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SUMMARY:Immunological analysis of chloroplast-derived HIV-1 antigens - Nur
 ia Gonzalez-Rabade
DTSTART:20091106T130000Z
DTEND:20091106T133000Z
UID:TALK20706@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:15560
DESCRIPTION:A safe and effective vaccine against HIV is desperately needed
 \, particularly in developing countries where more than 90% of infections 
 occur. Peptide vaccines are safe and chemically well-defined\, providing a
 n alternative strategy to conventional vaccines. A couple of such potentia
 l antigens are the 24 kDa core protein p24 and the 31 kDa regulatory prote
 in Nef. Plants offer several advantages for the production of high value p
 roteins\, including lack of contamination with animal pathogens\, relative
  ease of genetic manipulation\, and eukaryotic protein modification machin
 ery. In comparison to current production systems\, large amounts of these 
 antigens can be produced at relatively low cost in agriculturally-based sy
 stems. The high levels of expression obtained through chloroplast transfor
 mation\, in particular\, will reduce the amount of plant material required
  for vaccination. The aim of this project is to assess the immunogenicity 
 in mice of chloroplast-derived HIV-1 p24 and Nef. Comparisons between expr
 ession levels in chloroplasts of both antigens in tobacco cultivars transf
 ormed with various constructs have provided important information concerni
 ng vector optimization\, choice of cultivar and protein accumulation. Thes
 e plant-expressed antigens have been administered subcutaneously\, nasally
  and orally to mice. Serum analysis and proliferation data have shown good
  immune responses
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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