Patent ID: 8568734

Claim:
A method of generating an immune response, the method comprising administering, to cells of a subject, a composition comprising a polynucleotide encoding a fusion protein and a human immunodeficiency virus envelope (HIV Env) polypeptide, under conditions that permit the expression of the polynucleotide and production of the fusion protein and the HIV Env polypeptide, wherein the fusion protein comprises a CD4 minimal module comprising residues 15 to 85 of CD4 (SEQ ID NO:4) and one or more heterologous Y. pseudotuberculosis invasin polypeptide sequences, wherein the tertiary structure of the fusion protein exhibits structural similarity to native CD4, wherein the CD4 minimal module maintains the structural conformation of a CDR2-like loop, wherein binding of the CD4 minimal module to the HIV Env polypeptide induces exposure of a cryptic HIV Env epitope in or near the CD4-binding site or in or near the chemokine receptor-binding site, and wherein the immune response is a neutralizing antibody response against the HIV Env polypeptide.