Shigella-Based Vector Causes Specific Immune Response.(Brief Article)

2001 OCT 10 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) --

by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Genetic material from an E. coli-like bacteria and an HIV coat protein can be used to provoke HIV specific immune responses in mice, according to researchers in the United States.

David M. Hone and colleagues at the Institute of Human Virology, a research center at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, investigated the efficacy of a live Shigella bacteria-based vector for delivering HIV glycoprotein gp120 DNA.

This vaccine vector is at least as effective as other, similar techniques for triggering antiviral responses in a murine model, they said.

Hone and coworkers found a strong cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response to a single intranasal dose of the Shigella-based vaccine. This response compared favorably with that produced by naked gp120 DNA or a vaccinia virus vector transfected with the HIV env protein, study data showed.

One intranasal administration of the Shigella vaccine also provided "significant protection" against subsequent challenge with vaccinia-env, the researchers said. Based on the number of vaccinia-env plague-forming units (pfu) found after such challenge, the Shigella vaccine was roughly five times more effective than a vaccine based on naked gp120 DNA.

Expression of gp120 was not found on transfected Shigella, ...