Gag peptide [Simian immunodeficiency virus] – Antimicrobial Peptides – AMP

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) has been used as a model in rhesus monkeys to understand human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral life cycle and lead towards drug development. HIV specific CD8+ T-cell (cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)) responses are important in the control of viral replication. Inducing a sustained HIV-1 specific CD8+ T-cell response is the target for vaccine development by using conserved HIV-1 epitopes. The HIV gag gene encodes p17 and p24. Capsid protein p24 forms the conical core of the virus that encapsulates the genomic RNA-nucleocapsid complex. SIV encode a homologous Gag peptide, this allows use of rhesus monkey models to better understand the immune response to SIV/HIV. A CTL recognition epitope of SIV p24 Gag, residues TPYDINQML, activates the immune response. SIV Gag peptides have been used as effective epitopes in immunological assays to assess CTL response. Stimulation of rhesus monkey cells with TPYDINQML epitope triggers CD8+ T lymphocytes to produce soluble factors (β-chemokines) that inhibit SIV replication. Further work may lead towards a HIV vaccine using the Gag epitopes.