Application of outer membrane vesicle of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B as a new adjuvant to induce strongly Th1-oriented responses against HIV-1

Curr HIV Res. 2011 Dec 1;9(8):630-5. doi: 10.2174/157016211798998772.

Abstract

Despite the worldwide efforts made in the field of HIV vaccine development, an efficient AIDS vaccine strategy is still vague. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are one of the introduced aspects for HIV vaccine development since the non-replicative nature of HIV VLPs, resulting from the lack of viral genomic RNA, makes them suitable for broad applications. We have previously designed and introduced non-infectious VLPs (mzNL4-3) by introduction of a deletion mutation in the reverse transcriptase and integrase coding regions of HV-1. There are evidences suggesting that an effective cellular immune response against HIV-1 is able to control and suppress viremia during primary and chronic HIV infections. In the present study we have evaluated the potency of mzNL4-3 VLPs mixed with Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B outer-membrane vesicle (OMV), which is among the microbial components with proved adjuvant properties, to induce humoral and cellular responses against HIV-1. Analysis of anti-HIV-1 responses elicited in immunized BALB/c mice following different immunization regimens indicated OMV+VLP as an immunopotent combination which significantly induced anti-HIV-1 IgG with IgG2a dominancy. Results of cytokine and ELISpot assays also showed the capability of VLP+OMV immunogen for effective induction of IFN-gamma; and IL4 secreting cells and further suggested the promotion of Th1-oriented response that was evidenced with the increased IFN-γ/IL4 secretion ratio. According to our study, HIV-1 VLPs combined with N. meningitidis B OMVs seem to be a promising approach in vaccine development against HIV-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology*
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Immunity, Cellular / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle / immunology

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle