Optimization of chimaeric HIV-1 virus-like particle (VLP) production and immunogenicity testing of VLPs in mice

The devastating effect the HIV pandemic has had on the human population in the last twenty five years has highlighted the great need to develop a prophylactic HIV vaccine. The manufacture of a vaccine has proven difficult though, with a number of successful designs in animal models having little success in humans. In view of this, there has been a need for novel vaccine approaches that are able to elicit effective cellular and humoral immune responses, both of which are believed to be important in the eradication of the virus. One such approach is the use of HIV-1 Gag VLPs as vaccine candidates. In this study, the production of two chimaeric (Gag VLP vaccine candidates (GagRT and GagTN) was optimized in insect cells, and their ability to enhance a murine immune response in a DNA prime-VLP boost vaccine strategy was evaluated.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Pillay, Sirika

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Rybicki, Ed
• Meyers, Ann

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4321

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/4321