Induction of multi-epitope-specific antibodies against HIV-1 by multi-epitope-vaccines

Some neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 envelope proteins were highly ef fective to inhibit the infection of different strains in vitro, and existed in the infected individuals with very low levels. We suggested multi-epito pe-vaccine as a new strategy to increase levels of neutralizing antibodies and the abilities against HIV mutation in vivo. Two candidate multi-epitope -vaccines induced antibodies with predefined multi-epitope-specificity in r hesus macaque. These antibodies recognized corresponding neutralizing epito pes on epitope-peptides, gp41 peptides, V3 loop peptide, rsgp41 and rgp120. Besides, three candidate epitope-vaccines in combination (another kind of multi-epitope-vaccines) showed similar potency to induce predefined multipl e immune responses in rabbits. These results suggest that multi-epitope-vac cines may be a new strategy to induce multi-antiviral activities against HI V-1 infection and mutations.