Prime-boost immunization of codon optimized HIV-1 CRF01_AE Gag in BCG with recombinant vaccinia virus elicits MHC class I and II immune responses in mice.

The HIV-1 CRF01_AE gag gene was modified by codon restriction for Mycobacterium spp. and transformed into BCG; and it was designated as rBCG/codon optimized gagE. This produced 11 fold higher HIV-1 gag protein expression than the recombinant native gene rBCG/HIV-1gagE.