CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMORAL IMMUNE-RESPONSES INDUCED BY IMMUNIZATION WITH PLASMID DNA EXPRESSING HIV-1 NEF ACCESSORY PROTEIN

Mice immunized with plasmid DNA encoding Nef accessory protein of huma n immunodeficiency virus type 1 developed high levels of anti-Nef anti bodies which were maintained for at least 16 months. these antibodies produced in response to Nef-expressing plasmid DNA did not recognize t he linens peptides except the long C-terminal peptide for three of the ten sera. With anti-Nef antibodies produced in mice immunized with th e protein Nef without any adjuvant, the same restraint epitope binding was found. On the contrary anti-Nef antibodies from mice immunized wi th the protein in Freund's adjuvant showed a broader epitope reactivit y pattern. Interestingly, the analysis of immunoglobulin isotype profi les of antibodies generated by the different protocols of immunization showed that plasmid DNA immunization induced predominantly IgG2a, whe reas immunization with Nef protein, with or without adjuvant, yielded a preponderance of IgG1 antibodies. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.