RENTA: AN HIV IMMUNOGEN AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The present invention provides artificial fusion (AFPs) designed to elicit an anti-HIV immune response, as well as nucleic acid molecules and expression vectors encoding those proteins. The AFPs of the invention comprise domains from various HIV proteins, including Reverse Trancriptase (RT), Env (gp41), Nef and Tat proteins, as well as at least one HIV CTL epitope associated with long-term, non progression to AIDS; these domains are biologically-intercativated for one or more of the normal activity of those proteins or are partial protein sequences (and similarly biologically-inactivated). RENTA is an AFP in which the HIV domains are from an HIV Clade A consensus sequence and contains additional domains, useful for example, in monitoring expression levels or laboratory animal immune responses. Such domains are optionally included in the AFPs. Other aspects of the invention include compositions for and methods of inducing an anti-HIV immune response in a subject, preferably using a DNA-prime-MVA boost strategy, and preferably to induce a cell-mediated immune response.