No abstract

To examine the potential role of the GAG precursor polyprotein in morphogenesis and assembly of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), we have expressed the gag gene of SIVMac using a baculovirus expression vector. Infection of insect cells with recombinant virus containing the entire gag gene results in high expression of the GAG precursor protein, Pr57gag. The recombinant protein is myristylated and is released in the culture supernatant in an insoluble particulate form. A point mutation in the N‐terminal glycine codon (Gly‐‐‐‐Ala) inhibits myristylation. This mutated product is highly expressed but is not found in the culture supernatant. Electron microscopy and immunogold labelling of infected cells show that the native Pr57gag protein assembles into 100‐120 nm virus‐like particles that bud from the cell plasma membrane and are released in the culture supernatant. The unmyristylated protein also assembles into particulate structures which only accumulate inside the cells. These results demonstrate that the unprocessed GAG precursor of SIV can spontaneously assemble into particles in the absence of other viral proteins. Myristylation of the Pr57gag precursor is necessary for its association with the cell plasma membrane, for budding and for extracellular release.

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In a phase I/II study, patients with solid metastatic MAGE-3-positive tumors, mainly melanoma, were vaccinated with recombinant MAGE-3 protein combined with the immunologic adjuvant AS02B comprised of MPL and QS21 in an oil-in-water emulsion. The recombinant MAGE-3 protein was made up of a partial sequence of the protein D (ProtD) antigen of Haemophilus influenzae fused to the MAGE-3 sequence. The vaccine was given intramuscularly at 3-week intervals. Patients whose tumors stabilized or regressed after 4 vaccinations received 2 additional vaccinations at 6-week intervals. MAGE-3 and ProtD antibody and cellular immune responses were monitored after vaccination. Ninety-six percent (23/24) of the patients vaccinated with MAGE-3 protein in AS02B adjuvant elicited a significant anti-MAGE-3 IgG antibody response after 4 vaccinations, and all developed anti-ProtD IgG antibodies. For the detection of T-cell activity, total peripheral blood mononuclear cells were restimulated in vitro with MAGE-3- or ProtD-loaded autologous mature dendritic cells. In 30% of the evaluable patients vaccinated with the adjuvanted recombinant protein, IFNgamma production was increased in response to MAGE-3, and 2 patients (14% of evaluable patients) had a concomitant increase in IL-5 production. In 37% and 43% of the patients, respectively, IFNgamma or IL-5 production was increased in response to ProtD. It is concluded that vaccination of advanced cancer patients with MAGE-3 self-antigen in AS02B adjuvant is able to elicit MAGE-3-specific antibody and a T-cell response.

Plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) are commonly used for measuring levels of dengue virus (DENV) neutralizing antibodies. However, these assays lack a standardized format, generally have a low sample throughput, and are labor-intensive. The objective of the present study was to evaluate two alternative DENV neutralizing antibody assays: an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based microneutralization (MN) assay, and a fluorescent antibody cell sorter-based, DC-SIGN expresser dendritic cell (DC) assay. False-positive rates, serotype specificity, reproducibility, sensitivity, and agreement among the assay methods were assessed using well-characterized but limited numbers of coded test sera. Results showed that all three assays had false-positive rates of less than 10% with titers near the cut-off and generally below the estimated limits of detection. All three methods demonstrated a high degree of specificity and good agreement when used to assay sera and serum mixtures from monovalent vaccinees and sera from patients after primary natural infection, with the only notable exception being moderate-to-high neutralizing antibody titers against DENV 2 measured by PRNT in a mixture containing only DENV 3 and DENV 4 sera. The MN and DC assays demonstrated good reproducibility. All three assays were comparable in their sensitivity, except that the PRNT was less sensitive for measuring DENV 4 antibody, and the MN and DC assays were less sensitive for measuring DENV 2 antibody. However, when used to test sera from persons after tetravalent DENV vaccination or secondary DENV infection, there was poor specificity and poor agreement among the different assays.