Targeted expression of HTLV-I envelope proteins in muscle by DNA immunization of mice

We have compared two types of plasmids for DNA immunization against HTLV-I envelope glycoproteins. One type of plasmid contains the coding DNA of the complete envelope gene of HTLV-I under the control of the CMV promoter with (CMVenvLTR) or without (CMVenv) the tax/rex genes. The second type contain s the coding DNA of the complete env gene of HTLV-I under the control of th e human desmin muscle specific promoter (DesEnv). These plasmids were inocu lated into mice and the humoral response was studied by flow cytometry, ELI SA and neutralization assays. Inoculation of the DesEnv construct elicited a higher humoral response with better neutralization properties than the in jection of CMVenvLTR or CMVenv plasmids. The choice of vectors will be impo rtant for the design of genetic HTLV-I vaccines. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.