Epitope-vaccine strategy against HIV-1: today and tomorrow

Authors: Liu Z.; Xiao Y.; Chen Y-H.

Source: Immunobiology, Volume 208, Number 4, December 2003 , pp. 423-428(6)

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Abstract:

Vaccines play important roles in preventing infectious diseases caused by different pathogens. However, some pathogens such as HIV-1 challenge current vaccine strategy. Poor immunogenicity and the high mutation rate of HIV-1 make great difficulties in inducing potent immune responses strong enough to prevent infection via vaccination. Epitope-vaccine, which could intensively enhance predefined epitope-specific immune responses, was suggested as a new strategy against HIV-1 and HIV-1 mutation. Epitope-vaccines afford powerful approaches to elicit potent, broad and complete immune protection against not only primary homologous viral isolates but also heterologous viral mutants. Although most studies are still preliminary now, epitope-vaccine as a novel strategy against the AIDS epidemic has great developmental potential. To trigger T-cell-dependent IgG antibody responses and improve affinities of the epitope-specific antibodies, approaches such as recombinant multi-epitope-vaccination and prime-boosting vaccination were suggested. Cellular immune responses, especially CTL responses, could also be elicited and enhanced in addition to humoral immune responses. Developed epitope-vaccines activating both arms of the immune system would benefit prevention and immunotherapy not only against HIV but also other chronic infections.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1078/0171-2985-00286

Affiliations: 1: Laboratory of Immunology, Research Center for Medical Science and Department of Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China

Publication date: 2003-12-01