This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.The long-term goal of this research is to develop a DNA-based vaccine for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It goes without question that HIV is one of the most serious diseases of our lifetime. It is essential that a vaccine is developed to stop the spread of the disease. Development of a safe HIV vaccine has been sought for two decades. Several HIV DNA vaccines have already been tested in human trials with limited success and only when boosted with injection of viral proteins.We have developped a HIV DNA vaccine that is non-infectious, yet expresses sufficient levels of proteins to protect immunized macaques without viral proteins boosts. We have administered this vaccine to mice to examine which T cells are activated and we have found HIV specific T cells with very unique properties. We propose to further explore the mechanism by which this vaccine exerts immunity in macques to provide important information that will be able to improve DNA vaccines to cure HIV disease.
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