The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Other

University of Pennsylvania

Duke University

Medical Research Council

Alphavax, Incorporated

University of Cape Town Observatory

Ronald I Swanstrom

Robert E Johnston

Barton F Haynes

Richard Ray Tidwell

Hua-Xin Liao

Sergey A Dryga

Christine C Dykstra

Beatrice H Hahn

George M Shaw

Nancy L Davis

Robert A Olmsted

Ian Caley

Maureen Maughan

Paula M Keith

Carolyn Williamson

Lynn Morris

Cassandra B Jabara

Li-Hua Ping

Jeffrey A Anderson

Salim Abdol Karim

Methods and uses for molecular tags are disclosed. Molecular tags may be attached to nucleic acid molecules. The attachment of the nucleic acid molecules prior to PCR amplification and sequencing improves the accuracy of genetic analysis and detection of genetic variations and diversity. Molecular tags may also be used for detection of drug-resistant variants. Methods for using molecular tags for determining and correcting PCR errors and/or sequencing error are also disclosed.

Methods and uses for molecular tags

The present invention relates, in general, to an immunogen for HIV vaccination and, in particular, to a method of inducing the production of protective anti-HIV antibodies by targeting B cell germline and clone intermediates using a combination of HIV envelope and non-HIV immunogens. The invention also relates to compositions suitable for use in such a method.

Method of inducing the production of protective anti-HIV-1 antibodies

Embodiments of the invention provide processes for the selection of HIV-1 subtype (clade) C isolates, selected HIV-1 subtype C isolates, their genes and modifications and derivatives thereof for use in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines to produce proteins and polypeptides for the purpose of eliciting protection against HIV infection or disease. A process for the selection of HIV subtype isolates comprises the steps of isolating viruses from recently infected subjects; generating a consensus sequence for at least part of at least one HIV gene by identifying the most common codon or amino acid among the isolated viruses; and selecting the isolated virus or viruses with a high sequence identity to the consensus sequence. HIV-1 subtype C isolates, designated Du422, Du 151 and Du 179 (assigned Accession Numbers 01032114, 00072724 and 00072725, respectively, by the European Collection of Cell Cultures) are also provided.

Nucleic acids encoding modified South African HIV-1 subtype C gag proteins

Disclosed is a method of inhibiting retroviral integrase in a subject in need of such treatment. The method comprises administering to the subject an effective retroviral integrase inhibiting amount of a bis-benzimidazole compound such as bis&lsqb;5-amidino-2-benzimidazolyl&rsqb;methane, 1,2-bis&lsqb;5-amidino-2-benzimidazolyl&rsqb;ethane, 1,2-bis&lsqb;5-amidino-2-benzimidazolyl&rsqb;ethene or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A method for combatting retroviral infections is also disclosed.

Method of inhibiting retroviral integrase

The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising a population of alphavirus replicon particles comprising two or more isolated nucleic acids selected from 1) an isolated nucleic acid encoding an env gene product or an immunogenic fragment thereof of a human immunodeficiency virus, 2) an isolated nucleic acid encoding a g&agr;g gene product or an immunogenic fragment thereof of a human immunodeficiency virus, wherein the g&agr;g gene product or immunogenic fragment thereof is modified to inhibit formation of virus-like particles containing the g&agr;g gene product or the immunogenic fragment thereof and their release from a cell, and 3) an isolated nucleic acid encoding a pol gene product or an immunogenic fragment thereof of a human immunodeficiency virus, wherein the pol gene product or immunogenic fragment thereof is modified to inhibit protease, integrase, RNase H and/or reverse transcriptase activity, and wherein the nucleic acids are each contained within a separate alphavirus replicon particle.

Alphavirus vectors and virosomes with modified HIV genes for use in vaccines

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Ronald I Swanstrom