Improved immunogenicity of recombinant vaccinia virus-anchored gp120 lacking gp41.

To produce a vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus-1 with improved immunogenicity, the transmembrane and cytoplasmic tail regions of human immunodeficiency virus-1 were replaced with those of the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus glycoprotein, and cloned into vaccinia virus. This recombinant vaccinia virus, vvE13, was compared to one expressing full length envelope gp160, vvE1. Env products of both were located on the cell surface. Antibody response, lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxicity were better with vvE13 than with vvE1 inoculated mice.