NON-REPLICATING RECOMBINANT-MADE RETROVIRAL PARTICLES USED AS ANTIVIRAL AGENTS AND IMMUNOGENS

摘要

Nonreplicating recombinant-made retroviral particles having structural, morphological and immunological characteristics very similar to those of native human retroviruses are described. The method of the invention involves coexpression of mature retroviral core and envelope structural proteins in mammalian host cells such that the expressed retroviral proteins associate into assembled budding retroviral particles. In a particular embodiment of the invention, nonreplicating recombinant-made HIV-1 particles are produced by coinfecting mammalian host cells with a recombinant vaccinia virus carrying the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) gag and protease genes and a recombinant vaccinia virus carrying the HIV-1 env gene. These nonreplicating recombinant-made HIV-1 particles have immunological and morphological characteristics closely resembling those of native HIV-1, are able to block the infectivity of live HIV in vitro, and are highly immunogenic in vivo. The recombinant-made HIV-1 particles of the invention may be used as anti-viral agents and as immunogens in vaccine formulations effective at inhibiting or preventing infection by HIV and/or the development of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.