FP6 priority
1.1.1   Genomics and Biotechnology for Health
1.1.2
Title of the proposal

Development and testing of prototype preventive retrovirus-based DNA vaccine against infection of more complex retroviruses

Institute
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Cancer Research Institute
Vlarska 7, 833 91 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
www.exon.sav.sk
Contact
Name:
Assoc. Prof. Cestmir ALTANER, PhD.,DSc.
Phone:
+421 2 59327260
E-mail:
exonalt@savba.sk


Research subject for a potential FP6 project

Infection of rabbits with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) can serve as an experimental model for testing of retroviral constructs for immunogenicity and pathogenicity. Wild type BLV induces AIDS like symptoms in rabbits. BLV is prototype of the human T-cell leukemia virus. Previously we have shown that simplified BLV (virus structural vector applied as DNA) can be used as potential vaccine against infection of wild type more complex retrovirus. We are interested:
  • To see whether integration of simplified retrovirus into DNA of vaccinated animals cause interference with the integration of more complex retroviruses
  • To see whether expression of antigens from integrated simplified retrovirus is a reason for prevention of wild type retrovirus infection due to cellular immunity


  • Recent international cooperation of the research team

    Department of Veterinary Biosciences,
    Center for Retrovirus Research,
    Comprehensive Cancer Center,
    The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA,


    Proposerīs relevant publications related to the research subject

    Altaner C., Ban J., Altanerova V., Janik J.: Protective vaccination against bovine leukaemia virus infection by means of cell-derived vaccine. Vaccine 9, 889-895 (1991).
    Altanerova, V., Ban, J., and Altaner, C. (1989a). Induction of immune deficiency syndrome in rabbits by bovine leukemia virus. AIDS 3, 755-758.
    Altanerova, V., Portetelle, D., Kettmann, R., and Altaner, C. (1989b). Infection of rats with bovine leukemia virus: establishment of a virus-producing rat cell line. J. Gen. Virol. 70, 1929-1932.
    Boris-Lawrie, K., Altanerova, V., Altaner, C., Kucerova, L. and Temin, H.M. (1997): In vivo study of genetically simplified bovine leukemia virus derivatives that lack tax and rex. J. Virol. 71, 1514-1520.
    Kucerova, L., Altanerova C., Altaner C., Boris-Lawrie K.: Bovine leukemia virus structural gene vectors are immunogenic and lack pathogenicity in a rabbit model. J. Virol. 73, 8160-8166, (1999).