Researchers

Medicine / WEINER, DAVID B.

dbweiner

Position

Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
and a member of the Center for AIDS Research at the University of Pennsylvania.

Research interests

DNA immunization

Genetic immunization, also known as DNA or polynucleotide immunization, represents a novel approach for achieving specific immune induction. Immunization with DNA mimics aspects of live infection, as pathogen protein(s) are synthesized endogenously and modified or customized by host cells. This synthesis leads to the induction of a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response via the MHC class I-restricted pathway. Concurrently, protein(s) are released extra cellularly and the released antigen primes the induction of a humoral response, as well as a helper T lymphocyte (Th) response via MHC Class II-restricted antigen presentation by antigen presenting cells (APC's).

Wiener with his colleagues have focused on developing this technology for use in the control of infectious diseases and as an immune therpy approach for cancer. Studies of basic mechanisms of immune potency of plasmid vaccines for HIV-1 in both clinical therapeutic as well as vaccine na•ve populations are a focus of the laboratory. They have evaluated DNA vaccines in humans and demonstrated that this approach is well tolerated and immunogenic.

However, additional engineering of this approach they consider important to further amplify the observed initial immune responses. Importantly, greater insight into the fundamental biology of this approach will give vaccine developers added tools for vaccine improvement.

Prizes and awards

Publications

Boyer, J. D., and D. B. Weiner. 1994. Gene Therapy, Biological Approaches in Rational Drug Design. CRC Press, Boca Raton , FL.

Williams, W. V., B. Wang, and D. B. Weiner. 1994. Genetic Vaccination and Older Adults, p. 5-6, University of Pennsylvania Institute on Aging Newsletter, vol.

Ugen, K. E., L. Fernandes, B. Wang, D. B. Weiner, and W. V. Williams. 1996. Retroviruses and Autoimmunity, p. 219-231. In N. Rose and H. Friedman and M. Bendinelli (ed.), Microorganisms and Autoimmune Diseases. Plenum Press, New York, NY.

Newman, M., L. Coney, B. Wang, J. D. Boyer, and D. B. Weiner. 1997. DNA Vaccination : Review of the Technology, Proceedings of the World Health Conference on Vaccines.

Kim, J. J., and D. B. Weiner. 1997. DNA gene vaccination for HIV, Springer Seminars in Immunopathology.

Ayyavoo, V., S. Kudchodkar, and D. B. Weiner. 1998. HIV-1 Accessory Genes : Roles in Viral Pathogenesis. In J. J. Oppenheim and E. M. Shevach (ed.), HIV : Progress and Future Challenges.

Boyer, J. D., V. Ayyavoo, J. Kim, and D. Weiner. 1998. DNA Vaccination as a Vaccine / Immune Therapeutic Approach for HIV-1, IBC Vaccines : New Advances in Technologies and Applications.

Chattergoon, M., J. Boyer, V. Ayyavoo, R. Ginsbery, R. R. MacGregor, and D. B. Weiner. 1998. The Challenge of Vaccine Development for HIV-1 : Evaluation of DNA Immunization as an Immunotherapeutic and Vaccine Strategy for HIV, IBC Vaccines : New Advances in Technologies and Applications, vol. 4.

Kim, J. J., and D. B. Weiner. 1998. Optimization of DNA Vaccines Through the Use of Molecular Adjuvants, p. 19. In D. B. Lowrie and R. G. Whalen (ed.), DNA Vaccines : Methods and Protocols, vol. 1. Humana Press.

Kudchodkar, S., T. Nagashunmugam, D. B. Weiner, and V. Ayyavoo. 2000. Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Accessory Genes : Targets for Therapy, p. 239-257. In K. E. Ugen and M. Bendinelli and H. Friedman (ed.), Human Retroviral Infections : Immunotherapeutic and Therapeutic Control. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, NY.

Shah, A. R., D. B. Weiner, and J. D. Boyer. 2000. Nucleic Acid Vaccination Against HIV 1, p. 191-210. In K. E. Ugen and M. Bendinelli and H. Friedman (ed.), Human Retroviral Infections : Immunotherapeutic and Therapeutic Control. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, NY.

Books :

1.Williams, W.V. and Weiner, D.B. Editors. Biomedical Applications of Biotechnology, Volume 1, Development and Utilization of Biologically Active
Peptides. Technomics Publishers, Lancaster, PA. 1994

2. Weiner, D.B. and Williams, W.V. Editors. Chemical and Structural Approaches to Rational Drug Design, CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton Florida. 1995.

3. Weiner, D.B. and Williams, W.V., Editors. Biological Approaches to Rational Drug Design. CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton Florida. 1995.