密码子改造(syngag)的HIV-1 ⅢB gag基因分别克隆于SFV DNA载体及传统DNA疫苗载体[pCDNA3.1(+)],对其Pr55gag细胞内表达水平、Pr55gag病毒样颗粒释放、以及在BALB/c鼠的体液免疫原性进行了比较.在293T、H1299、C2C12和BHK细胞系中,SFV-wtgag可以Rev非依赖方式有效表达Pr55gag,而pC-wtgag转染的细胞不能有效表达Pr55gag,从而不能诱导小鼠产生免疫反应.虽然SFV质粒的细胞转化效率明显低于pCDNA载体,SFV-wtgag和SFV-syngag在细胞内Pr55gag的表达量与pC-syngag相似,而Pr55gag病毒样颗粒的释放明显低于pC-syngag.在肌内注射免疫的小鼠中,低剂量(0.1和1.0μg)的SFV及pCDNA gag表达质粒均未诱导出GAG特异性免疫反应.在高剂量(10,30,100μg)免疫组中,与SFV gag表达质粒相比,pC-syngag可诱导出较高水平的TH1型GAG特异性抗体.SFV-syngag较SFV-wtgag可诱导出高水平的体液免疫反应.结果提示,SFV衍生的复制子单独使用不能在小鼠诱导出优于传统DNA疫苗载体的HIV-1 GAG特异性体液免疫反应,其原因可能与病毒样颗粒的释放有关.密码子改造的gag基因的优势在SFV载体系统中得到了进一步证实.     

Genetic Control of Immune Responses to HIV-1 env DNA Vaccine

We investigated the genetic control of immunoglobulin production and the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response produced by an HIV-specific DNA vaccine using several strains of mice. Murine antigen-specific immunoglobulin production was determined by ELISA. The DTH response was assessed in terms of the footpad swelling reaction. All strains of mice, except for B10.RIII and B10.T(6R), exhibited strong immunoglobulin production and footpad swelling in response to the DNA vaccine. In vitro treatment of lymphoid cells with monoclonal antibodies showed that the footpad swelling response was mediated by CD4⁺8^? and Ia— T cells. However, CD8⁺ T cells did not suppress footpad swelling. There was no difference in the induction of HIV-specific immunoglobulin production or DTH response induced by the DNA vaccine among the strains, suggesting that HIV-specific DNA vaccine is useful for immunizing various populations against HIV-1.     

Immunogenicity of DNA and Recombinant Sendai Virus Vaccines Expressing the HIV-1 gag Gene

Combinations of DNA and recombinant-viral-vector based vaccines are promising AIDS vaccine methods because of their potential for inducing cellular immune responses. It was found that Gag-specific cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) responses were associated with lowering viremia in an untreated HIV-1 infected cohort. The main objectives of our studies were the construction of DNA and recombinant Sendal virus vector (rSeV) vaccines containing a gag gene from the prevalent Thailand subtype B strain in China and trying to use these vaccines for therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines. The candidate plasmid DNA vaccine pcDNA3.1( )-gag and recombinant Sendai virus vaccine (rSeV-gag) were constructed separately. It was verified by Western blotting analysis that both DNA and rSeV-gag vaccines expressed the HIV-1 Gag protein correctly and efficiently. Balb/c mice were immunized with these two vaccines in different administration schemes. HIV-1 Gag-specific CTL responses and antibody levels were detected by intracellular cytokine staining assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) respectively. Combined vaccines in a DNA prime/rSeV-gag boost vaccination regimen induced the strongest and most long-lasting Gag-specific CTL and antibody responses. It maintained relatively high levels even 9 weeks post immunization. This data indicated that the prime-boost regimen with DNA and rSeV-gag vaccines may offer promising HIV vaccine regimens.     

A New Approach to AIDS Research and Prevention: The Use of Gene-Mutated HIV-1/SIV Chimeric Viruses for Anti-HIV-1 Live-Attenuated Vaccines

The lack of a suitable animal model is a major obstacle to developing anti-HIV-1 vaccines. We successfully generated an SIVmac/HIV-1 chimeric virus (SHIV) (designated as NM-3rN) that contains the HIV-1 env gene and is infectious to macaque monkeys. Challenging the vaccinated macaque monkeys with NM-3rN, we developed an evaluation system for anti-HIV-1 Env-targeted vaccines. For the purpose of making the vaccine, a series of gene-mutated SHIVs were constructed. The monkeys vaccinated with these SHIVs had long-term anti-virus immunities without manifesting the disease, and became resistant to a challenge inoculation with NM-3rN. The sera from a monkey showed that, after the vaccination, the neutralizing antibodies not only against the parental HIV-1 but also against an antigenically different HIV-1 were raised. In vivo experiments confirmed that the vaccinated monkeys were protected from the challenge inoculum of an antigenically different SHIV-MN. Vaccination of monkeys with the attenuated SHIVs showed that further gene-deletion of the SHIV resulted in less immunogenicity. Nevertheless, the attenuated SHIVs had a vaccine effect against the challenge inoculation. In addition to specific immunities including neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic T cells, a more complicated immune mechanism induced by live vaccine appears to play a role in this protection. Our data suggest that the live vaccine can induce strong and wide-range immunity against HIV-1. These SHIVs should contribute to understanding the pathogenicity of AIDS and to the development of future anti-HIV-1 live vaccines for humans.     

Immunogenicity of DNA and recombinant Sendai virus vaccines expressing the HIV-1 gag gene

Combinations of DNA and recombinant-viral-vector based vaccines are promising AIDS vaccine methods because of their potential for inducing cellular immune responses. It was found that Gag-specific cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) responses were associated with lowering viremia in an untreated HIV-1 infected cohort. The main objectives of our studies were the construction of DNA and recombinant Sendai virus vector (rSeV) vaccines containing a gag gene from the prevalent Thailand subtype B strain in China and trying to use these vaccines for therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines. The candidate plasmid DNA vaccine pcDNA3.1(+)-gag and recombinant Sendai virus vaccine (rSeV-gag) were constructed separately. It was verified by Western blotting analysis that both DNA and rSeV-gag vaccines expressed the HIV-1 Gag protein correctly and efficiently. Balb/c mice were immunized with these two vaccines in different administration schemes. HIV-1 Gag-specific CTL responses and antibody levels were detected by intracellular cytokine staining assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) respectively. Combined vaccines in a DNA prime/rSeV-gag boost vaccination regimen induced the strongest and most long-lasting Gag-specific CTL and antibody responses. It maintained relatively high levels even 9 weeks post immunization. This data indicated that the prime-boost regimen with DNA and rSeV-gag vaccines may offer promising HIV vaccine regimens. Foundation item: National 863 project (2003AA219070)     

鼠巨细胞病毒 IE-1核酸疫苗和灭活疫苗联合免疫抗病毒感染的研究

巨细胞病毒（Cytomegalovirus,CMV）在人群中感染普遍,对婴幼儿及免疫低下人群中造成严重疾病,目前还没有针对该病毒的商品化疫苗。本研究以BALB/c小鼠为动物模型,探讨鼠巨细胞病毒（Murine cytomega-lovirus,MCMV）IE-1 DNA疫苗和MCMV灭活疫苗联合免疫抗MCMV感染的免疫保护效果。将编码IE-1基因的DNA疫苗（pIE-1）通过肌肉注射辅以电穿孔的方式对小鼠进行初免,再用全病毒灭活疫苗单独或者辅以MF59佐剂进行加强免疫,分别通过ELISA和ELISPOT方法检测到联合免疫策略在免疫组小鼠体内诱导了MC-MV特异性的抗体应答和CTL应答;免疫两周后用3＆#215;LD50致死剂量MCMV感染小鼠,疫苗对小鼠的免疫保护通过检测小鼠存活率、重要器官中的病毒滴度及体重丢失率来评价。结果显示,与单独免疫DNA疫苗或灭活疫苗相比,IE-1 DNA疫苗联合灭活疫苗组能同时在小鼠体内诱导体液免疫和细胞免疫应答,并提供小鼠完全保护;而且MF59辅以灭活疫苗免疫小鼠能增强疫苗的免疫效果。     

HIV-2 gag-gp105嵌合基因DNA疫苗对小鼠的免疫原性研究

利用真核表达载体 pVAX1 构建 HIV-2 gag-gp105 嵌合基因的重组质粒 pVAX1gag-gp105,将其转入 BHK21细胞中,利用间接免疫荧光方法检测其表达情况。进一步分别将核酸疫苗质粒 pVAX1gag-gp105、对照组质粒pVAX1 和 PBS 溶液经肌肉注射免疫 BALB/c 小鼠,检测免疫小鼠脾 CD4 、CD8 T 细胞亚群的数量,脾特异性 CTL杀伤活性和血清抗体滴度。结果显示,重组核酸疫苗质粒 pVAX1gag-gp105 疫组小鼠脾 CD4 、CD8 T 细胞亚群的数值均比对照组高( P<0.01),脾特异性 CTL 杀伤活性与对照组相比差异极显著(P<0.01),血清抗体滴度显著高于对照组(P<0.01) 。以上结果表明,HIV-2 gag-gp105 嵌合基因 DNA 疫苗对 BALB/c 小鼠具有良好的体液和细胞免疫原性。     

Candidate multi-epitope vaccines in aluminium adjuvant induce high levels of antibodies with predefined multi-epitope specificity against HIV-1

Some neutralizing epitopes on HIV-1 envelope proteins were identified to induce antibodies which could effectively inhibit the infection of different strains in vitro. But only very low levels of these antibodies were determined in the HIV-1 infected individuals. To increase the levels of protective antibodies in vivo, we suggested multi-epitope vaccine as a new strategy to induce high level of neutralization antibodies with predefined multi-epitope specificity. A synthesized epitope peptide MP (CG-GPGRAFY-G-ELDKWA-G-RILAVERYLKD) containing three neutralizing epitopes (GPGRAFY, ELDKWA, RILAVERYLKD) was conjugated to carrier protein KLH, and then used for immunization in mouse together with aluminium adjuvant or Freund's adjuvant (FA). The candidate MP-KLH multi-epitope vaccine in aluminium adjuvant could induce antibody response very strongly to the epitope peptide C-(RILAVERYLKD-G)2 and the immunosuppressive peptide (P1) (LQARILAVERYLKDQQL) (antibody titer: 1:51200), strongly to the epitope peptide C-(ELDKWA-G)4 and the C-domain peptide (P2) (1:12800), and moderately to the epitope peptide C-(GPGRAFY)4 and the V3 loop peptide (1:1600). The immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that the antibodies in sera could recognize P1, P2, V3 loop peptides and rsgp41 (aa 539-684). These results are similar with that in the case of PI-BSA in FA, and suggest that the multi-epitope vaccine in aluminium could induce high levels of antibodies of predefined multi-epitope specificity, which provides experimental evidence for the new strategy to develop an effective neutralizing antibody-based multi-epitope vaccine against HIV-1.