Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 CN54 Gag-Pol-Env antigens (HIV-1 CN54 Gag/Pol/Env)

HIV-1 CN54 Gag/Pol/Env antigens are a specific set of viral proteins derived from the CN54 strain of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1, which is a circulating recombinant form (CRF07_BC) prevalent in Asia (PubMed: 18463639). These antigens include the Gag structural proteins, the Pol enzymes (reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease), and the Env glycoproteins (gp120 and gp41), which are essential for the viral life cycle, including assembly and host cell entry (UniProt: P04585, P03366, P03377). In the context of vaccine development, these proteins serve as immunogens designed to elicit both cellular (T-cell) and humoral (B-cell) immune responses (PubMed: 26209604). Clinical trials, such as those conducted by the EuroVacc consortium, have utilized these antigens in heterologous prime-boost regimens involving DNA plasmids and viral vectors like NYVAC or MVA (PubMed: 18463639, PubMed: 25972546). The inclusion of multiple antigens like Gag, Pol, and Env aims to provide broad protection against the high genetic diversity of HIV-1, particularly focusing on subtype C (PubMed: 26962234). These vaccine candidates are evaluated for their ability to induce neutralizing antibodies and polyfunctional T-cell responses to prevent or control infection (PubMed: 26209604). Safety assessments in clinical settings have generally found these antigens to be well-tolerated, with most adverse events being mild and localized to the injection site (PubMed: 18463639). A notable challenge in using these antigens is vaccine-induced seropositivity (VISP), where trial participants test positive on standard HIV screening tests due to vaccine-induced antibodies rather than actual infection (PubMed: 23533275).

Other names

HIV-1 CN54 antigensCN54 Gag-Pol-EnvCRF07_BC Gag/Pol/EnvHIV-1 subtype C CN54 polyproteinCN54gp140 (Env component)

Induction of HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses and production of neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies to prevent or control viral infection (PubMed: 26209604).