Biomedical subjects

I M Belyakov

Publications and source records attributed to I M Belyakov.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Approaches to improve engineered vaccines for human immunodeficiency virus and other viruses that cause chronic infections.

We used several approaches to develop enhanced vaccines for chronic viral infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). 1) Selected epitopes were used to avoid potentially harmful immune responses. 2) Linkage between helper and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes was found to be important. 3) We developed an "epitope enhancement" approach modifying the sequences of epitopes to make more potent vaccines, including examples for HIV and HCV epitopes presented by murine class II and human class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. 4) CTL avidity was found to be important for clearing viral infections in vivo, and the mechanism was examined. High-avidity CTLs, however, were found to undergo apoptosis when confronted with high-density antigen, through a mechanism involving tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TNF-RII, and a permissive state induced through the T-cell receptor. 5) We employed cytokines in the adjuvant to steer immune responses toward desired phenotypes, and showed synergy between cytokines. 6) Intrarectal immunization with peptide vaccine induced mucosal and systemic CTL. Local mucosal CTL were found to be critical for resistance to mucosal viral transmission and this resistance was enhanced with mucosally delivered interleukin-12. 7) We used an asymmetry in induction of mucosal and systemic immune responses to circumvent pre-existing vaccinia immunity for use of recombinant vaccinia vaccines.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed1998

The importance of local mucosal HIV-specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes for resistance to mucosal viral transmission in mice and enhancement of resistance by local administration of IL-12.

Although crucial to mucosal vaccine development, the mechanisms of defense against mucosal viral infection are still poorly understood. Protection, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), and neutralizing antibodies have all been observed, but cause and effect have been difficult to determine. The ability of CTL in the mucosa to mediate protection against mucosal viral transmission has never been proven. Here, we use an HIV peptide immunogen and an HIV-1 gp160-expressing recombinant vaccinia viral intrarectal murine challenge system, in which neutralizing antibodies do not play a role, to demonstrate for the first time that long-lasting immune resistance to mucosal viral transmission can be accomplished by CD8(+) CTL that must be present in the mucosal site of exposure. The resistance is ablated by depleting CD8(+) cells in vivo and requires CTL in the mucosa, whereas systemic (splenic) CTL are shown to be unable to protect against mucosal challenge. Furthermore, the resistance as well as the CTL response can be increased by local mucosal delivery of IL-12 with the vaccine. These results imply that induction of local mucosal CTL may be critical for success of a vaccine against viruses transmitted through a mucosal route, such as HIV.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

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.

Mucosal tissues are major sites of HIV entry and initial infection. Thus, the induction of a mucosal cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response is an important feature for an effective HIV vaccine. However, little is known about approaches to induce such a protective CTL response in the mucosa. Here for the first time we show that intrarectal immunization with a synthetic, multideterminant HIV peptide plus cholera toxin adjuvant induced long-lasting, antigen-specific CTL memory in both the inductive (Peyer's patch) and effector (lamina propria) mucosal sites, as well as in systemic sites (spleen), whereas systemic immunization induced specific CTL only in the spleen. Cholera toxin adjuvant, while enhancing the response, was not essential. The CTL recognized target cells either pulsed with HIV peptide or expressing endogenous whole envelope glycoprotein of Mr 160,000 (gp160). Exploring the requirements for CTL induction, we show that mucosal CTL responses are both interleukin 12 and interferon-gamma dependent by using antibody-treated and knock-out mice. Finally, to determine whether a mucosal response is actually protective against local mucosal challenge with virus, we show that intrarectal immunization with the synthetic HIV peptide vaccine protected mice against infection via mucosal challenge with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HIV-1IIIB gp160. These studies provide an approach to development of an HIV vaccine that induces CTL immunity in the mucosal and systemic immune systems and protects against mucosal infection with a virus expressing HIV-1 gp160.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed1998

Induction of a mucosal cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response by intrarectal immunization with a replication-deficient recombinant vaccinia virus expressing human immunodeficiency virus 89.6 envelope protein.

To improve the safety of recombinant vaccinia virus vaccines, modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) has been employed, because it has a replication defect in most mammalian cells. Here we apply MVA to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine development by incorporating the envelope protein gp160 of HIV-1 primary isolate strain 89.6 (MVA 89.6) and use it to induce mucosal cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL) immunity. In initial studies to define a dominant CTL epitope for HIV-1 89.6 gp160, we mapped the epitope to a sequence, IGPGRAFYAR (from the V3 loop), homologous to that recognized by HIV MN loop-specific CTL and showed that HIV-1 MN-specific CTLs cross-reactively recognize the corresponding epitope from strain 89.6 presented by H-2Dd. Having defined the CTL specificity, we immunized BALB/c mice intrarectally with recombinant MVA 89.6. A single mucosal immunization with MVA 89.6 was able to elicit long-lasting antigen-specific mucosal (Peyer's patch and lamina propria) and systemic (spleen) CTL responses as effective as or more effective than those of a replication-competent vaccinia virus expressing 89.6 gp160. Immunization with MVA 89.6 led to (i) the loading of antigen-presenting cells in vivo, as measured by the ex vivo active presentation of the P18-89.6 peptide to an antigen-specific CTL line, and (ii) the significant production of the proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha) in the mucosal sites. These results indicate that nonreplicating recombinant MVA may be at least as effective for mucosal immunization as replicating recombinant vaccinia virus.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed1993

Late T cell deficiency in victims of the Chernobyl radiation accident: possible mechanisms of induction.

T cell number, serum concentrations of thymic hormones and anti-epithelial autoantibodies were studied in people affected at Chernobyl NPP. Group 1 took part in the clearing-up operation and had no clinical manifestations of acute radiation sickness. Group 2 worked at the NPP during the accident; they survived acute radiation sickness (degree I-II, subgroup 2a; degree III-IV, subgroup 2b). The total doses of external radiation were 0.1-0.5 Gy in group 1, up to 4 Gy in subgroup 2a and up to 9 Gy in subgroup 2b. Total T cell number, serum thymic activity and alpha 1-thymosin concentration were decreased in all groups of affected persons. CD8+ cell number decreased only in group 1; CD4+ cell number in subgroup 2b. A decrease in thymic hormone level was most prominent in subgroup 2b. The titres of anti-epithelial antibodies were increased in all groups of affected persons independently of radiation dose. The titres were higher in patients with subnormal levels of alpha 1-thymosin. It has been proposed that radiation alters the function of thymic epithelial cells by direct action and/or through indirect mechanisms including participation of autoantibodies. The observed complex of alterations is similar to that in the normal process of immunological ageing.

Accidents↗