Methods, agents and peptides for inducing an innate immune response in HIV vaccination

摘要

The present invention relates to enhancing, modulating or stimulating the innate immune response to HIV-1 and other viral pathogens and to the modulation and application of immune modulators and peptides for HIV-1 or other pathogen vaccines. The invention provides methods and means to activate an innate response to HIV-1 utilizing or via the HIV capsid protein or peptide, including modulating the binding of cyclophilin A to HIV capsid protein and modulating the ability of HIV to activate the major innate transcription factor IRF3 and interferon. Methods and assays are provided for screening for compounds, agents, or peptides capable of enhancing or activating innate immune response, particularly to HIV-1.

主权项

1. A method for stimulating or enhancing innate immune response to HIV-1 comprising administering in an immunogenic composition HIV-1 viral particles comprising a Vpx protein and a replication defective HIV-1 vector encoding an HIV-1 Gag polypeptide (SEQ ID NO: 4), wherein the Vpx protein is fused to a Vpr protein in a Vpx-Vpr fusion protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 51 and the Vpr protein of the Vpx-Vpr fusion protein facilitates incorporation of the Vpx-Vpr fusion protein into the HIV-1 viral particles.