ENHANCEMENT OF IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-SPECIFIC IMMUNE-RESPONSES IN DNA-IMMUNIZED RHESUS MACAQUES

In contrast to results obtained with plasmid DNA vectors encoding anti gens from viruses such as influenza and hepatitis B, plasmids coding f or antigens from private immunodeficiency, viruses have elicited relat ively weak antibody responses following gene gun-mediated DNA immuniza tion of rhesus monkeys. In an effort to augment these responses, the i mportance of the immunization schedule was investigated, as well as th e possible synergy that might result from boosting gene gun-primed ani mals with other routes of immunization. Here we demonstrate that endpo int gp120-specific antibody titers can be enhanced as much as tenfold by reducing the number of immunizations and lengthening the resting pe riod between immunizations. In addition, boosting gene gun-primed anim als with either recombinant subunits or gp120-expressing vaccinia reco mbinants resulted in synergistic responses. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.