Induction of neutralizing antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 using synthetic peptide constructs containing an immunodominant T-helper cell determinant from vpr

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (1988). 1994 Jul;7(7):635-40.

Abstract

Identification of immunodominant T-helper-cell determinants after natural infection is an important step in the design of immunogens for potential use in vaccination. Using cells from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals and a panel of peptides encompassing the sequence of the regulatory protein vpr from HIV-1, we identified the T-helper determinant QLLFIHFRIGCRHSR, which is active in 37.5% of these individuals. To gain insight on the efficacy of this peptide in helping induce neutralizing antibodies against a B-cell determinant (BD), we synthesized constructs containing B- and T-cell determinants and tested them in BALB/c mice, the highest responders to the T-cell determinant moiety among several strains tested. These immunogens induced antibodies against two chosen B-cell determinants from HIV-1IIIB gp160 (amino acids 310-322 from the V3 loop of gp120 and 736-751 from gp41) that were able to neutralize HIV-1 infection in vitro. The highest neutralization titer against HIV-1IIIB was obtained by immunization with the homopolymer of the construct containing the T-cell epitope from vpr and the B-cell epitope from the V3 loop. We believe that the immunodominant T-cell determinant from vpr is a promising epitope to consider in the design of future peptide vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibody Specificity
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Gene Products, env / immunology
  • Gene Products, vpr / chemistry
  • Gene Products, vpr / immunology*
  • HIV Antibodies / biosynthesis*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / chemistry
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp160
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Sera / immunology
  • Immunization
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / chemistry
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred CBA
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Protein Precursors / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
  • vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Gene Products, env
  • Gene Products, vpr
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp160
  • HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321)
  • Immune Sera
  • Immunodominant Epitopes
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Protein Precursors
  • vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus