HIV-1 B亚型gag基因密码子优化及其免疫原性的研究

从河南HIV-1流行区感染者中克隆HIV-1 B亚型gag基因,通过序列比对获得其一致性共有序列,对该共有序列按照哺乳动物优势密码子的使用原则进行优化,以Western blot方法比较优化前后gag基因体外表达量.发现对gag基因进行密码子优化可显著提高其表达水平.将优化后的mod.gag基因插入重组腺病毒载体,构建了重组病毒rAdV-mod.gag.在BALB/c小鼠体内分别以108PFIJ及108PFU rAdV-mod.gag疫苗单独免疫两次均可产生较高水平的gag特异性细胞免疫反应.由此得出结论,对gag基因的密码子优化是成功的;表达优化后gag基因的重组腺病毒疫苗,可以在小鼠体内诱导较强的gag基因特异性CTL应答.     

Multiple effects of codon usage optimization on expression and immunogenicity of DNA candidate vaccines encoding the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag protein

We have analyzed the influence of codon usage modifications on the expression levels and immunogenicity of DNA vaccines, encoding the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) group-specific antigen (Gag). In the presence of Rev, an expression vector containing the wild-type (wt) gag gene flanked by essential cis-acting sites such as the 5'-untranslated region and 3'-Rev response element supported substantial Gag protein expression and secretion in human H1299 and monkey COS-7 cells. However, only weak Gag production was observed from the murine muscle cell line C2C12. In contrast, optimization of the Gag coding sequence to that of highly expressed mammalian genes (syngag) resulted in an obvious increase in the G+C content and a Rev-independent expression and secretion of Gag in all tested mammalian cell lines, including murine C2C12 muscle cells. Mice immunized intramuscularly with the syngag plasmid showed Th1-driven humoral and cellular responses that were substantially higher than those obtained after injection of the Rev-dependent wild-type (wt) gag vector system. In contrast, intradermal immunization of both wt gag and syngag vector systems with the particle gun induced a Th2-biased antibody response and no cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Deletion analysis demonstrated that the CpG motifs generated within syngag by codon optimization do not contribute significantly to the high immunogenicity of the syngag plasmid. Moreover, low doses of coadministered stimulatory phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) had only a weak effect on antibody production, whereas at higher doses immunostimulatory and nonstimulatory ODNs showed a dose-dependent suppression of humoral responses. These results suggest that increased Gag expression, rather than modulation of CpG-driven vector immunity, is responsible for the enhanced immunogenicity of the syngag DNA vaccine.     

A human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 regulatory element enhances the immunogenicity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA vaccines in mice and nonhuman primates

Plasmid DNA vaccines elicit potent and protective immune responses in numerous small-animal models of infectious diseases. However, their immunogenicity in primates appears less potent. Here we investigate a novel approach that optimizes regulatory elements in the plasmid backbone to improve the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. Among various regions analyzed, we found that the addition of a regulatory sequence from the R region of the long terminal repeat from human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) to the cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer/promoter increased transgene expression 5- to 10-fold and improved cellular immune responses to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antigens. In cynomolgus monkeys, DNA vaccines containing the CMV enhancer/promoter with the HTLV-1 R region (CMV/R) induced markedly higher cellular immune responses to HIV-1 Env from clades A, B, and C and to HIV-1 Gag-Pol-Nef compared with the parental DNA vaccines. These data demonstrate that optimization of specific regulatory elements can substantially improve the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines encoding multiple antigens in small animals and in nonhuman primates. This strategy could therefore be explored as a potential method to enhance DNA vaccine immunogenicity in humans.     

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。     

Mycobacterial codon optimization enhances antigen expression and virus-specific immune responses in recombinant Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag

Although its potential for vaccine development is already known, the introduction of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) genes to Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has thus far elicited only limited responses. In order to improve the expression levels, we optimized the codon usage of the HIV type 1 (HIV-1) p24 antigen gene of gag (p24 gag) and established a codon-optimized recombinant BCG (rBCG)-p24 Gag which expressed a 40-fold-higher level of p24 Gag than did that of nonoptimized rBCG-p24 Gag. Inoculation of mice with the codon-optimized rBCG-p24 Gag elicited effective immunity, as evidenced by virus-specific lymphocyte proliferation, gamma interferon ELISPOT cell induction, and antibody production. In contrast, inoculation of animals with the nonoptimized rBCG-p24 Gag induced only low levels of immune responses. Furthermore, a dose as small as 0.01 mg of the codon-optimized rBCG per animal proved capable of eliciting immune responses, suggesting that even low doses of a codon-optimized rBCG-based vaccine could effectively elicit HIV-1-specific immune responses.     

Promoters influence the kinetics of transgene expression following adenovector gene delivery

BACKGROUND: The kinetics of gene expression from adenovirus-based delivery vectors will be an important variable influencing the efficacy and toxicity of these vectors. As different promoters have variable strengths and kinetic profiles, the optimal dose of a therapeutic transgene product over time may be achieved by varying the promoter. METHODS: We analyzed several viral and cellular promoters in the context of adenovector gene delivery in the mouse. The kinetics of transgene expression was evaluated following intramuscular and intravenous delivery. RESULTS: Transgene expression from the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter was rapidly down-regulated in the tissues following intravenous administration of adenovectors. In contrast, transgene expression from the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoter increased over time such that, at 3 weeks, expression was 10-fold higher than that from the CMV promoter-containing vector in all tissues. The kinetics of transgene expression from these vectors was similar when they were delivered via the intramuscular route in BALB/c, C57BL/6 and immunodeficient mice. Efficient repeat administration of an adenovirus vector, in the presence of neutralizing antibodies, was achieved in the skeletal muscle and transgene expression persisted with the same kinetics as in na?ve animals. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the in vivo kinetics of transgene expression by adenovectors is greatly influenced by the promoter. Adenovectors can be designed to deliver a transient bolus or a sustained level of protein expression in the target tissue depending on the requirements for particular indications. These results have implications for both therapeutic and vaccine indications.     

Development of BCG as a live recombinant vector system: potential use as an HIV vaccine.

Bacille Calmette-Guèrin (BCG), a live attenuated tubercle bacillus, is currently the most widely used vaccine in the world. Because of its unique characteristics, including low toxicity, adjuvant potential, and long-lasting immunity, BCG represents a novel vaccine vehicle with which to deliver protective antigens of multiple pathogens. We have developed episomal and integrative expression vectors employing regulatory sequences of major BCG heat shock proteins for stable maintenance and expression of foreign antigens in BCG vaccine strains (22). Shuttle plasmids capable of autonomous replication in Escherichia coli and BCG were constructed with a DNA cassette containing a minimal replicon derived from the Mycobacterium fortuitum plasmid pAL5000. Efficient and stable chromosomal integration of recombinant plasmids into BCG was achieved using a DNA segment containing the mycobacteriophage L5 attachment site and integrase coding sequence. Using the BCG hsp60 and hsp70 stress gene promoters, we were able to express Escherchia coli beta-galactosidase to levels in excess of 10% of total cell protein. The major antigens of HIV-1 gag, pol, and env were also stably expressed using our vector systems. The recombinant BCG elicited long-lasting humoral and cellular immune responses to these antigens in mice. Antibody responses to beta-galactosidase using as few as 200 colony-forming units were detected 6 weeks after immunization, and titers (1:30,000) were sustained for more than 10 weeks. Cellular immune responses, of both cytotoxic T cell (CTL) and helper T lymphocytes, were detected to beta-galactosidase. CTL responses were also induced to the HIV-1 envelope protein. Thus, we have demonstrated stable recombinant antigen expression, processing, and presentation using our recombinant BCG vector system. This live recombinant vector system shows promise as a universally applicable and safe vaccine vehicle for protection against various infectious diseases.     

HIV-1壳体蛋白的结构及其病毒样颗粒疫苗

人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)的壳体蛋白(CA)在HIV病毒的组装和成熟过程中起着至关重要的作用。近年来,壳体蛋白的体外表达及其疫苗的研制成了HIV各项研究的焦点。由于壳体蛋白具有较好的的保守性,用其制得的疫苗也会提供比包膜蛋白更为广泛的免疫保护力。另外若将CA在体外表达成一个颗粒状结构,会增强其免疫原性,可以使疫苗发挥出更大的效力。     

Effective suppression of HIV-1 gene expression by a mammalian tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease and external guide sequence oligozymes

We examined the suppression of virus expression by cleaveage of the HIV-1 RNA gene using a mammalian tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease and an External Guide Sequence Oligozyme (EGS) in vivo. We constructed an EGS expression vector that used the tRNA(met) promoter as an expression cassette for EGS. The EGS expression vector was targeted to the upstream region of gag, region. The EGS expression vector was co-transfected into COS cells with the HIV-1 gene plasmid vector. As compared with the EGS non-expressing cells and the EGS expressing cells, the EGS expressing cells with the targeted gag start codon had a clearly decreased amount of the HIV-1 gag p24 protein. The EGS expressing cells with the targeted gag start codon showed effective suppression of HIV-1 gene expression. Thus, these studies describe novel gene targeting agents for the inhibition of gene expression and antiviral activity.     

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag gene encodes an internal ribosome entry site

Several retroviruses have recently been shown to promote translation of their gag gene products by internal ribosome entry. In this report, we show that mRNAs containing the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gag open reading frame (ORF) exhibit internal ribosome entry site (IRES) activity that can promote translational initiation of Pr55(gag). Remarkably, this IRES activity is driven by sequences within the gag ORF itself and is not dependent on the native gag 5'-untranslated region (UTR). This cap-independent mechanism for Pr55(gag) translation may help explain the high levels of translation of this protein in the face of major RNA structural barriers to scanning ribosomes found in the gag 5' UTR. The gag IRES activity described here also drives translation of a novel 40-kDa Gag isoform through translational initiation at an internal AUG codon found near the amino terminus of the Pr55(gag) capsid domain. Our findings suggest that this low-abundance Gag isoform may be important for wild-type replication of HIV-1 in cultured cells. The activities of the HIV-1 gag IRES may be an important feature of the HIV-1 life cycle and could serve as a novel target for antiretroviral therapeutic strategies.     

Effective suppression of HIV-1 gene expression by a mammalian tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease and external guide sequence oligozymes.

We examined the suppression of virus expression by cleavage of the HIV-1 RNA gene using a mammalian tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease and an External Guide Sequence Oligozyme (EGS) in vivo. We constructed an EGS expression vector that used the tRNA(met) promoter as an expression cassette for EGS. The EGS expression vector was targeted to the upstream region of gag, region. The EGS expression vector was co-transfected into COS cells with the HIV-1 gene plasmid vector. As compared with the EGS non-expressing cells and the EGS expressing cells, the EGS expressing cells with the targeted gag start codon had a clearly decreased amount of the HIV-1 gag p24 protein. The EGS expressing cells with the targeted gag start codon showed effective suppression of HIV-1 gene expression. Thus, these studies describe novel gene targeting agents for the inhibition of gene expression and antiviral activity.     

Induction of CD8+ T cells to an HIV-1 antigen through a prime boost regimen with heterologous E1-deleted adenoviral vaccine carriers

E1-deleted adenoviral recombinants most commonly based on the human serotype 5 (AdHu5) have been shown thus far to induce unsurpassed transgene product-specific CD8(+) T cell responses. A large percentage of the adult human population carries neutralizing Abs due to natural exposures to AdHu5 virus. To circumvent reduction of the efficacy of adenovirus (Ad) vector-based vaccines by neutralizing Abs to the vaccine carrier, we developed E1-deleted adenoviral vaccine carriers based on simian serotypes. One of these carriers, termed AdC68, expressing a codon-optimized truncated form of gag of HIV-1 was shown previously to induce a potent transgene product-specific CD8(+) T cell response in mice. We constructed a second chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine vector, termed AdC6, also expressing the truncated gag of HIV-1. This vector, which belongs to a different serotype than the AdC68 virus, induces high frequencies of gag-specific CD8(+) T cells in mice including those pre-exposed to AdHu5 virus. Generation of an additional E1-deleted adenoviral vector of chimpanzee origin allows for sequential booster immunizations with heterologous vaccine carriers. In this study, we show that such heterologous prime boost regimens based on E1-deleted adenoviral vectors of different serotypes expressing the same transgene product are highly efficient in increasing the transgene product-specific CD8(+) T cell response. They are equivalent to sequential vaccinations with an E1-deleted Ad vector followed by booster immunization with a poxvirus vector and they surpass regimens based on DNA vaccine prime followed by a recombinant adenoviral vector boost.     

In Vivo Electroporation of Minicircle DNA as a Novel Method of Vaccine Delivery To Enhance HIV-1-Specific Immune Responses

DNA vaccines offer advantage over conventional vaccines, as they are safer to use, easier to produce, and able to induce humoral as well cellular immune responses. Unfortunately, no DNA vaccines have been licensed for human use for the difficulties in developing an efficient and safe in vivo gene delivery system. In vivo electroporation (EP)-based DNA delivery has attracted great attention for its potency to enhance cellular uptake of DNA vaccines and function as an adjuvant. Minicircle DNA (a new form of DNA containing only a gene expression cassette and lacking a backbone of bacterial plasmid DNA) is a powerful candidate of gene delivery in terms of improving the levels and the duration of transgene expression in vivo. In this study, as a novel vaccine delivery system, we combined in vivo EP and the minicircle DNA carrying a codon-optimized HIV-1 gag gene (minicircle-gag) to evaluate the immunogenicity of this system. We found that minicircle-gag conferred persistent and high levels of gag expression in vitro and in vivo. The use of EP delivery further increased minicircle-based gene expression. Moreover, when delivered by EP, minicircle-gag vaccination elicited a 2- to 3-fold increase in cellular immune response and a 1.5- to 3-fold augmentation of humoral immune responses compared with those elicited by a pVAX1-gag positive control. Increased immunogenicity of EP-assisted minicircle-gag may benefit from increasing local antigen expression, upregulating inflammatory genes, and recruiting immune cells. Collectively, in vivo EP of minicircle DNA functions as a novel vaccine platform that can enhance efficacy and immunogenicity of DNA vaccines.     

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。     

EFFECTIVE SUPPRESSION OF HIV-1 GENE EXPRESSION BY A MAMMALIAN tRNA 3′ PROCESSING ENDORIBONUCLEASE AND EXTERNAL GUIDE SEQUENCE OLIGOZYMES

We examined the suppression of virus expression by cleaveage of the HIV-1 RNA gene using a mammalian tRNA 3′ processing endoribonuclease and an External Guide Sequence Oligozyme (EGS) in vivo. We constructed an EGS expression vector that used the tRNA^met promoter as an expression cassette for EGS. The EGS expression vector was targeted to the upstream region of gag, region. The EGS expression vector was co-transfected into COS cells with the HIV-1 gene plasmid vector. As compared with the EGS non-expressing cells and the EGS expressing cells, the EGS expressing cells with the targeted gag start codon had a clearly decreased amount of the HIV-1 gag p24 protein. The EGS expressing cells with the targeted gag start codon showed effective suppression of HIV-1 gene expression. Thus, these studies describe novel gene targeting agents for the inhibition of gene expression and antiviral activity.     

A murine leukemia virus (MuLV) long terminal repeat derived from rhesus macaques in the context of a lentivirus vector and MuLV gag sequence results in high-level gene expression in human T lymphocytes

We constructed human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vectors that will allow higher levels of gene expression in T cells. Gene expression under the control of an internal cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early promoter in a self-inactivating lentiviral vector (CSCG) is 4- to 15-fold lower in T-cell lines (SUPT1 and CEMX174) than in non-lymphoid-cell lines (HeLa and 293T). This is in contrast to a Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV)-based retrovirus vector (SRalphaLEGFP). We therefore replaced the internal CMV promoter of CSCG with three different murine oncoretroviral long terminal repeat (LTR) promoters-murine sarcoma virus (MSV), MoMLV (MLV), and the LTR (termed Rh-MLV) that is derived from the ampho-mink cell focus-forming (AMP/MCF) retrovirus in the serum of one rhesus macaque monkey that developed T-cell lymphoma following autologous transplantation of enriched bone marrow stem cells transduced with a retrovirus vector preparation containing replication-competent viruses (E. F. Vanin, M. Kaloss, C. Broscius, and A. W. Nienhuis, J. Virol. 68:4241-4250, 1994). We found that the combination of Rh-MLV LTR and a partial gag sequence of MoMLV (Deltagag(871-1612)) in CS-Rh-MLV-E gave the highest level of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene expression compared with MLV, MSV LTR, phosphoglycerate kinase, and CMV promoters in T-cell lines, as well as activated primary T cells. Interestingly, there was a further two- to threefold increase in EGFP expression (thus, 10-fold-higher expression than with CMV) when the Rh-MLV promoter and Deltagag(871-1612) were used in a self-inactivating-vector setting that has a further deletion in the U3 region of the HIV-1 LTR. These hybrid vectors should prove useful in gene therapy applications for T cells.     

腺病毒载体介导密码子优化型HPV 16 L1基因在哺乳动物细胞中的高效表达及病毒样颗粒的装配

为研究重组腺病毒载体作为HPV16预防性疫苗的可行性,构建了含密码子优化型HPV 16 L1基因的重组腺病毒,并对优化基因在哺乳动物细胞中的表达进行研究。首先按照哺乳动物密码子偏好对野生型HPV16 L1基因进行改造并合成优化基因,命名为mod.HPV16L1。将mod.HPV16L1基因克隆到穿梭质粒PDC316上,与骨架质粒共转染293细胞,在细胞内包装重组腺病毒rAd-mod.HPV16L1。用免疫印迹法检测病毒感染的293T细胞中HPV16L1蛋白的表达。通过Optiprep密度梯度超速离心法纯化HPV16 L1病毒样颗粒(VLPs)。用磷钨酸负染,在电子显微镜下观察HPV16 L1蛋白自我装配形成的VLPs。结果显示,重组腺病毒载体可介导mod.HPV16 L1基因在哺乳动物细胞内的高效表达,L1蛋白可自我装配形成VLPs。     

Stable expression of primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 structural gene products by use of a noncytopathic sindbis virus vector

Efficient expression of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) structural gene products Gag, Pol, and Env involves the regulation by viral Rev and Rev-responsive elements (RRE). Removal of multiple inhibitory sequences (INS) in the coding regions of these structural genes or modification of the codon usage patterns of HIV-1 genes to those used by highly expressed human genes has been found to significantly increase HIV-1 structural protein expression in the absence of Rev and RRE. In this study, we show that efficient and stable expression of the HIV-1 structural gene products Gag and Env could be achieved by transfection with a noncytopathic Sindbis virus expression vector by using HIV-1 sequences from primary isolates without any sequence modification. Stable expression of these Gag and Env proteins was observed for more than 12 months. The fact that the Sindbis virus expression vector replicates its RNA only in the cytoplasm of the transfected cells and the fact that the lack of expression of HIV-1 Gag by the DNA vector containing unmodified HIV-1 gag sequences was associated with a lack of detectable cytoplasmic gag RNA suggest that a major blockage in the expression of HIV-1 structural proteins in the absence of Rev/RRE is caused by inefficient accumulation of mRNA in the cytoplasm. Efficient long-term expression of structural proteins of diverse HIV-1 strains by the noncytopathic Sindbis virus expression system may be a useful tool for functional study of HIV-1 gene products and vaccine research.