VECTORS FOR VACCINES AGAINST LENTIVIRUS INFECTIONS

摘要

The invention provides a lentiviral envelope polypeptide or a nucleic acid sequence encoding a lentiviral envelope polypeptide, which are capable of inducing an immunogenic response against lentiviral infection, such as HIV infection. Examples of envelopes are HIV-1, HIV-2 or SIV envelope proteins or variants thereof. A specific such envelope variant is devoid of its C-terminal domain. The lentiviral envelope polypeptide or nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide is provided in vectors, methods, proviruses, retroviral particles, uses, compositions, vaccines, vaccine compositions and kits. Moreover, the lentiviral envelope polypeptide or nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide may be provided in combination with other compounds, such as selective marker genes, adjuvants, and immunomodulating agents. The invention is applicable for generation of retroviral particles for specific targeting of host cells. The retroviral particles may be used for integration of trangenes in host cells and induction of an immunogenic response, for example against HIV-1.