An experimental prime-boost regimen leading to HIV type 1-specific mucosal and systemic immunity in BALB/c mice

Induction of mucosal as well as systemic immunity to HIV-1 is considered to have high priority in current concepts of future AIDS vaccines. Here we show that the desired immune responses can be elicited by an experimental prime-boost regimen consisting of mucosal (intragastric) application of a recombinant vaccinia virus carrying the HIV-1 env gene (vSC25), followed by parenteral (intradermal) immunization with the recombinant HIV-1 glycoprotein 160 (rgp160). Following intragastric immunization of mice with vSC25 in combination with the mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin (CT), HIV-1 env-specific IgA was secreted by B cells of Peyer's patches and the lamina propria. Moreover, mucosal (intragastric and intranasal) application of vSC25 (both in presence or absence of CT) induced a long-lasting, HIV-1 env-specific systemic cytotoxic T cell response. Subsequent intradermal boosters with rgp160 led to HIV-1-specific T cell memory and serum antibodies.