AIDS in Africa

The life-threatening virus HIV/ AIDS is omnipresent in all segments of Africa.

It can be said that not the whole of Africa, but the most affected part is the Sub-Saharan Africa. Africa has been estimated to have more than 60% of AIDS infected population but something more shocking is that 12% of the world’s population is inhabited in Africa.

Tuberculosis is the world’s greatest infectious killer in women of reproductive age and the leading cause of death among people with HIV/ AIDS. There are many reasons for the spread of HIV/ AIDS in Southern Africa one being the stigma attached to admitting to HIV infection and to using condoms.

The other reason being that many people of Africa believe and deny that HIV may later cause AIDS and finally there are many myths attached to the use of condoms such as the some hidden organizations do not want the growth of the African population and also that condoms stifle the traditional power of a man in his community.

There have been many people who have faced this deadly disease in the same family but still the people do not wish to change their attitudes towards their thoughts. The life expectancy of an African on an average is 48.5 years, which is 6.3 years lesser than those without the HIV/ AIDS virus. There have been many AIDS Charity concerts in order to help the affected population in Africa.

There are many Africans who believe that AIDS is not a disease but is a human right issue, one such person was Nelson Mandela, he is one of the first Africans who went ahead to propagate the AIDS cause. He even wrote against AIDS during his imprisonment and also has an organization named after him called as The Nelson Mandela Foundation.

A research by scientists also shows that most of the Africans who get infected by the virus are infected due to unsafe medical practices than by sexual activity. Also the world health organization states that 2.5% is infected because of unsafe use of medical injections. AIDS in Africa is a global concern.

One Response to “AIDS in Africa”

  1. Jesse Creel Says:

    HIV-1 Vaccine Summit: Which Direction from HereHIV-1 Vaccine Summit: Which
    Direction from Here?

    First let me say I wish all success in the upcoming HIV-1 Vaccine Summit on
    March 25 th, 2008, hosted by DAIDS/NIAID .

    Following the failure of the Mrk Ad5 STEP trials (60) HIV-1 Vaccine
    development is searching for which path to follow. With your kind
    indulgence, below are my thoughts on this.

    According to the prevailing opinion on HIV-1 protective immunity, a
    successful HIV-1 Vaccine will need to target conserved HIV-1 genome
    sequences. The question then arises, how to best target these conserved
    HIV-1 sequences?

    Several approaches are under consideration currently. At the forefront are
    various DNA Prime/Boost vaccine approaches involving the use of a DNA Prime
    followed by a recombinant microbial vector boost, e.g., MVA or Adenovirus.
    Notably are the delayed PAVE 100 DNA Prime/Adenovirus Boost (1;60) and DNA
    Prime/MVA boost (2;60). Another approach uses a DNA Prime
    followed by a recombinant protein boost as per ( 3 ; 59) These only being a
    sampling of the HIV-1 vaccines under serious development. (9;86)

    Given this emphasis on DNA Vaccines, which offers ease of production and low
    cost logistical advantages, it seems merited to consider carefully the fact
    that no DNA vaccine has shown efficacy in humans despite many years of
    research.

    One possible reason for the failed efficacy of DNA Vaccines in humans may be
    that cellular RNAi mechanisms, as spoken to in abstracts and citations below
    (4-8), may target the mRNA of a DNA Vaccine thereby curtailing or preventing
    translation into vaccine epitopes/antigens.

    On this in email exchanges:

    HIV-1 Vaccine Summit Co-chair Warner C. Greene, M.D., Ph.D. Director,
    Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology replied:

    “Micro RNAs, in contrast to synthetic siRNAs, block the translation of mRNAs
    into their protein products instead of inducing mRNA degradation. However,
    for a vaccine which depends on the production of the antigen, their net
    effect is similar. I do not know whether any of the naturally occurring
    micro RNAs would be predicted to inhibit production of the protein products
    from the current spectrum of DNA vaccines that are being tested. It has
    been clear for some time that DNA-based vaccines work significantly less
    well in humans than in mice. I suspect the reason for this is
    multifactorial and not solely due to micro RNAs.”

    Bharat Ramratnam, an RNAi researcher at Brown U, said:

    “It would entirely depend upon the nucelic acid sequence of the
    immunogen–if it were homologous to a miRNA, then a nil to modest to severe
    reduction in immunogen transcript level could be expected. We have been
    looking at this, but NO conclusive data

    Stay tuned….”

    Monsef Benkirane, an RNAi researcher and associate editor of the Journal
    Retrovirology, said:

    “Absolutely, DNA viruses often produce viral miRNA that will either target
    viral mRNA or cellular miRNA. I believe that one should try to avoid any
    mRNA structure that will serve as substrate for Drosha and Dicer in the
    process of making DNA viruses vaccine.”

    A successful HIV-1 DNA Vaccine will need to target conserved sequences of
    HIV-1(10), the very same sequences of mRNA that cellular RNAi will need to
    target to curtail HIV-1 replication. Therefore it stands to reason that
    cellular RNAi will also target these HIV-1 DNA Vaccine mRNA sequences for
    silencing/RNAi thereby curtailing DNA Vaccine Efficacy.

    In my humble opinion this is probably the case, and along with other
    factors, are the reason DNA vaccines have failed to show efficacy in humans
    despite many attempts over a number of years.

    Speaking to other factors as to why DNA Vaccines don’t show the
    efficacy they did in proof of concept small animal trials.

    In an email exchange Robert Malone, an early DNA plasmid gene therapy
    pioneer, said:

    “Basically, the transfection efficiency in larger mammals is not good. If
    the original hypothesis of my colleague Dennis Carson held (muscle cells as

    APC), then due to absence of costimulatory molecules on muscle cells the
    “vaccination” would have evoked tolerance, not immunity! To the extent that
    delivery to and expression in muscle is important, it appears to be due to
    cross-priming (exosomes?).

    Rather, tissue dendritic cells are most likely the important actors.”

    “I was well aware of the fact that the field “ran off” to prove the utility
    in humans of what was really immature technology. The rodent findings were
    merely proof of the concept, but the delivery technology was not “enabling”
    for larger mammals.”

    Muscle mass in humans is much greater than in small animals therefore much
    of a DNA Vaccine is taken up by muscle cells rather than DCs, as Dr Robert
    Malone says above, this would reduce DNA Vaccine efficacy.

    Further, according to my understanding, any DNA Vaccine translated peptide
    and/or protein mRNA transcript would be processed and presented as antigen
    via the endogenous rather than the exogenous/cross-priming HLA I pathway.
    The DNA Vaccine construct mRNA transcripts would be treated as mRNA of a
    virus which infected the cell. This could result in the killing of some
    cells by immune system components, Th1 CTL and Th2 Antibody both I think.

    All this doesn’t even speak to safety concerns which may result in a delay
    in the FDA regulatory approval process for any DNA Vaccine, not covered here
    for brevity.

    These DNA Vaccine Efficacy and/or Safety problems bring into question the
    utility of continued investment of time, effort and money, both public and
    private, into a number of HIV-1 DNA Vaccines in clinical trials, spoken to
    in an article by Margaret Johnston, head of HIV-1 Vaccines at DAIDS at
    NIAID,
    and Anthony Fauci, head of NIAID . ( 9)

    The use of recombinant viral vectors also presents us with several problems.
    Pre-existing immunity, as shown in the recent failed Mrk Ad5 vaccine trials
    (11;60), is one problem. Anti-vector immune responses would curtail, even
    where
    there is no preexisting immunity, efficacy. These anti-vector immune
    responses would also squander immune system components —cellular and
    soluble
    cytokines such as IL-2 as well as molecular building blocks, e.g., amino
    acids, peptides and proteins —needed for protective immunity. This being
    of particular
    importance in populations under general immunosuppression, as per the case
    with the HIV+ and/or HIV- malnourished populations found mainly in the poor
    nations, with limited immunologic potential.

    Further, these populations are under a high state of immune activation.
    (20;65;91;93)
    Besides endemic gut parasite and other infections, a high state
    of immune activation occurs due to multiple insults— generally squalid
    living conditions, unsanitary food, un-potable water, biting insects and
    environmental pollution. This highlights the need to use a innocuous vaccine
    vector
    that avoids undue systemic immune activation in order to prevent further
    vaccine induced immunosuppressive cytokines such as IL-10 and Tregs which
    would reduce vaccine efficacy. (65;92;94-101)

    Similar would apply if a systemic adjuvant, as QS-21 adjuvant (Antigenics
    Inc., Woburn,MA) (59) was used as part of the vaccine.

    Should we be designing vaccines that use microbial vectors, adjuvants or
    excess HIV-1 epitopes/antigens that may induce unneeded immune activation,
    which may be counterproductive as regards vaccine efficacy by causing
    the activation of T Cells unnecessarily?

    One consequence of an HIV-1Vaccine that causes undo immune activation
    would be, activated T cells are more readily infected by HIV.

    Another consequence may be the induction of HIV-1 replication by latently
    infected T cells and/or a higher rate of replication by HIV-1 infected T
    cells already replicating HIV-1 at lower levels.

    Taken together, an HIV-1 vaccine that induces inappropriate activation of
    T cells may lead to the higher HIV-1 viral loads characteristic of AIDS
    disease progression, while on the other hand it is acting to curtail HIV-1
    viral loads, in total, reduced vaccine efficacy.

    I think we must choose HIV-1 Vaccine components carefully to insure as
    best we can that only cells important to HIV-1 protective immune responses
    are activated. This would reduce any possible vaccine induced
    contribution to AIDS immune hyper activation pathologies.

    Safety issues disfavor viral vaccie vectors. They have been shown to cause
    death, Jesse Gelsinger’s death caused by an adenovirus vector in gene
    therapy trial (12) and disease in some cases, as per OPV actually causing
    vaccine induced polio (13;60), MVA causing heart problems(14) and worsened
    RSV disease in children upon re-exposure after inactivated RSV vaccination
    (60). Of coursethere is also a chance of reversion to virulence upon serial
    passage from
    one person to another over time (15).

    Another approach which has fallen out of favor since Dr Donald
    Francis/Vaxgen’sAIDSVAX, which used only gp120 epitopes from a narrow range
    of HIV-1type B
    strains, failed to show efficacy (16), is the use of Recombinant Peptides in
    an HIV-1 vaccine. By expanding the peptide epitopes to be used in a vaccine
    tocover multiple conserved consensus HIV-1 sequences from various HIV-1
    strains worldwide, this approach deserves further consideration I think.(10)

    A HepB Peptide vaccine that has shown efficacy and safety is currently being
    used in humans. (17) This should speed FDA approval of a HIV-1 Peptide
    Vaccine.

    The general concept of a polyvalent peptide prime followed by a
    pseudoprotein boost is a viable approach according to my understanding of
    the literature over the past 23 years. Recent human Phase I Trials by Dr
    Shan Lu, UMASS Medical
    School, and colleagues, using a polyvalent DNA prime followed by
    pseudoprotein boost regimen have shown promise.(3 ; 59) The DNA Prime
    epitopes used were from a narrow range of older HIV-1 isolates:

    “five plasmids each encoding a codon-optimized gp120 gene sequence from the
    following primary HIV-1 envelope proteins: subtypes A (92UG037.8), B
    (92US715.6 and Bal), C (96ZM651) and E (93TH976.17) and
    the sixth plasmid encoding a codon-optimized gag gene from
    subtype C (96ZM651) as previously described [28].”

    As regards the pseudoprotein boosters used:

    “The recombinant Env protein vaccine components included
    in the DP6-001 formulation contain equal amounts of five
    gp120 proteins matching that used in DNA prime components
    and were produced in CHO cell lines by Advanced BioScience
    Laboratories (ABL, Kensington, MD) using GMP compliance as
    previously described [28]. The final protein vaccine product
    was supplied in saline and re-formulated at the time of injec-
    tion with 50_g of QS-21 adjuvant (Antigenics Inc., Woburn,
    MA) and 30 mg of excipient cyclodextrin (Cargill Cerestar
    USA Inc., Hammond, IN),”

    I think a better approach is to use Conserved Immunogenic Consensus
    Sequences (ICS) defined by close computer analysis of multiple HIV
    clades/strains worldwide, bioinformatics, to point the vaccine induced
    immune response to conserved epitopes most likely to offer protection for
    all
    strains of HIV-1 worldwide.(10)

    The GAIA HIV-1 Vaccine abstract (10) points out a number of
    excellent HIV-1 Conserved Immunogenic Consensus Sequences (ICS) derived from
    close computer aided analysis, bioinformatics, of multiple HIV-1 genome
    sequences, covering various HIV-1 strains worldwide, which can be used as
    HIV-1
    Epitopes/Antigens in order to conduct comparative studies between DNA and
    Peptide/ Pseudoprotein formulations of a HIV-1 Vaccine, using the same ICS
    epitopes, to determine which approach is best.

    GAIA is a not for profit foundation
    (http://www.gaiavaccine.org/matriarch/default.asp)
    dedicated to the development of a HIV-1 Vaccine available to rich and poor
    alike.

    HIV-1’s main portals of entry are at various mucosal surfaces and the site
    of most CD 4+ T Cell Loss early on. (21-29) It makes good vaccine sense to
    target a vaccine to the GALT which can result in good immunity at
    various mucosas as well as systemically. (30-34;48-49;85;89) This should
    curtail or prevent infection and/or systemic dissemination of HIV-1.

    A Gelcap encapsulated (35-37;89)Mannosylated (38-41 ) Self-adjuvanting
    (42-47 )Freeze-dried Liposome Vector (36) which targets the GAIA HIV-1
    Vaccine
    components to the mannose receptor on DCs (40;50-52), and DEC-205 on DCs and
    B cells
    (61),can orally deliver both DNA and/or Peptide/Pseudoprotein formulations
    of a
    HIV-1 Vaccine to DCs and B Cells of the GALT.

    I suggest we conduct two prong comparative trials using a GAIA HIV-1 ICS
    Vaccine Polyvalent Peptide Prime, DNA ICS Prime in one prong and Plain ICS
    Peptide Prime in the other prong, and GAIA Recombinant ICS Pseudoprotein
    Boost in both prongs to determine which strategy is best.

    The presence of DEC-205 on B Cells and DCs is good news. Mannosylated
    Liposomes uptake should allow B Cells (53-55 ) and DCs to be used as
    APC(55;61).

    Mannan-binding lectin (40) should bind the Mannosylated Liposomes vector,
    activating the classical complement cascade(62) and inducing
    opsonization/phagocytosis and antigen presentation .

    Mannosylated Liposome will also provide lipids which are key to proper
    trafficking and loading of ICS epitopes onto HLA I & II. (31;43;63)

    “Presence of both liposomal lipids and liposomal protein in the trans-Golgi
    therefore facilitates the entry of liposomal antigens into the MHC class I
    pathway. It
    is also possible that liposomal lipids are presented to T cells via the
    recently described CD1 pathway for lipid antigens. Because
    liposome-formulated vaccines have the potential to stimulate antibody as
    well as cellular immune responses to protein and lipid components, this
    approach could prove to be extremely useful in designing vaccine
    strategies.”(63)

    The use of the CD1 antigen pathway is not spoken to here, however I think it
    possible that both MHC I & II and CD1 may be used with this vector strategy.
    If so, this would greatly enhance the GAIA HIV-1 ICS Vaccine induced immune
    responses.

    This delivery of concentrated high dose multiple consensus antigens to GALT
    DCs and B cells is crucial in order to evoke mucosal and systemic immune
    responses which are very strong in breadth and depth. This is essential
    given thesmall number of infectious HIV-1 vs Non-infectious HIV-1(NHIV-1), 1
    in
    10,000+ HIV-1 progeny(64;66;68 ), essential to protective immunity. We have
    a smalltarget of HIV-1 in a large crowd of NHIV-1, therefore we will need
    this very
    strong immune response to insure efficacy. Without infectious HIV-1 capable
    of producing both HIV-1 and NHIV-1 there will be no more AIDS.

    Both DCs and B Cells have TLR-2 which can bind Mannosylated Liposome
    activating DCs and B Cells via the Toll Pathway, adjuvanting actions
    akin to LPS/Freud’s adjuvant. Causing up-regulation of co-stimulatory
    molecules, MHC II and cytokine secretion (55-58;73-82;84) and endocytosis of
    the GAIA ICS Liposome Vaccine Vector:

    “Thus, antigen linked to the TLR2 ligand can be endocytosed after binding
    TLR2, processed via the classical (exogenous) pathway of antigen
    presentation, and can enhance the stimulation of T cells. This same route
    could be exploited to generate more efficacious vaccines.” (70) (71;75)

    Multiple pathways of DC and B Cell phagocytosis/uptake of Mannosylated
    Liposome encapsulated GAIA ICS antigens should give a stronger vaccine
    induced immune response by providing a reciprocal boosting of the DC and B
    Cell vaccine induced immune response. (72)

    Best would be an oral formulation with no boost required. This would offer
    ease of administration, along with several cost and safety advantages when
    you consider the need to vaccinate several billion people living mainly in
    the resource poor nations with limited healthcare infrastructures and public
    transport. This is highlighted by recent reports regarding the reuse of
    dirty syringes and medical equipment occurring in the world’s richest
    nation, the USA. (18) In the
    resource poor nations this is even more likely to occur owing to cost
    considerations as well as lack of education regarding proper medical hygiene
    and generally meager healthcare infrastructures, as per the case of HCV
    transmission by reusing unsterile syringes in Egypt. (19)

    To test this one dose oral vaccination (88-90) possibility I suggest we try,
    in addition to the proposed two prong GAIA ICS Prime and Pseudoprotein Boost
    above, the administration of peptide and protein components of the vaccine
    simultaneously also. This would mimic reasonably well what happens in
    natural exposure to HIV-1, where in the majority of exposures no actual
    transmission/infection occurs.

    Further there is the concern regarding Tregs commonly found in HIV-1/Aids
    as indicated by the excellent research of Gene Shearer NCI and colleagues.
    (67;69) which could curtail vaccine induced antigen specific CD 4+ T Helper
    cells
    which are crucial to the establishment of long term immunologic memory. The
    large number of CD 4+ T Helper cells induced by this GAIA HIV-1 ICS Vaccine
    strategy should be able to withstand any ensuing Tregs which tend to come
    into play later. (83) Thereby providing a excellent pool of Memory CD 4+ T
    Helper (87) able to rapidly respond to future encounters with HIV-1, be it
    from further exposures or bouts of HIV-1 replication in vivo in the
    chronically HIV-1 +.

    In effect, it is hoped that this HIV-1 vaccine strategy will be Therapeutic
    and Preventative/Prophylactic!

    Thanking you in advance for considering this proposed HIV-1 Vaccine
    development strategy.

    Jesse Creel
    Vaccine Research Advocate
    1104 River Valley Dr #3
    Flint, MI 48532
    Email: JesseCreel@comcast.net

    A special thanks to Dr Anne De Groot and colleagues at GAIA Vaccine
    Foundation, Dr Gene Shearer at the NCI and Dr Robert Malone for the many
    helpful insights and encouragement provided without which I could not have
    ever proceeded.

    Please see Endnote Regarding Production of GAIA ICS Antigen
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    References
    1. PAVE 100
    http://www.hivpave.org/about/pave100-copy.html

    2. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Dec;82(6):686-93

    3. Springer Semin Immunopathol. 2006 Nov;28(3):255-65

    4. Journal of Virology, March 2008, p. 2895-2903, Vol. 82, No. 6

    Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Escape Is Restricted When Conserved
    Genome Sequences Are Targeted by RNA Interference

    Karin Jasmijn von Eije, Olivier ter Brake, and Ben Berkhout*
    Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology,
    Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center of the
    University of Amsterdam, K3-110, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The
    Netherlands
    Received 14 September 2007/ Accepted 5 December 2007
    RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism in which small interfering
    RNAs (siRNAs) mediate sequence-specific gene silencing by cleaving the
    targeted mRNA. RNAi can be used as an antiviral approach to silence the
    human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) through stable expression of
    short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs). We previously reported efficient HIV-1
    inhibition by an shRNA against the nonessential nef gene but also described
    viral escape by mutation or deletion of the nef target sequence. The
    objective of this study was to obtain insight in the viral escape routes
    when essential and highly conserved sequences are targeted in the Gag,
    protease, integrase, and Tat-Rev regions of HIV-1. Target sequences were
    analyzed of more than 500 escape viruses that were selected in T cells
    expressing individual shRNAs. Viruses acquired single point mutations,
    occasionally secondary mutations, but-in contrast to what is observed with
    nef-no deletions were detected. Mutations occurred predominantly at target
    positions 6, 8, 9, 14, and 15, whereas none were selected at positions 1, 2,
    5, 18, and 19. We also analyzed the type of mismatch in the siRNA-target RNA
    duplex, and G-U base pairs were frequently selected. These results provide
    insight into the sequence requirements for optimal RNAi inhibition. This
    knowledge on RNAi escape may guide the design and selection of shRNAs for
    the development of an effective RNAi therapy for HIV-1 infections.

    * Corresponding author. Mailing address: Laboratory of Experimental
    Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and
    Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam,
    K3-110, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Phone: 31 20
    566 4822. Fax: 31 20 691 6531. E-mail: b.berkhout@amc.uva.nl
    Published ahead of print on 12 December 2007.

    http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/6/2895?etoc

    5. Journal of Virology, March 2008, p. 2938-2951, Vol. 82, No. 6

    Targets of Small Interfering RNA Restriction during Human Immunodeficiency
    Virus Type 1 Replication

    Yong Gao,1 Michael A. Lobritz,1,2 Justin Roth,3 Measho Abreha,1 Kenneth N.
    Nelson,1 Immaculate Nankya,1,2 Dawn M. Moore-Dudley,1,2 Awet Abraha,1
    Stanton L. Gerson,3 and Eric J. Arts1,2*

    Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine,1 Department of
    Molecular Biology and Microbiology,2 Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case
    Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 441063
    Received 26 September 2007/ Accepted 4 January 2008
    Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have been shown to effectively inhibit human
    immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in vitro. The mechanism(s)
    for this inhibition is poorly understood, as siRNAs may interact with
    multiple HIV-1 RNA species during different steps of the retroviral life
    cycle. To define susceptible HIV-1 RNA species, siRNAs were first designed
    to specifically inhibit two divergent primary HIV-1 isolates via env and gag
    gene targets. A self-inactivating lentiviral vector harboring these target
    sequences confirmed that siRNA cannot degrade incoming genomic RNA.
    Disruption of the incoming core structure by rhesus macaque TRIM5 did,
    however, provide siRNA-RNA-induced silencing complex access to HIV-1 genomic
    RNA and promoted degradation. In the absence of accelerated core disruption,
    only newly transcribed HIV-1 mRNA in the cytoplasm is sensitive to siRNA
    degradation. Inhibitors of HIV-1 mRNA nuclear export, such as leptomycin B
    and camptothecin, blocked siRNA restriction. All HIV-1 RNA regions and
    transcripts found 5′ of the target sequence, including multiply spliced
    HIV-1 RNA, were degraded by unidirectional 3′-to-5′ siRNA amplification and
    spreading. In contrast, HIV-1 RNA 3′ of the target sequence was not
    susceptible to siRNA. Even in the presence of siRNA, full-length HIV-1 RNA
    is still encapsidated into newly assembled viruses. These findings suggest
    that siRNA can target only a relatively “naked” cytoplasmic HIV-1 RNA
    despite the involvement of viral RNA at nearly every step in the retroviral
    life cycle. Protection of HIV-1 RNA within the core following virus entry,
    during encapsidation/virus assembly, or within the nucleus may reflect virus
    evolution in response to siRNA, TRIM5, or other host restriction factors.

    * Corresponding author. Mailing address: Division of Infectious Diseases,
    BRB 1034, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH
    44106. Phone: (216) 368-8904. Fax: (216) 368-2034. E-mail: eja3@case.edu
    Published ahead of print on 16 January 2008.

    http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/6/2938?etoc

    6. Nature Medicine 13, 1241 - 1247 (2007)

    7. Retrovirology 2005, 2:81doi:10.1186/1742-4690-2-81

    8. Nucleic Acids Research, 2007,Vol.35, No. 10 e73

    9. N Engl J Med 2007;356:2073-81.

    10. Vaccine 23 (2005) 2136-2148

    HIV vaccine development by computer assisted design: the GAIA vaccine

    Anne S. De Groot a,b,?, Luisa Marconc, Elizabeth A. Bishop a, Daniel Rivera
    a, Michele Kutzler d, David B. Weiner d, William Martin b

    a TB/HIV Research Laboratory, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA

    b EpiVax Inc., Providence, RI 02903, USA

    c University of Padva Medical School, USA

    d University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Abstract

    The design of epitope-driven vaccines that address the global variability of
    HIV has been significantly hampered by concerns
    about conservation of the vaccine epitopes across clades of HIV. We
    developed two computer-driven methods for improving epitope-driven HIV
    vaccines: the Epi-Assembler, which derives representative or “immunogenic
    consensus sequence” (ICS) epitopes from multiple viral variants, and
    VaccineCAD, which reduces junctional immunogenicity when epitopes are
    aligned in a
    string-of-beads format for insertion in a DNA expression vector. In this
    study, we report on 20 ICS HIV-1 peptides. The core 9-mer contained in these
    consensus peptides was conserved in 105-2250 individual HIV-1 strains.
    Nineteen of the 20 ICS epitopes (95%) evaluated in this study were confirmed
    in ELISpot assays using peripheral blood monocytes obtained from 13 healthy
    HIV-1 infected subjects. Twenty-five ICS peptides (all 20 of the peptides
    evaluated in this study and 5 additional ICS epitopes) were then aligned in
    a pseudoprotein string using “VaccineCAD”, an epitope alignment tool that
    eliminates immunogenicity created by the junctions between the epitopes.
    Reordering the construct reduced the immunogenicity of the junctions between
    epitopes as measured by EpiMatrix, an epitope mapping algorithm. The
    reordered construct was also a more effective immunogen in vivo when tested
    in HLA-DR transgenic mice. These data confirm the utility of bioinformatics
    tools to design novel vaccines containing “immunogenic consensus sequence”
    Tcell epitopes for a globally relevant vaccine against HIV.

    Keywords: Epitope; Immunoinformatics; T cell; Major histocompatibility
    complex

    ? Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 401 863 6083; fax: +1 401 863 6087.

    E-mail addresses: annied@epivax.com, annied@brown.edu,
    anne degroot@brown.edu (A.S. De Groot).

    11. Aids Vaccine Advocacy Coalition
    Mrk Ad5 HIV-1 Vaccine Trial Failure
    http://www.avac.org/ANRS_mtng_summary.htm

    12. Nature Medicine 6, 6 (2000) doi:10.1038/71545

    13. OPV As Cause of Polio
    http://www.polioeradication.org/vaccines.asp

    14. MVA and Heart Problems
    http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/cardiacrecentvaccinees.asp

    15. Serial Human Passage of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus by Unsterile
    Injections and the Emergence of Epidemic Human Immunodeficiency Virus in
    Africa
    Preston A. Marx, Phillip G. Alcabes, Ernest Drucker
    Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences, Vol. 356, No. 1410, Origins
    of HIV and the AIDS Epidemic (Jun. 29, 2001), pp. 911-920

    16. Vaccine has no impact
    AIDSVAX’s failure a blow to treatment
    David R. Baker, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
    Thursday, November 13, 2003

    17. ENGERIX-B®
    [Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant)]
    DESCRIPTION
    ENGERIX-B [Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant)] is a noninfectious recombinant
    peptide vaccine
    http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_engerixb.pdf

    18. CDC Head: Problems at Nevada Clinic Could Be ‘Tip of Iceberg’”
    Associated Press , (03.04.2008)

    19. Dirty needles lead to hepatitis C outbreak - Medical News From Around
    The World - Brief Article
    Nutrition Health Review, Fall, 2002
    EGYPT — Up to 20 percent of people living in Egypt have tested positive for
    hepatitis C, a disease that can cause liver failure, and dirty needles are
    thought to be the reason, according to an article in The Lancet (March 11,
    2000).
    http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0876/is_2002_Fall/ai_95147890

    20. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2001 Dec 15;28(5):429-36.
    Evaluation of immune activation in HIV-infected and uninfected African
    individuals by single-cell analysis of cytokine production.

    21. Retrovirology. 2007 Dec 4;4:87.
    Compartmentalization of the gut viral reservoir in HIV-1 infected patients.

    22. J Immunol. 2007 Sep 1;179(5):3035-46.
    Acute loss of intestinal CD4+ T cells is not predictive of simian
    immunodeficiency virus virulence.

    23. J Virol. 2007 Jan;81(2):599-612.
    Mechanisms of gastrointestinal CD4+ T-cell depletion during acute and early
    human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

    24. J Virol. 2003 Nov;77(21):11708-17.
    Severe CD4+ T-cell depletion in gut lymphoid tissue during primary human
    immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection and substantial delay in restoration
    following highly active antiretroviral therapy.

    25. J Virol. 2003 Nov;77(21):11708-17.
    Antiviral Therapy During Primary SIV Infection Fails to Prevent Acute CD4+
    T-cell Loss In Gut Mucosa But Enhances Their Rapid Restoration Through
    Central Memory T-cells

    26. J Infect Dis. 2008 Feb 8
    Persistence of HIV in Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue despite Long-Term
    Antiretroviral Therapy.

    27. J Clin Microbiol. 2008 Feb;46(2):757-8.
    Early impairment of gut function and gut flora supporting a role for
    alteration of gastrointestinal mucosa in human immunodeficiency virus
    pathogenesis.

    28. the prn notebook® |volume 12 | www.prn.org
    The Gastrointestinal Tract in HIV-1 Infection: Questions, Answers, and More
    Questions!
    Saurabh Mehandru, MD

    29. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2008, p. 757-758, Vol. 46,
    No. 2
    Early Impairment of Gut Function and Gut Flora Supporting a Role for
    Alteration of Gastrointestinal Mucosa in Human Immunodeficiency Virus
    Pathogenesis

    30. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2007 Apr;6(2):203-12.
    Clarification of how HIV-1 DNA and protein immunizations may be better used
    to obtain HIV-1-specific mucosal and systemic immunity

    31. Eur J Immunol. 2002 Aug;32(8):2274-81.
    Systemic immune responses induced by mucosal administration of lipopeptides
    without adjuvant

    32. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Feb 17;95(4):1709-14.
    Mucosal immunization with HIV-1 peptide vaccine induces mucosal and systemic
    cytotoxic T lymphocytes and protective immunity in mice against intrarectal
    recombinant HIV-vaccinia challenge.

    33. J Virol. 2004 Jan;78(2):1020-5.
    Mucosal and systemic immune responses to a human immunodeficiency virus type
    1 epitope induced upon vaginal infection with a recombinant influenza A
    virus.

    34. Nature Medicine 11, S45 - S53 (2005)
    Mucosal immunity and vaccines

    35. United States Patent 6726924
    Oral liposomal delivery system
    US Patent Issued on April 27, 2004
    http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6726924-description.html

    36. NanoSorb Gelcaps
    Please note towards the end of this slide presentation Nanocaps, dedydrated
    liposomes encapsulated in gel caps to protect from degradation in the
    stomach and delivery to the gut lumen for release, rehydration and uptake by
    DC of GALT
    http://www.biopharmasci.com/downloads/nanosorb.ppt

    37. BioZone Laboratories Inc Drug Delivery Platforms Available
    HyperSorbT - Oral delivery in gel caps of liposomes for improved
    bioavailability http://www.biozonelabs.com/html/TechnologyLicensing.htm

    38. J Control Release. 2005 Nov 28;108(2-3):484-95. Epub 2005 Sep 19.
    The role of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) in targeted gene
    delivery with mannosylated cationic liposomes via intravenous route.

    39. Gene Ther. 2000 Feb;7(4):292-9.
    Mannose receptor-mediated gene transfer into macrophages using novel
    mannosylated cationic liposomes.

    40. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2001 Mar 9;1511(1):134-45.
    Involvement of serum mannan binding proteins and mannose receptors in uptake
    of mannosylated liposomes by macrophages.

    41. J Control Release. 2008 Jan 22;125(2):121-30. Epub 2007 Oct 22.
    Efficient targeting to alveolar macrophages by intratracheal administration
    of mannosylated liposomes in rats.

    42. J Immunol. 2001 Feb 1;166(3):1885-93.
    The potent adjuvant activity of archaeosomes correlates to the recruitment
    and activation of macrophages and dendritic cells in vivo.

    43. Vaccine. 2001 May 14;19(25-26):3509-17.
    Immunization of mice with lipopeptide antigens encapsulated in novel
    liposomes prepared from the polar lipids of various Archaeobacteria elicits
    rapid and prolonged specific protective immunity against infection with the
    facultative intracellular pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes.

    44. Curr Drug Deliv. 2005 Oct;2(4):407-21.
    Archaeosome immunostimulatory vaccine delivery system.
    Patel GB, Chen W.

    45. Infect Immun. 2000 Jan;68(1):54-63. Links
    Archaeosome vaccine adjuvants induce strong humoral, cell-mediated, and
    memory responses: comparison to conventional liposomes and alum.

    46. J Drug Target. 2003;11(8-10):515-24.
    Archaeosomes as self-adjuvanting delivery systems for cancer vaccines.

    47. Vaccine. 2007 Dec 12;25(51):8622-36. Epub 2007 Oct 5.
    Mucosal and systemic immune responses by intranasal immunization using
    archaeal lipid-adjuvanted vaccines.

    48. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2007 Feb;127(2):319-26.
    [Uniqueness of the mucosal immune system for the development of prospective
    mucosal vaccine

    49. Med Sci (Paris). 2007 Apr;23(4):371-8.
    [Mucosal immunity and vaccine development]
    [Article in French]

    50. Annu Rev Immunol. 2007;25:381-418.
    Mucosal dendritic cells.

    51. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008
    4. Gastrointestinal mucosal immunity

    52. Biologicals. 2001 Sep-Dec;29(3-4):183-8.
    Chemoselective ligation and antigen vectorization.

    53. J Immunol. 2007 Mar 1;178(5):2803-12.
    Staphylococcus aureus protein A triggers T cell-independent B cell
    proliferation by sensitizing B cells for TLR2 ligands

    54. Eur J Immunol. 1994 Oct;24(10):2506-14.
    Role of antigen-presenting cells in the polarized development of helper T
    cell subsets: evidence for differential cytokine production by Th0 cells in
    response to antigen presentation by B cells and macrophages

    55. Eur J Immunol. 2007 Nov;37(11):3040-53.
    TLR-mediated stimulation of APC: Distinct cytokine responses of B cells and
    dendritic cells.

    56. J Exp Med. 2008 Jan 21;205(1):169-81. Epub 2008 Jan 7.
    Mannose-binding lectin enhances Toll-like receptors 2 and 6 signaling from
    the phagosome.

    57. Nature. 1999 Oct 21;401(6755):811-5.
    Comment in:
    Nature. 1999 Oct 21;401(6755):755-6.
    The Toll-like receptor 2 is recruited to macrophage phagosomes and
    discriminates between pathogens

    58. . Immunobiology Part I. An Introduction to Immunobiology and Innate
    Immunity 2. Innate Immunity–Receptors of the innate immune system.
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=toll,pathway&rid=imm.section.193#198

    59. Vaccine. 2008 Feb 20;26(8):1098-110. Epub 2008 Jan 10.
    Cross-subtype antibody and cellular immune responses induced by a polyvalent
    DNA prime-protein boost HIV-1 vaccine in healthy human volunteers.

    60. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2008 Mar;7(2):151-3.

    Human versus HIV: round 2 defeat in AIDS vaccine development. Lu S. PMID:
    18324884

    61. Int Immunol. 2006 Jun;18(6):857-69. Epub 2006 Mar 31.
    Expression of human DEC-205 (CD205) multilectin receptor on leukocytes.

    62. Immunobiology Part I. An Introduction to Immunobiology and Innate
    Immunity 2. Innate Immunity
    The complement system and innate immunity.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=mannan%20binding%20lectin&rid=imm.section.161#170

    63. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2000 Mar 30;41(2):171-88.
    Delivery of lipids and liposomal proteins to the cytoplasm and Golgi of
    antigen-presenting cells. mangala.rao@na.amedd.army.mil.
    Rao M, Alving CR.
    Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Bldg. 40, Walter Reed Army Institute of
    Research, Washington, DC 20307-5100, USA.

    Liposomes have the well-known ability to channel protein and peptide
    antigens into the MHC class II pathway of phagocytic antigen-presenting
    cells (APCs) and thereby enhance the induction of antibodies and
    antigen-specific T cell proliferative responses. Liposomes also serve as an
    efficient delivery system for entry of exogenous protein and peptide
    antigens into the MHC class I pathway and thus are very efficient inducers
    of cytotoxic T cell responses. Soluble antigens that are rendered
    particulate by encapsulation in liposomes are localized both in vacuoles and
    in the cytoplasm of bone marrow-derived macrophages. Utilizing
    fluorophore-labeled proteins encapsulated in liposomes we have addressed the
    question of how liposomal antigens enter the MHC class I pathway. After
    phagocytosis of the liposomes, the fluorescent liposomal protein and
    liposomal lipids enter the cytoplasm where they are processed by the
    proteasome complex. The processed liposomal protein is then transported via
    the TAP complex into the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex. Both
    the liposomal lipids and the liposomal proteins appear to follow the same
    intracellular route and they are processed as a protein-lipid unit. In the
    absence of a protein antigen (empty liposomes), there is no
    organelle-specific localization of the liposomal lipids. In contrast, when a
    protein is encapsulated in these liposomes, the distribution of the
    liposomal lipids is dramatically affected and the liposomal lipids localize
    to the trans-Golgi area. Localization of the protein in the trans-Golgi area
    requires liposomal lipids. Similarly, for the localization of liposomal
    lipids in the trans-Golgi area, there is an obligatory requirement for
    protein. Therefore, the intracellular trafficking patterns of liposomal
    lipids and liposomal protein are reciprocally regulated. Presence of both
    liposomal lipids and liposomal protein in the trans-Golgi therefore
    facilitates the entry of liposomal antigens into the MHC class I pathway. It
    is also possible that liposomal lipids are presented to T cells via the
    recently described CD1 pathway for lipid antigens. Because
    liposome-formulated vaccines have the potential to stimulate antibody as
    well as cellular immune responses to protein and lipid components, this
    approach could prove to be extremely useful in designing vaccine strategies.

    PMID: 10699313 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    Related Links
    a.. Trafficking of liposomal antigen to the trans-Golgi of murine
    macrophages requires both liposomal lipid and liposomal protein. [Exp Cell
    Res. 1999]
    b.. Visualization of peptides derived from liposome-encapsulated proteins
    in the trans-Golgi area of macrophages. [Immunol Lett. 1997]
    c.. Liposomes containing lipid A serve as an adjuvant for induction of
    antibody and cytotoxic T-cell responses against RTS,S malaria antigen.
    [Infect Immun. 1998]
    d.. Human dendritic cells and macrophages exhibit different intracellular
    processing pathways for soluble and liposome-encapsulated antigens.
    [Immunobiology. 2005]
    e.. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced by liposomal antigens: mechanisms of
    immunological presentation. [AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1994]

    All Related Articles Link:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&DbFrom=pubmed&Cmd=Link&LinkName=pubmed_pubmed&LinkReadableName=Related%20Articles&IdsFromResult=10699313&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA

    64. Program Abstr Conf Retrovir Oppor Infect 11th 2004 San Franc Calif. 2004
    Feb 8-11; 11: abstract no. 450.
    CD4+ T-cell Depletion in AIDS: Synergy between Non-infectious HIV-1 and
    Other Viruses Induces Selective Apoptosis via a TRAIL/TRAIL
    Receptor-dependent Mechanism

    65. Clin Immunol. 2008 Mar;126(3):235-42. Epub 2007 Oct 3. Chronic innate
    immune activation as a cause of HIV-1 immunopathogenesis.

    66. Clin Immunol. 2007 May;123(2):121-8. Epub 2006 Nov 16. HIV-1
    immunopathogenesis: how good interferon turns bad.

    67. Blood. 2006 Dec 1;108(12):3808-17. Epub 2006 Aug 10. HIV-1-driven
    regulatory T-cell accumulation in lymphoid tissues is associated with
    disease progression in HIV/AIDS.

    68. Blood. 2005 Nov 15;106(10):3524-31. Epub 2005 Jul 26. CD4+ T-cell death
    induced by infectious and noninfectious HIV-1: role of type 1
    interferon-dependent, TRAIL/DR5-mediated apoptosis.

    69. J Immunol. 2005 Mar 15;174(6):3143-7. The prevalence of regulatory T
    cells in lymphoid tissue is correlated with viral load in HIV-infected
    patients.

    70. Eurekah Bioscience Collection Signal Transduction The Function of
    Toll-Like Receptors–TLR Ligand Linked Antigen Presentation in Immature DCs

    Human immature DCs derived from bone marrow, pulsed with antagonistic TLR2
    specific mAbs containing ? light chains, could stimulate a C? specific CD4+
    T cell clone in the absence of maturation effects on iDCs (Fig. 7C). An
    isotype/light-chain matched control antibody produced a two to three orders
    of magnitude lower response, indicating enhanced antigen presentation via
    TLR2. Stimulation was TLR2 specific, as antibodies against other surface
    molecules such as CD62 and CXCR1 were not stimulatory. Inhibitors of
    lysosomal degradation, processing and MHC class II presentation like
    chloroquine, leupeptin or brefeldin A almost completely abolished T cell
    stimulation. Furthermore, an anti-TLR2 mAb was directly shown to reside in
    endosomal vesicles in pulsed iDCs. 31 Thus, antigen linked to the TLR2
    ligand can be endocytosed after binding TLR2, processed via the classical
    (exogenous) pathway of antigen presentation, and can enhance the stimulation
    of T cells. This same route could be exploited to generate more efficacious
    vaccines.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=tlr,maturation,antibody&rid=eurekah.section.26308

    71.J Biol Chem. 2007 Jul 20;282(29):21145-59. Epub 2007 Apr 26. Distinct
    uptake mechanisms but similar intracellular processing of two different
    toll-like receptor ligand-peptide conjugates in dendritic cells.

    72. Blood. 2006 Jul 15;108(2):544-50. Epub 2006 Mar 14. Synergistic
    activation of dendritic cells by combined Toll-like receptor ligation
    induces superior CTL responses in vivo.

    73. J Immunol. 2004 Apr 15;172(8):4733-43. A Toll-like receptor 2 ligand
    stimulates Th2 responses in vivo, via induction of extracellular
    signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Fos in
    dendritic cells.

    74. J Virol. 2003 Oct;77(19):10250-9. Yeast-derived human immunodeficiency
    virus type 1 p55(gag) virus-like particles activate dendritic cells (DCs)
    and induce perforin expression in Gag-specific CD8(+) T cells by
    cross-presentation of DCs.

    75. J Immunol. 2003 Jul 1;171(1):32-6.

    Cutting edge: link between innate and adaptive immunity: Toll-like receptor
    2 internalizes antigen for presentation to CD4+ T cells and could be an
    efficient vaccine target.Schjetne KW, Thompson KM, Nilsen N, Flo TH,
    Fleckenstein B, Iversen JG, Espevik T, Bogen B.

    Institute of Immunology, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
    k.w.schjetne@labmed.uio.no

    An ideal vaccine for induction of CD4(+) T cell responses should induce
    local inflammation, maturation of APC, and peptide loading of MHC class II
    molecules. Ligation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 provides the first two of
    these three criteria. We have studied whether targeting of TLR2 results in
    loading of MHC class II molecules and enhancement of CD4(+) T cell
    responses. To dissociate MHC class II presentation from APC maturation, we
    have used an antagonistic, mouse anti-human TLR2 mAb (TL2.1) as ligand and
    measured proliferation of a mouse Ckappa-specific human CD4(+) T cell clone.
    TL2.1 mAb was 100-1000 times more efficiently presented by APC compared with
    isotype-matched control mAb. Moreover, TL2.1 mAb was internalized into
    endosomes and processed by the conventional MHC class II pathway. This novel
    function of TLR2 represents a link between innate and adaptive immunity and
    indicates that TLR2 could be a promising target for vaccines

    76. J Immunol. 2004 Sep 15;173(6):3916-24. Microglia initiate central
    nervous system innate and adaptive immune responses through multiple TLRs

    77. Nippon Ishinkin Gakkai Zasshi. 2002;43(3):133-6. Receptor-mediated
    recognition of Cryptococcus neoformans.

    78. Curr Mol Med. 2005 Jun;5(4):413-20. The cellular responses induced by
    the capsular polysaccharide of Cryptococcus neoformans differ depending on
    the presence or absence of specific protective antibodies.Vecchiarelli A.

    79. J Immunol. 2001 Sep 15;167(6):3316-23. Predominant role of toll-like
    receptor 2 versus 4 in Chlamydia pneumoniae-induced activation of dendritic
    cells.

    80, J Immunol. 2003 Aug 1;171(3):1441-6. Heat-killed Brucella abortus
    induces TNF and IL-12p40 by distinct MyD88-dependent pathways: TNF, unlike
    IL-12p40 secretion, is Toll-like receptor 2 dependent.

    81. Nat Immunol. 2000 Dec;1(6):502-9. OmpA targets dendritic cells, induces
    their maturation and delivers antigen into the MHC class I presentation
    pathway

    82. J Clin Invest. 2005 Nov;115(11):3265-75. Epub 2005 Oct 13. Endocytosis
    of HIV-1 activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells via Toll-like receptor-viral
    RNA interactions.

    83. The Journal of Immunology, 2008, 180: 1405-1413. Suppression of Mature
    Dendritic Cell Function by Regulatory T Cells In Vivo Is Abrogated by CD40
    Licensing1

    84. Mucosal Immunology (2008) 1, 156-168 The contribution of PARs to
    inflammation and immunity to fungi

    http://www.nature.com/mi/journal/v1/n2/full/mi200713a.html

    85. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2007 Feb;127(2):319-26.
    [Uniqueness of the mucosal immune system for the development of prospective
    mucosal vaccine]

    86. The Maturing Immune System: Implications for Development and Testing
    HIV-1 Vaccines for Children and Adolescents

    http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/524225_print

    87. J Immunol. 2004 May 1;172(9):5240-8. Antigen-specific T cell repertoire
    modification of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells.

    88. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2007 Jul;4(4):323-40. Oral vaccination: where we
    are?

    89. Methods. 2006 Feb;38(2):150-7. Mucosal immunization using recombinant
    plant-based oral vaccines.

    90. Immunol Cell Biol. 2005 Jun;83(3):257-62. Oral hepatitis B vaccine
    candidates produced and delivered in plant material.

    91. AIDS 1998, 12: 2387-2396 Immune activation in HIV-infected African
    individuals

    92. J. Exp. Med., Volume 188, Number 12, December 21, 1998 2205-2213 Viral
    Immune Evasion Due to Persistence of Activated T Cells Without Effector
    Function

    93. The Journal of Infectious Diseases 1999; 179: 859 -870 Shorter Survival
    in Advanced Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection Is More Closely
    Associated with T Lymphocyte Activation than with Plasma Virus Burden or
    Virus Chemokine Coreceptor Usage

    94. Clin Cancer Res. 2007 Aug 1;13(15 Pt 1):4345-54. A unique subset of
    CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ T cells secreting interleukin-10 and transforming growth
    factor-beta1 mediates suppression in the tumor microenvironment.

    95. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2007 Sep;14(9):1127-37. Epub 2007 Jul 18.
    Dendritic cell function during chronic hepatitis C virus and human
    immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

    96.Eur J Immunol. 2007 Jul;37(7):1887-904. Impairment of dendritic cell
    function by excretory-secretory products: a potential mechanism for
    nematode-induced immunosuppression.

    97. Nature Dec 5;420:502-507. Belkaid Y, Piccirillo CA, Mendez S, Shevach
    EM, Sacks DL. CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells control Leishmania major
    persistence and immunity.

    98. Current Opinion in Immunology Published online 2/7/04 Development and
    function of CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells

    99. Current Opinion in Immunology Published online 2/11/04 Immunoregulatory
    T cells in tumor immunity

    100. Cancer Res. 2003 Aug 1;63(15):4516-20. Human CD4(+) CD25(+) Regulatory
    T Cells Suppress NKT Cell Functions.

    101. J Virol. 2002 Aug;76(15):7528-34. Selective loss of innate CD4(+) V
    alpha 24 natural killer T cells in human immunodeficiency virus infection.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Endnote Regarding Production of GAIA ICS Antigen

    GMP Production of GAIA ICS cell-derived Peptide and Peusdoprotien antigen
    for R & D and clinical trials. Followed up with full scale production in
    transgenic plants should result in high yield, low cost, high quality and
    stable for many years at room temperatures GAIA ICS Peptide and
    Peusdoprotein antigen to be used in a Global HIV-1 Vaccination Campaign.

    J Drug Target. 2003;11(8-10):539-45. Advantageous features of plant-based
    systems for the development of HIV vaccines.

    Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 21, No. 90003, 212S-217S
    (2002) Foods as Production and Delivery Vehicles for Human Vaccines

    Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, Volume 1, Number 1, January 2007 ,
    pp. 19-25(7) A launch vector for the production of vaccine antigens in
    plants

    Methods. 2006 Feb;38(2):150-7. Mucosal immunization using recombinant
    plant-based oral vaccines.

    Immunol Cell Biol. 2005 Jun;83(3):257-62. Oral hepatitis B vaccine
    candidates produced and delivered in plant material.

    Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2005 Jul;2(4):719-28. Delivery of plant-derived
    vaccines.

    Int J Parasitol. 2003 May;33(5-6):479-93. Plant-based vaccines.

    Vaccine Volume 24, Issue 5 , 30 January 2006, Pages 691-695 Oral
    immunogenicity of a plant-made, subunit, tuberculosis vaccine

    J Biotechnol. 2005 Oct 17;120(1):121-34. Epub 2005 Jul 18. Plants as
    bioreactors: a comparative study suggests that Medicago truncatula is a
    promising production system.

    Transgenic Res. 2007 Jun;16(3):315-32. Epub 2007 Apr 14.Production of
    vaccines and therapeutic antibodies for veterinary applications in
    transgenic plants: an overview.

    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Apr 17;104(16):6864-9. Epub 2007 Apr 11.
    Smallpox subunit vaccine produced in Planta confers protection in mice.

    Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Apr;1102:121-34. Bioproduction of therapeutic
    proteins in the 21st century and the role of plants and plant cells as
    production platforms.

    BMC Biotechnol. 2007 Feb 26;7:12. Expression, intracellular targeting and
    purification of HIV Nef variants in tobacco cells.

    J Biotechnol. 2007 Feb 20;128(3):512-8. Epub 2006 Nov 16. Multimerization of
    peptide antigens for production of stable immunogens in transgenic plants.

    Expert Rev Vaccines. 2006 Apr;5(2):249-60. Plant-derived vaccines: a look
    back at the highlights and a view to the challenges on the road
    ahead.Thanavala Y, Huang Z, Mason HS.

    Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263,
    USA. yasmin.thanavala@roswellpark.org

    The sobering reality is that each year, 33 million children remain
    unvaccinated for vaccine-preventable diseases. Universal childhood
    vaccination would have profound effects on leveling the health inequities in
    many parts of the world. As an alternative to administration of vaccines by
    needle and syringe, oral vaccines offer significant logistical advantages,
    as the polio eradication campaign has demonstrated. Over the past decade,
    the expression of subunit vaccine antigens in plants has emerged as a
    convenient, safe and potentially economical platform technology, with the
    potential to provide a novel biotechnological solution to vaccine production
    and delivery. As this technology has come of age, many improvements have
    been made on several fronts, as a growing number of research groups
    worldwide have extensively investigated plants as factories for vaccine
    production. This review attempts to highlight some of the achievements over
    the past 15 years, identify some of the potential problems and discuss the
    promises that this technology could fulfill. PMID: 16608424

    ================================================================
    The Hunger Site: A Click a day sends FREE FOOD to fight World Hunger and Malnutrition Diseases

    http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1
    ================================================================
    The Hunger Site: A Click a day sends FREE FOOD to fight World Hunger and Malnutrition Diseases

    http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

Leave a Reply