Polynucleotides encoding antigenic HIV type C polypeptides, polypeptides and uses thereof

1. An expression cassette, comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide including an immunogenic HIV Gag polypeptide, wherein the polynucleotide sequence encoding said immunogenic HIV Gag polypeptide comprises a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:9.

2. A recombinant expression system for use in a selected host cell, comprising, an expression cassette of claim 1 , and wherein said polynucleotide sequence is operably linked to control elements compatible with expression in the selected host cell.

3. The recombinant expression system of claim 2 , wherein said control elements are selected from the group consisting of a transcription promoter, a transcription enhancer element, a transcription termination signal, polyadenylation sequences, sequences for optimization of initiation of translation, and translation termination sequences.

4. The recombinant expression system of claim 2 , wherein said transcription promoter is selected from the group consisting of CMV, CMV+intron A, SV40, RSV, HJV-Ltr, MMLV-ltr, and metallothionein.

5. A cell comprising an expression cassette of claim 1 , and wherein said polynucleotide sequence is operably linked to control elements compatible with expression in the selected cell.

6. The cell of claim 5 , wherein the cell is a mammalian cell.

7. The cell of claim 6 , wherein the cell is selected from the group consisting of BHK, VERO, HT1080, 293, RD, COS-7, and CHO cells.

8. The cell of claim 7 , wherein said cell is a CHO cell.

9. The cell of claim 5 , wherein the cell is an insect cell.

10. The cell of claim 9 , wherein the cell is either Trichoplusia ni (Tn5) or Sf9 insect cells.

11. The cell of claim 5 , wherein the cell is a bacterial cell.

12. The cell of claim 5 , wherein the cell is a yeast cell.

13. The cell of claim 5 , wherein the cell is a plant cell.

14. The cell of claim 5 , wherein the cell is an antigen presenting cell.

15. The cell of claim 14 , wherein the antigen presenting cell is a lymphoid cell selected from the group consisting of macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, B-cells, T-cells, stem cells, and progenitor cells thereof.

16. The cell of claim 5 , wherein the cell is a primary cell.

17. The cell of claim 5 , Wherein the cell is an immortalized cell.

18. The cell of claim 5 , wherein the cell is a tumor-derived cell.

19. A method for producing a polypeptide including HIV Gag polypeptide sequences, said method comprising,

incubating the cells of claim 5 , under conditions for producing said polypeptide.

20. A vector for use in a mammalian subject, wherein the vector comprises an expression cassette of claim 1 , and wherein said polynucleotide sequence is operably linked to control elements compatible with expression in the subject.

21. A method of DNA immunization of a subject, comprising,

introducing a vector of claim 20 into said subject under conditions that are compatible with expression of said expression cassette in said subject.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said vector is a nonviral vector.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein said vector is delivered using a particulate carrier.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein said vector is coated on a gold or tungsten particle and said coated particle is delivered to said subject using a gene gun.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein said vector is encapsulated in a liposome preparation.

26. The method of claim 21 , wherein said vector is a viral vector.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein said viral vector is a retroviral vector.

28. The method of claim 26 , wherein said viral vector is an alphaviral vector.

29. The method of claim 26 , wherein said viral vector is a lentiviral vector.

30. The method of claim 21 , wherein said subject is a mammal.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein said mammal is a human.

32. A method of generating an immune response in a subject, comprising transfecting cells of said subject with a vector of claim 20 , under conditions that permit the expression of said polynucleotide and production of said polypeptide, thereby eliciting an immunological response to said polypeptide.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein said vector is a nonviral vector.

34. The method of claim 32 , wherein said vector is delivered using a particulate carrier.

35. The method of claim 32 , wherein said vector is coated on a gold or tungsten particle and said coated particle is delivered to said vertebrate cell using a gene gun.

36. The method of claim 32 , wherein said vector is encapsulated in a liposome preparation.

37. The method of claim 32 , wherein said vector is a viral vector.

38. The method of claim 37 , wherein said viral vector is a retroviral vector.

39. The method of claim 37 , wherein said viral vector is an alphaviral vector.

40. The method of claim 37 , wherein said viral vector is a lentiviral vector.

41. The method of claim 32 , wherein said subject is a mammal.

42. The method of claim 41 , wherein said mammal is a human.

43. The method of claim 32 , wherein said transfecting is done ex vivo and said transfected cells are reintroduced into said subject.

44. The method of claim 32 , wherein said transfecting is done in vivo in said subject.

45. The method of claim 32 , where said immune response is a humoral immune response.

46. The method of claim 32 , where said immune response is a cellular immune response.

47. The method of claim 32 , wherein the vector is administered intramuscularly, intramucosally, intranasally, subcutaneously, intradermally, transdermally, intravaginally, intrarectally, orally or intravenously.