HIV-1 DNA pGPNEF

HIV-1 DNA pGPNEF is a DNA plasmid vaccine candidate developed by the National Center for STD and AIDS Prevention and Control (NCAIDS) of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC). It is designed to express three internal proteins of the HIV-1 virus: Gag, Pol, and Nef. The vaccine is typically utilized as part of a heterologous prime-boost strategy, where it serves as a priming agent alongside another DNA plasmid (pGP140) to induce a broad range of HIV-specific immune responses. This priming is followed by a boost with a recombinant vaccinia virus (TianTan strain). The pGPNEF component specifically targets the induction of cell-mediated immunity, including CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses, which are critical for controlling viral replication. It has been evaluated in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials in China, often administered via intramuscular injection with or without electroporation to enhance DNA uptake and immunogenicity.