VAGINAL IMMUNIZATION OF CYNOMOLGUS MONKEYS WITH STREPTOCOCCUS-GORDONII EXPRESSING HIV-1 AND HPV-16 ANTIGENS

Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were immunized by intravagina l administration of live recombinant Streptococcus gordonii. The vacci ne strains of S, gordonii expressed the V3 domain of the gpl20 of huma n immunodeficiency virus type I (HN-I), and the E7 protein of human pa pillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16). Multiple inocula of recombinant bacteri a were used, since S, gordonii could persist for no longer than 3 days in the monkey vagina. Vaginal immunization was found to induce a loca l and systemic immune response specific for the heterologous antigen e xpressed by the bacteria, This antigen-specific immune response consis ted of vaginal IgA, serum IgG, and a T-cell proliferative response mea sured on PBMCs. Vaginal IgG and serum IgA were not detected. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.