Epitopes of human immunodeficiency virus-1

Abstract

The invention features an immunogenic composition containing a frequently-recognized epitope of an HIV-1 accessory protein and methods of inducing an immune response using such an epitope. The epitope peptide contains an amino acid sequence of a functionally active domain or a structural domain of the accessory protein.

1 . An immunogenic composition comprising a frequently-recognized epitope of an HIV-1 accessory protein, wherein said epitope comprises an amino acid sequence of a functionally active domain or a structural domain of said accessory protein.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said accessory protein is selected from the group consisting of Tat, Rev, Vif, Vpu, Vpr, and Nef.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said accessory protein is Vpr.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein said structural domain comprises an alpha helix Hα2 of said Vpr.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said functionally active domain is a perinuclear localization domain.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said epitope comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said epitope comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said epitope comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said epitope comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said accessory protein is Vif.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said epitope comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, 4, 12, and 13, 26, and 27.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition does not comprise a Vpu polypeptide.  
     
     
         13 . A method of inducing an HIV-1 specific cytotoxic T cell immune response, comprising contacting a CD8+ T cell with a polypeptide comprising a frequently-recognized epitope of an HIV-1 accessory protein, wherein said polypeptide comprises an epitope comprising an amino acid sequence of a functionally active domain or a structural domain of said accessory protein.  
     
     
         14 . A method of inducing an HIV-1 specific cytotoxic immune response in a subject, comprising comprising administering to said subject a polypeptide comprising a frequently-recognized epitope of an HIV-1 accessory protein, wherein said polypeptide comprises an epitope comprising an amino acid sequence of a functionally active domain or a structural domain of said accessory protein.