HYBRID HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS GAG PARTICLES AS AN ANTIGEN CARRIER SYSTEM - INDUCTION OF CYTOTOXIC T-CELL AND HUMORAL RESPONSES BY A GAG-V3 FUSION

In attempts to increase the immunogenicity of recombinant antigens, a number of particulate antigen presentation systems have been developed . In this study, we used human immunodeficiency virus Gag particles as carriers for the human immunodeficiency virus envelope V3 region. Gag :V3 fusion proteins were expressed from baculovirus expression vectors ; they migrated to the insect cell membrane and budded from the cells as hybrid particles. An immunization study carried out with rats showe d that the particles elicited a strong anti-Gag antibody response and a weak antibody response to the V3 region. A strong anti-V3 cytolytic T-cell response was elicited in immunized mice. These data show that r etroviral Gag particles can be used as antigen presentation vehicles.