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Weinfurter JT, Bennett SN, Reynolds MR. A SMART method for isolating monoclonal antibodies from individual rhesus macaque memory B cells. J Immunol Methods 2024; 525:113602. [PMID: 38103783 PMCID: PMC10842827 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2023.113602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing antigen-specific B cells is a critical component of vaccine and infectious disease studies in rhesus macaques (RMs). However, it is challenging to capture immunoglobulin variable (IgV) genes from individual RM B cells using 5' multiplex (MTPX) primers in nested PCR reactions. In particular, the diversity within RM IgV gene leader sequences necessitates large 5' MTPX primer sets to amplify IgV genes, decreasing PCR efficiency. To address this problem, we developed a switching mechanism at the 5' ends of the RNA transcript (SMART)-based method for amplifying IgV genes from single RM B cells to capture Ig heavy and light chain pairs. We demonstrate this technique by isolating simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) envelope-specific antibodies from single-sorted RM memory B cells. This approach has several advantages over existing methods for cloning antibodies from RMs. First, optimized PCR conditions and SMART 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) reactions generate full-length cDNAs from individual B cells. Second, it appends synthetic primer binding sites to the 5' and 3' ends of cDNA during synthesis, allowing for PCR amplification of low-abundance antibody templates. Third, the nested PCR primer mixes are simplified by employing universal 5' primers, eliminating the need for complex 5' MTPX primer sets. We anticipate this method will enhance the isolation of antibodies from individual RM B cells, supporting the genetic and functional characterization of antigen-specific B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason T Weinfurter
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Sarah N Bennett
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Matthew R Reynolds
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States of America; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States of America.
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Weinfurter JT, Bennett SN, Reynolds M. A SMART method for efficiently isolating monoclonal antibodies from individual rhesus macaque memory B cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.02.543510. [PMID: 37333083 PMCID: PMC10274751 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.02.543510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing antigen-specific B cells is a critical component of vaccine and infectious disease studies in rhesus macaques (RMs). However, it is challenging to capture immunoglobulin variable (IgV) genes from individual RM B cells using 5' multiplex (MTPX) primers in nested PCR reactions. In particular, the diversity within RM IgV gene leader sequences necessitates the use of large 5' MTPX primer sets to amplify IgV genes, decreasing PCR efficiency. To address this problem, we developed a switching mechanism at the 5' ends of the RNA transcript (SMART)-based method for amplifying IgV genes from single RM B cells, providing unbiased capture of Ig heavy and light chain pairs for cloning antibodies. We demonstrate this technique by isolating simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) envelope-specific antibodies from single-sorted RM memory B cells. This approach has several advantages over existing methods for PCR cloning antibodies from RMs. First, optimized PCR conditions and SMART 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) reactions generate full-length cDNAs from individual B cells. Second, it appends synthetic primer binding sites to the 5' and 3' ends of cDNA during synthesis, allowing for PCR amplification of low-abundance antibody templates. Third, universal 5' primers are employed to amplify the IgV genes from cDNA, simplifying the primer mixes in the nested PCR reactions and improving the recovery of matched heavy and light chain pairs. We anticipate this method will enhance the isolation of antibodies from individual RM B cells, supporting the genetic and functional characterization of antigen-specific B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason T. Weinfurter
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI
| | - Sarah N. Bennett
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI
| | - Matthew Reynolds
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI
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Hu X, Felber BK, Valentin A. Assessing Antigen-Specific Cellular Immune Responses upon HIV /SIV Plasmid DNA Vaccination in the Nonhuman Primate Model. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2197:113-131. [PMID: 32827134 PMCID: PMC10802792 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0872-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Reliable detection and quantification of antigen-specific T cells are critical for assessing the immunogenicity of vaccine candidates. In this chapter, we describe the use of ELISpot and flow cytometry-based assays for efficient detection, mapping, and functional characterization of memory T lymphocytes in different tissues of rhesus macaques immunized with plasmid DNA. Flow cytometric assays provide a large amount of information, both phenotypic and functional, about individual cells, while the ELISpot is well suited for high throughput sample screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintao Hu
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, USA.
| | - Barbara K Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Antonio Valentin
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, USA
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A Prime/Boost Vaccine Regimen Alters the Rectal Microbiome and Impacts Immune Responses and Viremia Control Post-Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Male and Female Rhesus Macaques. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01225-20. [PMID: 32967951 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01225-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
An efficacious human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine will likely require induction of both mucosal and systemic immune responses. We compared the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of two mucosal/systemic vaccine regimens and investigated their effects on the rectal microbiome. Rhesus macaques were primed twice mucosally with replication-competent adenovirus type 5 host range mutant (Ad5hr)-simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) recombinants and boosted twice intramuscularly with ALVAC-SIV recombinant plus SIV gp120 protein or with DNA for SIV genes and rhesus interleukin-12 plus SIV gp120 protein. Controls received empty Ad5hr vector and alum adjuvant only. Both regimens elicited strong, comparable mucosal and systemic cellular and humoral immunity. Prevaccination rectal microbiomes of males and females differed and significantly changed over the course of immunization, most strongly in females after Ad5hr immunizations. Following repeated low-dose intrarectal SIV challenges, both vaccine groups exhibited modestly but significantly reduced acute viremia. Male and female controls exhibited similar acute viral loads; however, vaccinated females, but not males, exhibited lower levels of acute viremia, compared to same-sex controls. Few differences in adaptive immune responses were observed between the sexes. Striking differences in correlations of the rectal microbiome of males and females with acute viremia and immune responses associated with protection were seen and point to effects of the microbiome on vaccine-induced immunity and viremia control. Our study clearly demonstrates direct effects of a mucosal SIV vaccine regimen on the rectal microbiome and validates our previously reported SIV vaccine-induced sex bias. Sex and the microbiome are critical factors that should not be overlooked in vaccine design and evaluation.IMPORTANCE Differences in HIV pathogenesis between males and females, including immunity postinfection, have been well documented, as have steroid hormone effects on the microbiome, which is known to influence mucosal immune responses. Few studies have applied this knowledge to vaccine trials. We investigated two SIV vaccine regimens combining mucosal priming immunizations and systemic protein boosting. We again report a vaccine-induced sex bias, with female rhesus macaques but not males displaying significantly reduced acute viremia. The vaccine regimens, especially the mucosal primes, significantly altered the rectal microbiome. The greatest effects were in females. Striking differences between female and male macaques in correlations of prevalent rectal bacteria with viral loads and potentially protective immune responses were observed. Effects of the microbiome on vaccine-induced immunity and viremia control require further study by microbiome transfer. However, the findings presented highlight the critical importance of considering effects of sex and the microbiome in vaccine design and evaluation.
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Sui Y, Lewis GK, Wang Y, Berckmueller K, Frey B, Dzutsev A, Vargas-Inchaustegui D, Mohanram V, Musich T, Shen X, DeVico A, Fouts T, Venzon D, Kirk J, Waters RC, Talton J, Klinman D, Clements J, Tomaras GD, Franchini G, Robert-Guroff M, Trinchieri G, Gallo RC, Berzofsky JA. Mucosal vaccine efficacy against intrarectal SHIV is independent of anti-Env antibody response. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:1314-1328. [PMID: 30776026 DOI: 10.1172/jci122110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely believed that protection against acquisition of HIV or SIV infection requires anti-envelope (anti-Env) antibodies, and that cellular immunity may affect viral loads but not acquisition, except in special cases. Here we provide evidence to the contrary. Mucosal immunization may enhance HIV vaccine efficacy by eliciting protective responses at portals of exposure. Accordingly, we vaccinated macaques mucosally with HIV/SIV peptides, modified vaccinia Ankara-SIV (MVA-SIV), and HIV-gp120-CD4 fusion protein plus adjuvants, which consistently reduced infection risk against heterologous intrarectal SHIVSF162P4 challenge, both high dose and repeated low dose. Surprisingly, vaccinated animals exhibited no anti-gp120 humoral responses above background and Gag- and Env-specific T cells were induced but failed to correlate with viral acquisition. Instead, vaccine-induced gut microbiome alteration and myeloid cell accumulation in colorectal mucosa correlated with protection. Ex vivo stimulation of the myeloid cell-enriched population with SHIV led to enhanced production of trained immunity markers TNF-α and IL-6, as well as viral coreceptor agonist MIP1α, which correlated with reduced viral Gag expression and in vivo viral acquisition. Overall, our results suggest mechanisms involving trained innate mucosal immunity together with antigen-specific T cells, and also indicate that vaccines can have critical effects on the gut microbiome, which in turn can affect resistance to infection. Strategies to elicit similar responses may be considered for vaccine designs to achieve optimal protective efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Sui
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - George K Lewis
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yichuan Wang
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kurt Berckmueller
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Blake Frey
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Amiran Dzutsev
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Diego Vargas-Inchaustegui
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Venkatramanan Mohanram
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas Musich
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Xiaoying Shen
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anthony DeVico
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - David Venzon
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, NCI, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - James Kirk
- Nanotherapeutics, Inc., Alachua, Florida, USA
| | | | | | - Dennis Klinman
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Georgia D Tomaras
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Genoveffa Franchini
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Marjorie Robert-Guroff
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Giorgio Trinchieri
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert C Gallo
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jay A Berzofsky
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Early T Follicular Helper Cell Responses and Germinal Center Reactions Are Associated with Viremia Control in Immunized Rhesus Macaques. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.01687-18. [PMID: 30463978 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01687-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
T follicular helper (TFH) cells are fundamental in germinal center (GC) maturation and selection of antigen-specific B cells within secondary lymphoid organs. GC-resident TFH cells have been fully characterized in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, the role of GC TFH cells in GC B cell responses following various simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) vaccine regimens in rhesus macaques (RMs) has not been fully investigated. We characterized GC TFH cells of RMs over the course of a mucosal/systemic vaccination regimen to elucidate GC formation and SIV humoral response generation. Animals were mucosally primed twice with replicating adenovirus type 5 host range mutant (Ad5hr)-SIV recombinants and systemically boosted with ALVAC-SIVM766Gag/Pro/gp120-TM and SIVM766&CG7V gD-gp120 proteins formulated in alum hydroxide (ALVAC/Env) or DNA encoding SIVenv/SIVGag/rhesus interleukin 12 (IL-12) plus SIVM766&CG7V gD-gp120 proteins formulated in alum phosphate (DNA&Env). Lymph nodes were biopsied in macaque subgroups prevaccination and at day 3, 7, or 14 after the 2nd Ad5hr-SIV prime and the 2nd vector/Env boost. Evaluations of GC TFH and GC B cell dynamics including correlation analyses supported a significant role for early GC TFH cells in providing B cell help during initial phases of GC formation. GC TFH responses at day 3 post-mucosal priming were consistent with generation of Env-specific memory B cells in GCs and elicitation of prolonged Env-specific humoral immunity in the rectal mucosa. GC Env-specific memory B cell responses elicited early post-systemic boosting correlated significantly with decreased viremia postinfection. Our results highlight the importance of early GC TFH cell responses for robust GC maturation and generation of long-lasting SIV-specific humoral responses at mucosal and systemic sites. Further investigation of GC TFH cell dynamics should facilitate development of an efficacious HIV vaccine.IMPORTANCE The modest HIV protection observed in the human RV144 vaccine trial associated antibody responses with vaccine efficacy. T follicular helper (TFH) cells are CD4+ T cells that select antibody secreting cells with high antigenic affinity in germinal centers (GCs) within secondary lymphoid organs. To evaluate the role of TFH cells in eliciting prolonged virus-specific humoral responses, we vaccinated rhesus macaques with a combined mucosal prime/systemic boost regimen followed by repeated low-dose intrarectal challenges with SIV, mimicking human exposure to HIV-1. Although the vaccine regimen did not prevent SIV infection, decreased viremia was observed in the immunized macaques. Importantly, vaccine-induced TFH responses elicited at day 3 postimmunization and robust GC maturation were strongly associated. Further, early TFH-dependent SIV-specific B cell responses were also correlated with decreased viremia. Our findings highlight the contribution of early vaccine-induced GC TFH responses to elicitation of SIV-specific humoral immunity and implicate their participation in SIV control.
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Mohanram V, Demberg T, Musich T, Tuero I, Vargas-Inchaustegui DA, Miller-Novak L, Venzon D, Robert-Guroff M. B Cell Responses Associated with Vaccine-Induced Delayed SIVmac251 Acquisition in Female Rhesus Macaques. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 197:2316-24. [PMID: 27534560 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
An established sex bias in HIV pathogenesis is linked to immune responses. Recently we reported a vaccine-induced sex bias: vaccinated female but not male rhesus macaques exhibited delayed SIV acquisition. This outcome was correlated with SIV Env-specific rectal IgA, rectal memory B cells, and total rectal plasma cells. To uncover additional contributing factors, using samples from the same study, we investigated memory B cell population dynamics in blood, bone marrow, and rectal tissue during immunization and postchallenge; IgG subtypes and Ab avidity; and regulatory B (Breg) cell frequency and function. Few sex differences were seen in Env-specific memory B cell, plasmablast, or plasma cell frequencies in the three compartments. Males had higher IgG Ab titers and avidity indices than females. However, females had elevated levels of Env-specific IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 Abs compared with males. gp140-specific IgG3 Abs of females but not males were correlated with Ab-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity activity against gp120 targets (p = 0.026) and with Ab-dependent phagocytic activity (p = 0.010). IgG3 Ab of females but not males also correlated with decreased peak viremia (p = 0.028). Peripheral blood CD19(+)CD25(+) Breg cells suppressed T cell proliferation compared with CD19(+)CD25(-) cells (p = 0.031) and exhibited increased IL-10 mRNA expression (p = 0.031). Male macaques postvaccination (p = 0.018) and postinfection (p = 0.0048) exhibited higher Breg frequencies than females. Moreover, male Breg frequencies correlated with peak viremia (p = 0.0071). Our data suggest that vaccinated females developed better Ab quality, contributing to better functionality. The elevated Breg frequencies in males may have facilitated SIV acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatramanan Mohanram
- Section on Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Thorsten Demberg
- Section on Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Thomas Musich
- Section on Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Iskra Tuero
- Section on Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Diego A Vargas-Inchaustegui
- Section on Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - Leia Miller-Novak
- Section on Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
| | - David Venzon
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Marjorie Robert-Guroff
- Section on Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and
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Tuero I, Mohanram V, Musich T, Miller L, Vargas-Inchaustegui DA, Demberg T, Venzon D, Kalisz I, Kalyanaraman VS, Pal R, Ferrari MG, LaBranche C, Montefiori DC, Rao M, Vaccari M, Franchini G, Barnett SW, Robert-Guroff M. Mucosal B Cells Are Associated with Delayed SIV Acquisition in Vaccinated Female but Not Male Rhesus Macaques Following SIVmac251 Rectal Challenge. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005101. [PMID: 26267144 PMCID: PMC4534401 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Many viral infections, including HIV, exhibit sex-based pathogenic differences. However, few studies have examined vaccine-related sex differences. We compared immunogenicity and protective efficacy of monomeric SIV gp120 with oligomeric SIV gp140 in a pre-clinical rhesus macaque study and explored a subsequent sex bias in vaccine outcome. Each immunization group (16 females, 8 males) was primed twice mucosally with replication-competent Ad-recombinants encoding SIVsmH4env/rev, SIV239gag and SIV239nefΔ1–13 and boosted twice intramuscularly with SIVmac239 monomeric gp120 or oligomeric gp140 in MF59 adjuvant. Controls (7 females, 5 males) received empty Ad and MF59. Up to 9 weekly intrarectal challenges with low-dose SIVmac251 were administered until macaques became infected. We assessed vaccine-induced binding, neutralizing, and non-neutralizing antibodies, Env-specific memory B cells and plasmablasts/plasma cells (PB/PC) in bone marrow and rectal tissue, mucosal Env-specific antibodies, and Env-specific T-cells. Post-challenge, only one macaque (gp140-immunized) remained uninfected. However, SIV acquisition was significantly delayed in vaccinated females but not males, correlated with Env-specific IgA in rectal secretions, rectal Env-specific memory B cells, and PC in rectal tissue. These results extend previous correlations of mucosal antibodies and memory B cells with protective efficacy. The gp140 regimen was more immunogenic, stimulating elevated gp140 and cyclic V2 binding antibodies, ADCC and ADCP activities, bone marrow Env-specific PB/PC, and rectal gp140-specific IgG. However, immunization with gp120, the form of envelope immunogen used in RV144, the only vaccine trial to show some efficacy, provided more significant acquisition delay. Further over 40 weeks of follow-up, no gp120 immunized macaques met euthanasia criteria in contrast to 7 gp140-immunized and 2 control animals. Although males had higher binding antibodies than females, ADCC and ADCP activities were similar. The complex challenge outcomes may reflect differences in IgG subtypes, Fc glycosylation, Fc-R polymorphisms, and/or the microbiome, key areas for future studies. This first demonstration of a sex-difference in SIV vaccine-induced protection emphasizes the need for sex-balancing in vaccine trials. Our results highlight the importance of mucosal immunity and memory B cells at the SIV exposure site for protection. Viral infections can have different disease courses in men and women. Following HIV infection, women generally exhibit lower viral loads and higher CD4 counts than men, but paradoxically progress faster to AIDS. Sex differences result from effects of X-linked genes and hormonal influences, and are believed to be largely based on immune response differences. Nevertheless, little is known about potential sex differences following vaccination. Here we report for the first time a sex bias in response to a SIV vaccine in rhesus macaques, showing that female animals were better protected against acquisition of SIV compared to males. The vaccine-induced immune responses that contributed to this better protection were viral-specific antibodies and immune antibody-secreting B cells, both at the local rectal site of SIV exposure. These results suggest that HIV/SIV vaccines should be better designed to target mucosal exposure sites. Additionally, they indicate that more vaccine studies should include animals of both sexes to address potential differences. Our study also illustrates that inclusion of both sexes can lead to greater complexity in vaccine trial outcomes, necessitating more in depth analyses. However, we believe sex balancing to be particularly important, as approximately 50% of HIV infections worldwide occur in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iskra Tuero
- Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Venkatramanan Mohanram
- Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas Musich
- Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Leia Miller
- Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Diego A. Vargas-Inchaustegui
- Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thorsten Demberg
- Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David Venzon
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Irene Kalisz
- Advanced Bioscience Laboratories, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - V. S. Kalyanaraman
- Advanced Bioscience Laboratories, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ranajit Pal
- Advanced Bioscience Laboratories, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Maria Grazia Ferrari
- Advanced Bioscience Laboratories, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Celia LaBranche
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - David C. Montefiori
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mangala Rao
- USMHRP, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Monica Vaccari
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccines Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Genoveffa Franchini
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccines Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Susan W. Barnett
- Novartis Vaccines, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marjorie Robert-Guroff
- Immune Biology of Retroviral Infection Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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9
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Tuero I, Robert-Guroff M. Challenges in mucosal HIV vaccine development: lessons from non-human primate models. Viruses 2014; 6:3129-58. [PMID: 25196380 PMCID: PMC4147690 DOI: 10.3390/v6083129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Revised: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
An efficacious HIV vaccine is urgently needed to curb the AIDS pandemic. The modest protection elicited in the phase III clinical vaccine trial in Thailand provided hope that this goal might be achieved. However, new approaches are necessary for further advances. As HIV is transmitted primarily across mucosal surfaces, development of immunity at these sites is critical, but few clinical vaccine trials have targeted these sites or assessed vaccine-elicited mucosal immune responses. Pre-clinical studies in non-human primate models have facilitated progress in mucosal vaccine development by evaluating candidate vaccine approaches, developing methodologies for collecting and assessing mucosal samples, and providing clues to immune correlates of protective immunity for further investigation. In this review we have focused on non-human primate studies which have provided important information for future design of vaccine strategies, targeting of mucosal inductive sites, and assessment of mucosal immunity. Knowledge gained in these studies will inform mucosal vaccine design and evaluation in human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iskra Tuero
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Marjorie Robert-Guroff
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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