Cytotoxic T lymphocyte response in mice induced by a recombinant BCG vaccination which produces an extracellular α antigen that fused with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope immunodominant domain in the V3 loop

The host immune response of cell-mediated immunity, particularly that of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), is a major immune defence mechanism which may provide resistance to a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) spread leading to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). To prevent the accompanying activity of HIV-1 proteins responsible for the loss of helper T-lymphocyte function, it is crucial to develop a live attenuated recombinant vaccine expressing only T- or both T- and B-cell epitopes. Here, we examined the expression of the HIV-1 Env protein V3 region (15 amino acids from Arg³¹⁵ to Lys³²⁹) in Mycobacterium bovis BCG as a fused form with an extracellular α antigen of Mycobacterium kansasii. Balb/c mice inoculated with this recombinant BCG (rBCG), rapidly induced V3 peptide-specific CTLs. Target cell lysis was restricted to the murine class I major histocompatibility complex, H-2^d. A similar CTL response was also elicited after Balb/c mice were immunized with the same rBCG even when pre-inoculated with non-recombinant BCG. Thus, the rapid induction of HIV-1-specific CTLs indicates that this vaccine may be a therapeutic approach to preventing progression to AIDS.