P17-06. Development of a replication-defective Herpes Simplex virus 1 recombinant expressing HIV-1 clade A envelope protein

Background The HSV-1 d106 mutant virus is a promising viral vector because it allows robust expression of the foreign antigen, induces a balanced cellular and humoral immune response and is efficacious in HSV-immune animals. It has deletions in immediate-early genes ICP4, ICP22, ICP27 and ICP47 that render it absolutely replicationdeficient in normal cells, thus making it safe for use as a vaccine vector. Recently, in a prime-boost regimen, d106 recombinants expressing SIV proteins have shown significant protection in the SIVmac239 challenge model in rhesus macaques (Kaur et al., 2007 and unpublished results).