This invention was supported in part by funds from the United States
government (National Institutes of Health, Grant Nos. NTH NOl-AJ 05397 and NTH
NOl -AI2545S). Tire United States government may therefore have certain rights iu
this invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
To enhance the efficacy of immunogenic compositions, a variety of
immunogenic compositions and methods have been reported using protein
compositions, plasmid-based compositions, and recombinant virus constructs as
immunogenic compositions. Prior studies have demonstrated that plasmid-based
immunogenic compositions, upon systemic application, prime the systemic immune
system to a second systemic immunization with a traditional antigen, such as a
protein or a recombinant virus (See, e.g., Xiang et al, 1997 Springer Semin.
Immunopaihol, 79:257-268; Schneider, J. et al, 1998 Nature Med, 4:397; and
Sedeguh, M. et al, 1998 Proc. Natl. Acad, Set, USA, 95:7648; Rogers, W. O. et al,
2001 Infec. &Immun., o"9(9):5565-72; Eo, S. K., etal, 2001 J. Immunol.,
166(9):5473-9; Ramshaw I. A. and Ramsay, A. J., 2000 Immunol. Today, 27(4): 163-
5).
An often used DNA prime/live vector boost regimen involves vaccinia
viruses for the boost. Examples in the recent literature include such immunization
for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Ilanke T. et al, 2002 Vaccine.
20(15): 1995-8; Arnara R.R. et al, 2002 Vaccine. 20(15): 1949-55; Wee E.G. etal,
2002 J. Gen. Virol, 83(?t l):75-80; Amara R.R. et al, 2001 Science. 292(5514):69-
74). Prime-boost immunizations with DNA and modified vaccinia virus vectors
expressing antigens such as herpes simplex virus-2 glycoprotein D, Leishmania
infantum P36/LACK antigen, Plasmodium falciparum TRAP antigen, HlV/SrV
antigens, murine tuberculosis antigens, and influenza antigens, have been reported to
elicit specific antibody and cytokine responses (See, e.g., Meseda C.A. et al., 2002 J.
Infect. Dis., 7