Characterization of HIV-1 Tat proteins mutated in the transactivation domain for prophylactic and therapeutic application

Vaccine. 2001 May 14;19(25-26):3408-19. doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(01)00067-6.

Abstract

Previous work from our group showed that genetic immunization of mice with HIV-1 tat genes (tat22 and tat22/37), encoding Tat proteins mutated in the transactivation domain and lacking Tat-transactivating activity, evoke an immune response to wild-type Tat, both humoral and cellular. In the present work we report that the mutated Tat proteins localize within the cells, are released and taken up by the cells in a fashion similar to wild-type Tat. Moreover, the exogenous mutated Tat proteins interfere with the transactivating function of extracellular wild-type Tat. These results support the notion that tat22 and tat22/37 genes may represent good candidates for the development of an anti-HIV-1 vaccine, especially for HIV-1 infected patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / genetics*
  • AIDS Vaccines / isolation & purification
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Gene Products, tat / genetics*
  • Gene Products, tat / immunology
  • Gene Products, tat / isolation & purification
  • Genes, Viral
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • HIV Infections / therapy
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mutation*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Transfection
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Gene Products, tat
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus