Recombinant Papillomavirus-based HIV Vaccine Targeting Genital Mucosa

There is currently no efficient vaccine developed to prevent infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the agent responsible for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Classic vaccine strategies, such as the use of live attenuated viruses, where the immune system is stimulated by exposure of the host organism to non infectious viral particles, have led to safety issues in the case of HIV. We propose to develop a new vaccine strategy that elicits a long-term immunity against HIV infection at the site of entry of the virus in the case of mucosal infection. Our strategy relies on the activation of the immune response by presentation of viral antigens eliciting immune response by papillomavirus that infects mucosal surfaces. The key elements of our strategy are based on 1) delivery of genes encoding for viral antigens into stem cells differentiating into epithelial cells and ultimately, 2) specific expression of these genes on mucosal surfaces. Our methodology utilizes molecular biology techniques and gene delivery systems. Initiation of the immune response preventing HIV infection and/or propagation will be assessed by molecular and immunological techniques of current use in our laboratory.