Vaccination of cats against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV): a matter of challenge

Use of feline herpesvirus as a vaccine vector offers alternative applications for feline health

Herpesviruses are attractive vaccine vector candidates due to their large double stranded DNA genome and latency characteristics. Within the scope of veterinary vaccines, herpesvirus-vectored vaccines have been well studied and commercially available vectored vaccines are used to help prevent diseases in different animal species. Felid alphaherpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) has been characterised as a vector candidate to protect against a range of feline pathogens. In this review we highlight the methods used to construct FHV-1 based vaccines and their outcomes, while also proposing alternative uses for FHV-1 as a viral vector.

The Comparative Value of Feline Virology Research: Can Findings from the Feline Lentiviral Vaccine Be Translated to Humans?

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus of domestic cats that shares several similarities with its human counterpart, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Their analogies include genomic organization, lymphocyte tropism, viral persistence and induction of immunodeficiency. FIV is the only lentivirus for which a commercial vaccine is registered for prevention in either human or veterinary medicine. This provides a unique opportunity to investigate the mechanisms of protection induced by lentivirus vaccines at the population level and might contribute to the development of efficacious HIV vaccines. As well as having comparative value for vaccine studies, FIV research has shed some light on the relationship between lentiviral tropism and pathogenesis. Recent studies in our laboratory demonstrated that the interaction between FIV and its primary receptor changes as disease progresses, reminiscent of the receptor switch observed as disease progresses in HIV infected individuals. Here we summarise findings illustrating that, in addition to its veterinary significance, FIV has comparative value, providing a useful model to explore lentivirus–host interactions and to examine potential immune correlates of protection against HIV infection.

Dual-subtype FIV vaccine (Fel-O-Vax® FIV) protection against a heterologous subtype B FIV isolate

Vaccine trials were undertaken to determine whether the Fel-O-Vax® FIV, a commercial dual-subtype (subtypes A and D) feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccine, is effective against a subtype B FIV isolate. Current results demonstrate the Fel-O-Vax FIV to be effective against a subtype B virus, a subtype reported to be the most common in the USA.

Neutralising antibody response in domestic cats immunised with a commercial feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccine

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FIV vaccinated cats screened for neutralising antibodies

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Homologous neutralisation in 50% of cats tested

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No heterologous neutralisation

Across human and veterinary medicine, vaccines against only two retroviral infections have been brought to market successfully, the vaccines against feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). FeLV vaccines have been a global success story, reducing virus prevalence in countries where uptake is high. In contrast, the more recent FIV vaccine was introduced in 2002 and the degree of protection afforded in the field remains to be established. However, given the similarities between FIV and HIV, field studies of FIV vaccine efficacy are likely to advise and inform the development of future approaches to HIV vaccination.

Here we assessed the neutralising antibody response induced by FIV vaccination against a panel of FIV isolates, by testing blood samples collected from client-owned vaccinated Australian cats. We examined the molecular and phenotypic properties of 24 envs isolated from one vaccinated cat that we speculated might have become infected following natural exposure to FIV. Cats vaccinated against FIV did not display broadly neutralising antibodies, suggesting that protection may not extend to some virulent recombinant strains of FIV circulating in Australia.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccine efficacy and FIV neutralizing antibodies

A HIV-1 tier system has been developed to categorize the various subtype viruses based on their sensitivity to vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies (NAbs): tier 1 with greatest sensitivity, tier 2 being moderately sensitive, and tier 3 being the least sensitive to NAbs (Mascola et al., J Virol 2005; 79:10103-7). Here, we define an FIV tier system using two related FIV dual-subtype (A+D) vaccines: the commercially available inactivated infected-cell vaccine (Fel-O-Vax(®) FIV) and its prototype vaccine solely composed of inactivated whole viruses. Both vaccines afforded combined protection rates of 100% against subtype-A tier-1 FIVPet, 89% against subtype-B tier-3 FIVFC1, 61% against recombinant subtype-A/B tier-2 FIVBang, 62% against recombinant subtype-F'/C tier-3 FIVNZ1, and 40% against subtype-A tier-2 FIVUK8 in short-duration (37-41 weeks) studies. In long-duration (76-80 weeks) studies, the commercial vaccine afforded a combined protection rate of at least 46% against the tier-2 and tier-3 viruses. Notably, protection rates observed here are far better than recently reported HIV-1 vaccine trials (Sanou et al., The Open AIDS J 2012; 6:246-60). Prototype vaccine protection against two tier-3 and one tier-2 viruses was more effective than commercial vaccine. Such protection did not correlate with the presence of vaccine-induced NAbs to challenge viruses. This is the first large-scale (228 laboratory cats) study characterizing short- and long-duration efficacies of dual-subtype FIV vaccines against heterologous subtype and recombinant viruses, as well as FIV tiers based on in vitro NAb analysis and in vivo passive-transfer studies. These studies demonstrate that not all vaccine protection is mediated by vaccine-induced NAbs.

Vaccination against the feline immunodeficiency virus: the road not taken

Natural infection of domestic cats by the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). FIV is genetically related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the clinical and biological features of infections caused by feline and human viruses in their respective hosts are highly analogous. Although the obstacles to vaccinating against FIV and HIV would seem to be of comparable difficulty, a licensed vaccine against feline AIDS is already in widespread use in several countries. While this seemingly major advance in prevention of AIDS would appear to be highly instructive for HIV vaccine development, its message has not been heeded by investigators in the HIV field. This review endeavours to relate what has been learned about vaccination against feline AIDS, and to suggest what this may mean for HIV vaccine development.

FIV as a Model for HIV: An Overview

Animal models for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection play a key role in understanding the pathogenesis of AIDS and the development of therapeutic agents and vaccines. As the only lentivirus that causes an immunodeficiency resembling that of HIV infection, in its natural host, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) has been a unique and powerful model for AIDS research. FIV was first described in 1987 by Niels Pedersen and co-workers as the causative agent for a fatal immunodeficiency syndrome observed in cats housed in a cattery in Petaluma, California. Since this landmark observation, multiple studies have shown that natural and experimental infection of cats with biological isolates of FIV produces an AIDS syndrome very similar in pathogenesis to that observed for human AIDS. FIV infection induces an acute viremia associated with Tcell alterations including depressed CD4 :CD8 T-cell ratios and CD4 T-cell depletion, peripheral lymphadenopathy, and neutropenia. In later stages of FIV infection, the host suffers from chronic persistent infections that are typically self-limiting in an immunocompetent host, as well as opportunistic infections, chronic diarrhea and wasting, blood dyscracias, significant CD4 T-cell depletion, neurologic disorders, and B-cell lymphomas. Importantly, chronic FIV infection induces a progressive lymphoid and CD4 T-cell depletion in the infected cat. The primary mode of natural FIV transmission appears to be blood-borne facilitated by fighting and biting. However, experimental infection through transmucosal routes (rectal and vaginal mucosa and perinatal) have been well documented for specific FIV isolates. Accordingly, FIV disease pathogenesis exhibits striking similarities to that described for HIV-1 infection.

Vaccination with an inactivated virulent feline immunodeficiency virus engineered to express high levels of Env

An inactivated virus vaccine was prepared from a pathogenic isolate of feline immunodeficiency virus containing a mutation that eliminated an endocytic sorting signal in the envelope glycoprotein, increasing its expression on virions. Cats immunized with inactivated preparations of this modified virus exhibited strong titers of antibody to Env by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Evidence of protection following challenge demonstrated the potential of this approach to lentiviral vaccination.

FIV vaccine development and its importance to veterinary and human medicine: a review FIV vaccine 2002 update and review

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a natural infection of domestic cats that results in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome resembling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in humans. The worldwide prevalence of FIV infection in domestic cats has been reported to range from 1 to 28%. Hence, an effective FIV vaccine will have an important impact on veterinary medicine in addition to being used as a small animal AIDS model for humans. Since the discovery of FIV reported in 1987, FIV vaccine research has pursued both molecular and conventional vaccine approaches toward the development of a commercial product. Published FIV vaccine trial results from 1998 to the present have been compiled to update the veterinary clinical and research communities on the immunologic and experimental efficacy status of these vaccines. A brief report is included on the outcome of the 10 years of collaborative work between industry and academia which led to recent USDA approval of the first animal lentivirus vaccine, the dual-subtype FIV vaccine. The immunogenicity and efficacy of the experimental prototype, dual-subtype FIV vaccine and the efficacy of the currently approved commercial, dual-subtype FIV vaccine (Fel-O-Vax FIV) are discussed. Potential cross-reactivity complications between commercial FIV diagnostic tests, Idexx Snap Combo Test and Western blot assays, and sera from previously vaccinated cats are also discussed. Finally, recommendations are made for unbiased critical testing of new FIV vaccines, the currently USDA approved vaccine, and future vaccines in development.

Lymphoid activation: a confounding factor in AIDS vaccine development?

In a previous vaccination trial, inoculation of env gene DNA failed to elicit a detectable antibody response, yet accelerated virus dissemination in most immunized cats following challenge with feline immunodeficiency virus. This result raised the possibility that cell-mediated immune responses had given rise to immune-mediated enhancement of infection. Since high-level replication of immunodeficiency viruses in lymphocytes requires cellular activation, antigen-specific responses or non-specific polyclonal activation may have increased the frequency of optimal target cells. In the present DNA vaccination trial, although designed so as to minimize non-specific polyclonal activation, immune-mediated enhancement was nonetheless observed in certain immunized cats. Moreover, rapid virus dissemination in vivo was associated with the presence of T-helper responses prior to challenge, and was linked to increased susceptibility of lymphocytes to ex vivo infection. Immune activation may thus be a confounding factor in vaccination against lentivirus infection, diminishing vaccine efficacy and giving rise to immune-mediated enhancement.

Dual-subtype FIV vaccine protects cats against in vivo swarms of both homologous and heterologous subtype FIV isolates

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the immunogenicity and efficacy of an inactivated dual-subtype feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccine.

DESIGN

Specific-pathogen-free cats were immunized with dual-subtype (subtype A FIV(Pet) and subtype D FIV(Shi)) vaccine and challenged with either in vivo- or in vitro-derived FIV inocula.

METHODS

Dual-subtype vaccinated, single-subtype vaccinated, and placebo-immunized cats were challenged within vivo-derived heterologous subtype B FIV(Bang) [10--100 50% cat infectious doses (CID(50))], in vivo-derived homologous FIV(Shi)(50 CID(50)), and in vitro- and in vivo-derived homologous FIV(Pet)(20--50 CID(50)). Dual-subtype vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy were evaluated and compared to single-subtype strain vaccines. FIV infection was determined using virus isolation and proviral PCR of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and lymphoid tissues.

RESULTS

Four out of five dual-subtype vaccinated cats were protected against low-dose FIV(Bang) (10 CID(50)) and subsequently against in vivo-derived FIV(Pet) (50 CID(50)) challenge, whereas all placebo-immunized cats became infected. Furthermore, dual-subtype vaccine protected two out of five cats against high-dose FIV(Bang) challenge (100 CID(50)) which infected seven out of eight single-subtype vaccinated cats. All dual-subtype vaccinated cats were protected against in vivo-derived FIV(Pet), but only one out of five single-subtype vaccinated cats were protected against in vivo-derived FIV(Pet). Dual-subtype vaccination induced broad-spectrum virus-neutralizing antibodies and FIV-specific interferon-gamma responses along with elevated FIV-specific perforin mRNA levels, suggesting an increase in cytotoxic cell activities.

CONCLUSION

Dual-subtype vaccinated cats developed broad-spectrum humoral and cellular immunity which protected cats against in vivo-derived inocula of homologous and heterologous FIV subtypes. Thus, multi-subtype antigen vaccines may be an effective strategy against AIDS viruses.

Phenotypic and functional characteristics of FIV infection in the bone marrow stroma

Human (HIV) and feline (FIV) immunodeficiency virus has been reported to infect bone marrow (BM) and stroma, followed by a loss in normal hematopoiesis. However, the magnitude and nature of HIV and FIV pathogenesis of the BM/stromal network are still unclear. In the current studies, pathogenesis of stromal cells was evaluated using the FIV model. Fourteen specific-pathogen-free cats inoculated with the four different strains (FIV(UK8), FIV(Bang), FIV(Shi), or FIV(Pet)) were monitored for FIV infection in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), BM cells, and stromal cells. All inoculated cats became positive for FIV in the PBMC by 7 weeks p.i. and 13 of 14 cats had FIV in the BM cells by 7-13 weeks p.i. FIV was detected in macrophages and stromal fibroblasts from FIV(UK8)-, FIV(Bang)-, and FIV(Shi)-infected cats but not from FIV(Pet)-infected cats and only transiently in cells from FIV(Shi)-infected cats. The ability of the supernatants from FIV-infected stromal cells to sustain the growth of uninfected BM cells was decreased 35-46% when compared to the supernatants from uninfected stromal cells. These results suggest that the FIV infection of the stroma alters normal hematopoietic function(s) and that the infected stromal cells can also serve as a reservoir for FIV infection.