Antigenicity and immunogenicity of HIV envelope gene expressed in baculovirus expression system Research Article

Human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) envelope gene was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf21) cells. DNA constructs encoding env-tat-rev genes were cloned into the baculovirus expression vector pBacPAK9. Recombinant baculovirus was prepared by cotransfection with linearized wild type virus DNA. Western blotting of cell extracts containing recombinant HIV-1 proteins demonstrated expression of HIV-1 gp160 and its complete cleavage products gp120 and gp41. A time course experiment suggested that the maximum expression was observed at 48-hrs post infection. In order to measure the biological activity recombinant HIV envelope proteins were used for lymphocyte proliferation assay. The results demonstrated that recombinant gp160 and its cleavage products were antigenically and functionally authentic. I