Hiv vaccine based on targeting maximized gag and nef to dendritic cells

A method for increasing the effectiveness of antigen presentation by an antigen presenting cell comprising:

• isolating and purifying a DC-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an engineered Nef antigen is attached to form an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the Nef antigen comprises one or more codon usage optimization that increase antibody-antigen complex secretion;
• and
• contacting the antigen presenting cell under conditions wherein the antibody-antigen complex is processed and presented for T cell recognition.

A vaccine comprising a DC-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an engineered Gag antigen is attached to form an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the Gag antigen is less susceptible to proteolytic degradation by eliminating one or more proteolytic sites.

A vaccine comprising a DC-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an engineered Nef antigen is attached to form an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the Nef antigen comprises one or more codon usage optimization that increase antibody-antigen complex secretion.

A vaccine comprising:

• a DC-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an engineered Gag antigen is attached to form an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the Gag antigen is less susceptible to proteolytic degradation by eliminating one or more proteolytic sites;
• and
• a DC-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an engineered Nef antigen is attached to form an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the Nef antigen comprises one or more codon usage optimization that increase antibody-antigen complex secretion, wherein the vaccine is able to elicit an HIV-specific T cell immune response to Gag p17, Gag p24 and Nef.

A vaccine comprising:

• a DC-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an engineered Gag antigen is attached to form an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the Gag antigen is less susceptible to proteolytic degradation by eliminating one or more proteolytic sites;
• and
• an engineered Nef antigen that is attached to the DC-specific antibody or fragment thereof or to the engineered Gag antigen form an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the Nef antigen comprises one or more codon usage optimization that increase antibody-antigen complex secretion, wherein the vaccine is able to elicit an HIV-specific T cell immune response to Gag p17, Gag p24 and Nef.

A vaccine comprising a DC-specific antibody or fragment thereof to which an engineered antigen comprising Cyclin D1 or fragments attached to form an antibody-antigen complex, wherein the Cyclin D1 antigen is less susceptible to proteolytic degradation by eliminating one or more proteolytic sites.

An isolated and purified nucleic acid that encodes a polypeptide selected from SEQ ID NO.:

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31 or 32.

An isolated and purified polypeptide selected from SEQ ID NO.:

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31 or 32.