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Reciprocal Inhibition of Immunogenic Performance in Mice of Two Potent DNA Immunogens Targeting HCV-Related Liver Cancer. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9051073. [PMID: 34067686 PMCID: PMC8156932 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9051073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic HCV infection and associated liver cancer impose a heavy burden on the healthcare system. Direct acting antivirals eliminate HCV, unless it is drug resistant, and partially reverse liver disease, but they cannot cure HCV-related cancer. A possible remedy could be a multi-component immunotherapeutic vaccine targeting both HCV-infected and malignant cells, but also those not infected with HCV. To meet this need we developed a two-component DNA vaccine based on the highly conserved core protein of HCV to target HCV-infected cells, and a renowned tumor-associated antigen telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) based on the rat TERT, to target malignant cells. Their synthetic genes were expression-optimized, and HCV core was truncated after aa 152 (Core152opt) to delete the domain interfering with immunogenicity. Core152opt and TERT DNA were highly immunogenic in BALB/c mice, inducing IFN-γ/IL-2/TNF-α response of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Additionally, DNA-immunization with TERT enhanced cellular immune response against luciferase encoded by a co-delivered plasmid (Luc DNA). However, DNA-immunization with Core152opt and TERT mix resulted in abrogation of immune response against both components. A loss of bioluminescence signal after co-delivery of TERT and Luc DNA into mice indicated that TERT affects the in vivo expression of luciferase directed by the immediate early cytomegalovirus and interferon-β promoters. Panel of mutant TERT variants was created and tested for their expression effects. TERT with deleted N-terminal nucleoli localization signal and mutations abrogating telomerase activity still suppressed the IFN-β driven Luc expression, while the inactivated reverse transcriptase domain of TERT and its analogue, enzymatically active HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, exerted only weak suppressive effects, implying that suppression relied on the presence of the full-length/nearly full-length TERT, but not its enzymatic activity. The effect(s) could be due to interference of the ectopically expressed xenogeneic rat TERT with biogenesis of mRNA, ribosomes and protein translation in murine cells, affecting the expression of immunogens. HCV core can aggravate this effect, leading to early apoptosis of co-expressing cells, preventing the induction of immune response.
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Mice Immunized with the Vaccine Candidate HexaPro Spike Produce Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050498. [PMID: 34066016 PMCID: PMC8151071 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Updated and revised versions of COVID-19 vaccines are vital due to genetic variations of the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen. Furthermore, vaccines that are safe, cost-effective, and logistic-friendly are critically needed for global equity, especially for middle- to low-income countries. Recombinant protein-based subunit vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been reported using the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and the prefusion spike trimers (S-2P). Recently, a new version of prefusion spike trimers, named HexaPro, has been shown to possess two RBD in the “up” conformation, due to its physical property, as opposed to just one exposed RBD found in S-2P. Importantly, this HexaPro spike antigen is more stable than S-2P, raising its feasibility for global logistics and supply chain. Here, we report that the spike protein HexaPro offers a promising candidate for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Mice immunized by the recombinant HexaPro adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide using a prime-boost regimen produced high-titer neutralizing antibodies for up to 56 days after initial immunization against live SARS-CoV-2 infection. Also, the level of neutralization activity is comparable to that of convalescence sera. Our results indicate that the HexaPro subunit vaccine confers neutralization activity in sera collected from mice receiving the prime-boost regimen.
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Msafiri F, Joachim A, Held K, Nadai Y, Chissumba RM, Geldmacher C, Aboud S, Stöhr W, Viegas E, Kroidl A, Bakari M, Munseri PJ, Wahren B, Sandström E, Robb ML, McCormack S, Joseph S, Jani I, Ferrari G, Rao M, Biberfeld G, Lyamuya E, Nilsson C. Frequent Anti-V1V2 Responses Induced by HIV-DNA Followed by HIV-MVA with or without CN54rgp140/GLA-AF in Healthy African Volunteers. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111722. [PMID: 33158007 PMCID: PMC7693996 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody responses that correlated with reduced risk of HIV acquisition in the RV144 efficacy trial were assessed in healthy African volunteers who had been primed three times with HIV-DNA (subtype A, B, C) and then randomized into two groups; group 1 was boosted twice with HIV-MVA (CRF01_AE) and group 2 with the same HIV-MVA coadministered with subtype C envelope (Env) protein (CN54rgp140/GLA-AF). The fine specificity of plasma Env-specific antibody responses was mapped after the final vaccination using linear peptide microarray technology. Binding IgG antibodies to the V1V2 loop in CRF01_AE and subtype C Env and Env-specific IgA antibodies were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Functional antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)-mediating antibody responses were measured using luciferase assay. Mapping of linear epitopes within HIV-1 Env demonstrated strong targeting of the V1V2, V3, and the immunodominant region in gp41 in both groups, with additional recognition of two epitopes located in the C2 and C4 regions in group 2. A high frequency of V1V2-specific binding IgG antibody responses was detected to CRF01_AE (77%) and subtype C antigens (65%). In conclusion, coadministration of CN54rgp140/GLA-AF with HIV-MVA did not increase the frequency, breadth, or magnitude of anti-V1V2 responses or ADCC-mediating antibodies induced by boosting with HIV-MVA alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Msafiri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, Tanzania; (A.J.); (S.A.); (E.L.)
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Correspondence: or
| | - Agricola Joachim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, Tanzania; (A.J.); (S.A.); (E.L.)
| | - Kathrin Held
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany; (K.H.); (Y.N.); (C.G.); (A.K.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Yuka Nadai
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany; (K.H.); (Y.N.); (C.G.); (A.K.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Christof Geldmacher
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany; (K.H.); (Y.N.); (C.G.); (A.K.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Said Aboud
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, Tanzania; (A.J.); (S.A.); (E.L.)
| | - Wolfgang Stöhr
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, London WC1V 6LJ, UK; (W.S.); (S.M.)
| | - Edna Viegas
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Maputo 3943, Mozambique; (R.M.C.); (E.V.); (I.J.)
| | - Arne Kroidl
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany; (K.H.); (Y.N.); (C.G.); (A.K.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Muhammad Bakari
- Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, Tanzania; (M.B.); (P.J.M.)
| | - Patricia J. Munseri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, Tanzania; (M.B.); (P.J.M.)
| | - Britta Wahren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Nobel’s Rd 16, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Eric Sandström
- Karolinska Institutet at Södersjukhuset, Södersjukhuset, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Merlin L. Robb
- The Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA;
| | - Sheena McCormack
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, London WC1V 6LJ, UK; (W.S.); (S.M.)
| | | | - Ilesh Jani
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Maputo 3943, Mozambique; (R.M.C.); (E.V.); (I.J.)
| | - Guido Ferrari
- Department of Surgery and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Mangala Rao
- United States Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA;
| | - Gunnel Biberfeld
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Eligius Lyamuya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 65001, Tanzania; (A.J.); (S.A.); (E.L.)
| | - Charlotta Nilsson
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Department of Microbiology, Public Health Agency of Sweden, 17182 Solna, Sweden
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4
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Joachim A, Ahmed MIM, Pollakis G, Rogers L, Hoffmann VS, Munseri P, Aboud S, Lyamuya EF, Bakari M, Robb ML, Wahren B, Sandstrom E, Nilsson C, Biberfeld G, Geldmacher C, Held K. Induction of Identical IgG HIV-1 Envelope Epitope Recognition Patterns After Initial HIVIS-DNA/MVA-CMDR Immunization and a Late MVA-CMDR Boost. Front Immunol 2020; 11:719. [PMID: 32411138 PMCID: PMC7198863 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In the RV144 trial, to date the only HIV-1 vaccine efficacy trial demonstrating a modestly reduced risk of HIV-1 acquisition, antibody responses toward the HIV Envelope protein (Env) variable (V) 2 and V3 regions were shown to be correlated with a reduced risk of infection. These potentially protective antibody responses, in parallel with the vaccine efficacy, however, waned quickly. Dissecting vaccine-induced IgG recognition of antigenic regions and their variants within the HIV-1 Env from different vaccine trials will aid in designing future HIV-1 immunogens and vaccination schedules. We, therefore, analyzed the IgG response toward linear HIV-1 Env epitopes elicited by a multi-clade, multigene HIVIS-DNA priming, and heterologous recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA-CMDR) boosting regimen (HIVIS03) and assessed whether a late MVA-CMDR boost 3 years after completion of the initial vaccination schedule (HIVIS06) restored antibody responses toward these epitopes. Here we report that vaccination schedule in the HIVIS03 trial elicited IgG responses against linear epitopes within the V2 and V3 tip as well as against the gp41 immunodominant region in a high proportion of vaccinees. Antibodies against the V2 and gp41 Env regions were restricted to variants with close homology to the MVA-CMDR immunogen sequence, while V3 responses were more cross-reactive. Boosting with a late third MVA-CMDR after 3 years effectively restored waned IgG responses to linear Env epitopes and induced targeting of identical antigenic regions and variants comparable to the previous combined HIVIS-DNA/MVA-CMDR regimen. Our findings support the notion that anti-HIV-1 Env responses, associated with a reduced risk of infection in RV144, could be maintained by regular boosting with a single dose of MVA-CMDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agricola Joachim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Mohamed I M Ahmed
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Georgios Pollakis
- Faculty of Health and Life Science, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections (HPRU EZI), Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Rogers
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Verena S Hoffmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Patricia Munseri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Said Aboud
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Eligius F Lyamuya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Muhammad Bakari
- Tanzania Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Merlin L Robb
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Rockville, MD, United States.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Britta Wahren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eric Sandstrom
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charlotta Nilsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.,The Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Gunnel Biberfeld
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christof Geldmacher
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Held
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
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Munusamy Ponnan S, Hayes P, Fernandez N, Thiruvengadam K, Pattabiram S, Nesakumar M, Srinivasan A, Kathirvel S, Shankar J, Goyal R, Singla N, Mukherjee J, Chatrath S, Gilmour J, Subramanyam S, Prasad Tripathy S, Swaminathan S, Hanna LE. Evaluation of antiviral T cell responses and TSCM cells in volunteers enrolled in a phase I HIV-1 subtype C prophylactic vaccine trial in India. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229461. [PMID: 32097435 PMCID: PMC7041807 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells play an important role in controlling viral replication during HIV infection. An effective vaccine should, therefore, lead to the induction of a strong and early viral-specific CD8+ T cell response. While polyfunctional T cell responses are thought to be important contributors to the antiviral response, there is evidence to show that polyfunctional HIV- specific CD8+ T cells are just a small fraction of the total HIV-specific CD8+ T cells and may be absent in many individuals who control HIV replication, suggesting that other HIV-1 specific CD8+ effector T cell subsets may be key players in HIV control. Stem cell-like memory T cells (TSCM) are a subset of T cells with a long half-life and self-renewal capacity. They serve as key reservoirs for HIV and contribute a significant barrier to HIV eradication. The present study evaluated vaccine-induced antiviral responses and TSCM cells in volunteers vaccinated with a subtype C prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine candidate administered in a prime-boost regimen. We found that ADVAX DNA prime followed by MVA boost induced significantly more peripheral CD8+ TSCM cells and higher levels of CD8+ T cell-mediated inhibition of replication of different HIV-1 clades as compared to MVA alone and placebo. These findings are novel and provide encouraging evidence to demonstrate the induction of TSCM and cytotoxic immune responses by a subtype C HIV-1 prophylactic vaccine administered using a prime-boost strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Hayes
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, England, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia Fernandez
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, England, United Kingdom
| | - Kannan Thiruvengadam
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Sathyamurthi Pattabiram
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Manohar Nesakumar
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Ashokkumar Srinivasan
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Sujitha Kathirvel
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Janani Shankar
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Rajat Goyal
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New Delhi, India
| | - Nikhil Singla
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New Delhi, India
| | | | | | - Jill Gilmour
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, England, United Kingdom
| | - Sudha Subramanyam
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Srikanth Prasad Tripathy
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Soumya Swaminathan
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Luke Elizabeth Hanna
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
- * E-mail:
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6
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus C.1086 Envelope gp140 Protein Boosts following DNA/Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Vaccination Fail To Enhance Heterologous Anti-V1V2 Antibody Response and Protection against Clade C Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Challenge. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.00934-19. [PMID: 31341049 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00934-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The RV144 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine trial showed a strong association between anti-gp70 V1V2 scaffold (V1V2) and anti-V2 hot spot peptide (V2 HS) antibody responses and reduced risk of HIV infection. Accordingly, a primary goal for HIV vaccines is to enhance the magnitude and breadth of V1V2 and V2 HS antibody responses in addition to neutralizing antibodies. Here, we tested the immunogenicity and efficacy of HIV-1 C.1086 gp140 boosts administered sequentially after priming with CD40L-adjuvanted DNA/simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) and boosting with modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)-SHIV vaccines in rhesus macaques. The DNA/MVA vaccination induced robust vaccine-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses with a polyfunctional profile. Two gp140 booster immunizations induced very high levels (∼2 mg/ml) of gp140 binding antibodies in serum, with strong reactivity directed against the homologous (C.1086) V1V2, V2 HS, V3, and gp41 immunodominant (ID) proteins. However, the vaccine-induced antibody showed 10-fold (peak) and 32-fold (prechallenge) weaker binding to the challenge virus (SHIV1157ipd3N4) V1V2 and failed to bind to the challenge virus V2 HS due to a single amino acid change. Point mutations in the immunogen V2 HS to match the V2 HS in the challenge virus significantly diminished the binding of vaccine-elicited antibodies to membrane-anchored gp160. Both vaccines failed to protect from infection following repeated SHIV1157ipd3N4 intrarectal challenges. However, only the protein-boosted animals showed enhanced viral control. These results demonstrate that C.1086 gp140 protein immunizations administered following DNA/MVA vaccination do not significantly boost heterologous V1V2 and V2 HS responses and fail to enhance protection against heterologous SHIV challenge.IMPORTANCE HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is responsible for millions of infections and deaths annually. Despite intense research for the past 25 years, there remains no safe and effective vaccine available. The significance of this work is in identifying the pros and cons of adding a protein boost to an already well-established DNA/MVA HIV vaccine that is currently being tested in the clinic. Characterizing the effects of the protein boost can allow researchers going forward to design vaccines that generate responses that will be more effective against HIV. Our results in rhesus macaques show that boosting with a specific HIV envelope protein does not significantly boost antibody responses that were identified as immune correlates of protection in a moderately successful RV144 HIV vaccine trial in humans and highlight the need for the development of improved HIV envelope immunogens.
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7
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Rudometov AP, Chikaev AN, Rudometova NB, Antonets DV, Lomzov AA, Kaplina ON, Ilyichev AA, Karpenko LI. Artificial Anti-HIV-1 Immunogen Comprising Epitopes of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies 2F5, 10E8, and a Peptide Mimic of VRC01 Discontinuous Epitope. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7030083. [PMID: 31390770 PMCID: PMC6789618 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7030083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The construction of artificial proteins using conservative B-cell and T-cell epitopes is believed to be a promising approach for a vaccine design against diverse viral infections. This article describes the development of an artificial HIV-1 immunogen using a polyepitope immunogen design strategy. We developed a recombinant protein, referred to as nTBI, that contains epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies (bNAbs) combined with Th-epitopes. This is a modified version of a previously designed artificial protein, TBI (T- and B-cell epitopes containing Immunogen), carrying four T- and five B-cell epitopes from HIV-1 Env and Gag proteins. To engineer the nTBI molecule, three B-cell epitopes of the TBI protein were replaced with the epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies 10E8, 2F5, and a linear peptide mimic of VRC01 epitope. We showed that immunization of rabbits with the nTBI protein elicited antibodies that recognize HIV-1 proteins and were able to neutralize Env-pseudotyped SF162.LS HIV-1 strain (tier 1). Competition assay revealed that immunization of rabbits with nTBI induced mainly 10E8-like antibodies. Our findings support the use of nTBI protein as an immunogen with predefined favorable antigenic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey P Rudometov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia.
| | - Anton N Chikaev
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 8/2 Lavrentiev Avenue Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
| | - Nadezhda B Rudometova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia
| | - Denis V Antonets
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia
| | - Alexander A Lomzov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Lavrentiev Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Olga N Kaplina
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia
| | - Alexander A Ilyichev
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia
| | - Larisa I Karpenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region 630559, Russia.
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8
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Munusamy Ponnan S, Pattabiram S, Thiruvengadam K, Goyal R, Singla N, Mukherjee J, Chatrath S, Bergin P, T. Kopycinski J, Gilmour J, Kumar S, Muthu M, Subramaniam S, Swaminathan S, Prasad Tripathy S, Luke HE. Induction and maintenance of bi-functional (IFN-γ + IL-2+ and IL-2+ TNF-α+) T cell responses by DNA prime MVA boosted subtype C prophylactic vaccine tested in a Phase I trial in India. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213911. [PMID: 30921340 PMCID: PMC6438518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective vaccine design relies on accurate knowledge of protection against a pathogen, so as to be able to induce relevant and effective protective responses against it. An ideal Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine should induce humoral as well as cellular immune responses to prevent initial infection of host cells or limit early events of viral dissemination. A Phase I HIV-1 prophylactic vaccine trial sponsored by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) was conducted in India in 2009.The trial tested a HIV-1 subtype C vaccine in a prime-boost regimen, comprising of a DNA prime (ADVAX) and Modified Vaccine Ankara (MVA) (TBC-M4) boost. The trial reported that the vaccine regimen was safe, well tolerated, and resulted in enhancement of HIV-specific immune responses. However, preliminary immunological studies were limited to vaccine-induced IFN-γ responses against the Env and Gag peptides. The present study is a retrospective study to characterize in detail the nature of the vaccine-induced cell mediated immune responses among volunteers, using Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) that were archived during the trial. ELISpot was used to measure IFN-γ responses and polyfunctional T cells were analyzed by intracellular multicolor flow cytometry. It was observed that DNA priming and MVA boosting induced Env and Gag specific bi-functional and multi-functional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2. The heterologous prime-boost regimen appeared to be slightly superior to the homologous prime-boost regimen in inducing favorable cell mediated immune responses. These results suggest that an in-depth analysis of vaccine-induced cellular immune response can aid in the identification of correlates of an effective immunogenic response, and inform future design of HIV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivasankaran Munusamy Ponnan
- Department of HIV, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Sathyamurthy Pattabiram
- Department of HIV, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Kannan Thiruvengadam
- Department of HIV, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Rajat Goyal
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New Delhi, India
| | - Nikhil Singla
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New Delhi, India
| | | | | | - Philip Bergin
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jill Gilmour
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sriram Kumar
- Department of HIV, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Malathy Muthu
- Department of HIV, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Sudha Subramaniam
- Department of HIV, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Soumya Swaminathan
- Department of HIV, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Srikanth Prasad Tripathy
- Department of HIV, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Hanna Elizabeth Luke
- Department of HIV, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
- * E-mail:
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The Virulence of Different Vaccinia Virus Strains Is Directly Proportional to Their Ability To Downmodulate Specific Cell-Mediated Immune Compartments In Vivo. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.02191-18. [PMID: 30567985 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02191-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccinia virus (VACV) is a notorious virus for a number of scientific reasons; however, most of its notoriety comes from the fact that it was used as a vaccine against smallpox, being ultimately responsible for the eradication of that disease. Nonetheless, many different vaccinia virus strains have been obtained over the years; some are suitable to be used as vaccines, whereas others are virulent and unsuitable for this purpose. Interestingly, different vaccinia virus strains elicit different immune responses in vivo, and this is a direct result of the genomic differences among strains. In order to evaluate the net result of virus-encoded immune evasion strategies of vaccinia viruses, we compared antiviral immune responses in mice intranasally infected by the highly attenuated and nonreplicative MVA strain, the attenuated and replicative Lister strain, or the virulent WR strain. Overall, cell responses elicited upon WR infections are downmodulated compared to those elicited by MVA and Lister infections, especially in determined cell compartments such as macrophages/monocytes and CD4+ T cells. CD4+ T cells are not only diminished in WR-infected mice but also less activated, as evaluated by the expression of costimulatory molecules such as CD25, CD212, and CD28 and by the production of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-10. On the other hand, MVA infections are able to induce strong T-cell responses in mice, whereas Lister infections consistently induced responses that were intermediary between those induced by WR and MVA. Together, our results support a model in which the virulence of a VACV strain is proportional to its potential to downmodulate the host's immune responses.IMPORTANCE Vaccinia virus was used as vaccine against smallpox and was instrumental in the successful eradication of that disease. Although smallpox vaccination is no longer in place in the overall population, the use of vaccinia virus in the development of viral vector-based vaccines has become popular. Nonetheless, different vaccinia virus strains are known and induce different immune responses. To look into this, we compared immune responses triggered by mouse infections with the nonreplicative MVA strain, the attenuated Lister strain, or the virulent WR strain. We observed that the WR strain was capable of downmodulating mouse cell responses, whereas the highly attenuated MVA strain induced high levels of cell-mediated immunity. Infections by the intermediately attenuated Lister strain induced cell responses that were intermediary between those induced by WR and MVA. We propose that the virulence of a vaccinia virus strain is directly proportional to its ability to downmodulate specific compartments of antiviral cell responses.
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10
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The Mission is Remission: Hope for Controlling HIV Replication Without ART in Early-treated Perinatally HIV-infected Children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2019; 38:95-98. [PMID: 30346368 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000002203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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11
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Optimizing the immunogenicity of HIV prime-boost DNA-MVA-rgp140/GLA vaccines in a phase II randomized factorial trial design. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206838. [PMID: 30496299 PMCID: PMC6264478 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of (i) an intradermal HIV-DNA regimen given with/without intradermal electroporation (EP) as prime and (ii) the impact of boosting with modified vaccinia virus Ankara (HIV-MVA) administered with or without subtype C CN54rgp140 envelope protein adjuvanted with Glucopyranosyl Lipid A (GLA-AF) in volunteers from Tanzania and Mozambique. Methods Healthy HIV-uninfected adults (N = 191) were randomized twice; first to one of three HIV-DNA intradermal priming regimens by needle-free ZetaJet device at weeks 0, 4 and 12 (Group I: 2x0.1mL [3mg/mL], Group II: 2x0.1mL [3mg/mL] plus EP, Group III: 1x0.1mL [6mg/mL] plus EP). Second the same volunteers received 108 pfu HIV-MVA twice, alone or combined with CN54rgp140/GLA-AF, intramuscularly by syringe, 16 weeks apart. Additionally, 20 volunteers received saline placebo. Results Vaccinations and electroporation did not raise safety concerns. After the last vaccination, the overall IFN-γ ELISpot response rate to either Gag or Env was 97%. Intradermal electroporation significantly increased ELISpot response rates to HIV-DNA-specific Gag (66% group I vs. 86% group II, p = 0.026), but not to the HIV-MVA vaccine-specific Gag or Env peptide pools nor the magnitude of responses. Co-administration of rgp140/GLA-AF with HIV-MVA did not impact the frequency of binding antibody responses against subtype B gp160, C gp140 or E gp120 antigens (95%, 99%, 79%, respectively), but significantly enhanced the magnitude against subtype B gp160 (2700 versus 300, p<0.001) and subtype C gp140 (24300 versus 2700, p<0.001) Env protein. At relatively low titers, neutralizing antibody responses using the TZM-bl assay were more frequent in vaccinees given adjuvanted protein boost. Conclusion Intradermal electroporation increased DNA-induced Gag response rates but did not show an impact on Env-specific responses nor on the magnitude of responses. Co-administration of HIV-MVA with rgp140/GLA-AF significantly enhanced antibody responses.
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12
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Viegas EO, Tembe N, Nilsson C, Meggi B, Maueia C, Augusto O, Stout R, Scarlatti G, Ferrari G, Earl PL, Wahren B, Andersson S, Robb ML, Osman N, Biberfeld G, Jani I, Sandström E, the TaMoVac Study Group. Intradermal HIV-1 DNA Immunization Using Needle-Free Zetajet Injection Followed by HIV-Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Vaccination Is Safe and Immunogenic in Mozambican Young Adults: A Phase I Randomized Controlled Trial. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2018; 34:193-205. [PMID: 28969431 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2017.0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of HIV-DNA priming using Zetajet™, a needle-free device intradermally followed by intramuscular HIV-MVA boosts, in 24 healthy Mozambicans. Volunteers were randomized to receive three immunizations of 600 μg (n = 10; 2 × 0.1 ml) or 1,200 μg (n = 10; 2 × 0.2 ml) of HIV-DNA (3 mg/ml), followed by two boosts of 108 pfu HIV-MVA. Four subjects received placebo saline injections. Vaccines and injections were safe and well tolerated with no difference between the two priming groups. After three HIV-DNA immunizations, IFN-γ ELISpot responses to Gag were detected in 9/17 (53%) vaccinees, while none responded to Envelope (Env). After the first HIV-MVA, the overall response rate to Gag and/or Env increased to 14/15 (93%); 14/15 (93%) to Gag and 13/15 (87%) to Env. There were no significant differences between the immunization groups in frequency of response to Gag and Env or magnitude of Gag responses. Env responses were significantly higher in the higher dose group (median 420 vs. 157.5 SFC/million peripheral blood mononuclear cell, p = .014). HIV-specific antibodies to subtype C gp140 and subtype B gp160 were elicited in all vaccinees after the second HIV-MVA, without differences in titers between the groups. Neutralizing antibody responses were not detected. Two (13%) of 16 vaccinees, one in each of the priming groups, exhibited antibodies mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity to CRF01_AE. In conclusion, HIV-DNA vaccine delivered intradermally in volumes of 0.1-0.2 ml using Zetajet was safe and well tolerated. Priming with the 1,200 μg dose of HIV-DNA generated higher magnitudes of ELISpot responses to Env.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edna Omar Viegas
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Maputo, Mozambique
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Nelson Tembe
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Maputo, Mozambique
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Charlotta Nilsson
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Public Health Agency of Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Guido Ferrari
- Department of Surgery and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Patricia L. Earl
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD)/National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Britta Wahren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sören Andersson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Merlin L. Robb
- The Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Gunnel Biberfeld
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ilesh Jani
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Eric Sandström
- Department of Education and Clinical Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Ake JA, Schuetz A, Pegu P, Wieczorek L, Eller MA, Kibuuka H, Sawe F, Maboko L, Polonis V, Karasavva N, Weiner D, Sekiziyivu A, Kosgei J, Missanga M, Kroidl A, Mann P, Ratto-Kim S, Anne Eller L, Earl P, Moss B, Dorsey-Spitz J, Milazzo M, Laissa Ouedraogo G, Rizvi F, Yan J, Khan AS, Peel S, Sardesai NY, Michael NL, Ngauy V, Marovich M, Robb ML. Safety and Immunogenicity of PENNVAX-G DNA Prime Administered by Biojector 2000 or CELLECTRA Electroporation Device With Modified Vaccinia Ankara-CMDR Boost. J Infect Dis 2017; 216:1080-1090. [PMID: 28968759 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We report the first-in-human safety and immunogenicity evaluation of PENNVAX-G DNA/modified vaccinia Ankara-Chiang Mai double recombinant (MVA-CMDR) prime-boost human immuonodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine, with intramuscular DNA delivery by either Biojector 2000 needle-free injection system (Biojector) or CELLECTRA electroporation device. Methods Healthy, HIV-uninfected adults were randomized to receive 4 mg of PENNVAX-G DNA delivered intramuscularly by Biojector or electroporation at baseline and week 4 followed by intramuscular injection of 108 plaque forming units of MVA-CMDR at weeks 12 and 24. The open-label part A was conducted in the United States, followed by a double-blind, placebo-controlled part B in East Africa. Solicited and unsolicited adverse events were recorded, and immune responses were measured. Results Eighty-eight of 100 enrolled participants completed all study injections, which were generally safe and well tolerated, with more immediate, but transient, pain in the electroporation group. Cellular responses were observed in 57% of vaccine recipients tested and were CD4 predominant. High rates of binding antibody responses to CRF01_AE antigens, including gp70 V1V2 scaffold, were observed. Neutralizing antibodies were detected in a peripheral blood mononuclear cell assay, and moderate antibody-dependent, cell-mediated cytotoxicity activity was demonstrated. Discussion The PVG/MVA-CMDR HIV-1 vaccine regimen is safe and immunogenic. Substantial differences in safety or immunogenicity between modes of DNA delivery were not observed. Clinical Trials Registration NCT01260727.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Ake
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring
| | - Alexandra Schuetz
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda.,Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Retrovirology, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Poonam Pegu
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda
| | - Lindsay Wieczorek
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda
| | - Michael A Eller
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda
| | - Hannah Kibuuka
- Makerere University/Walter Reed Project, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Leonard Maboko
- National Institute of Medical Research, Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Victoria Polonis
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring
| | - Nicos Karasavva
- Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Retrovirology, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Marco Missanga
- National Institute of Medical Research, Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Arne Kroidl
- National Institute of Medical Research, Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, United Republic of Tanzania.,Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp Mann
- National Institute of Medical Research, Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Mbeya, United Republic of Tanzania.,Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich, Germany
| | - Silvia Ratto-Kim
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda
| | - Leigh Anne Eller
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda
| | | | | | - Julie Dorsey-Spitz
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda
| | - Mark Milazzo
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda
| | - G Laissa Ouedraogo
- Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
| | - Farrukh Rizvi
- Military Infectious Diseases Research Program, Ft. Detrick, Maryland
| | - Jian Yan
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
| | - Amir S Khan
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
| | - Sheila Peel
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring
| | | | - Nelson L Michael
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring
| | - Viseth Ngauy
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring.,Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Retrovirology, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mary Marovich
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring
| | - Merlin L Robb
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda
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14
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Chea LS, Amara RR. Immunogenicity and efficacy of DNA/MVA HIV vaccines in rhesus macaque models. Expert Rev Vaccines 2017; 16:973-985. [PMID: 28838267 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2017.1371594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite 30 years of research on HIV, a vaccine to prevent infection and limit disease progression remains elusive. The RV144 trial showed moderate, but significant protection in humans and highlighted the contribution of antibody responses directed against HIV envelope as an important immune correlate for protection. Efforts to further build upon the progress include the use of a heterologous prime-boost regimen using DNA as the priming agent and the attenuated vaccinia virus, Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA), as a boosting vector for generating protective HIV-specific immunity. Areas covered: In this review, we summarize the immunogenicity of DNA/MVA vaccines in non-human primate models and describe the efficacy seen in SIV infection models. We discuss immunological correlates of protection determined by these studies and potential approaches for improving the protective immunity. Additionally, we describe the current progress of DNA/MVA vaccines in human trials. Expert commentary: Efforts over the past decade have provided the opportunity to better understand the dynamics of vaccine-induced immune responses and immune correlates of protection against HIV. Based on what we have learned, we outline multiple areas where the field will likely focus on in the next five years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynette Siv Chea
- a Emory Vaccine Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Rama Rao Amara
- a Emory Vaccine Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University , Atlanta , GA , USA
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15
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Preferential Targeting of Conserved Gag Regions after Vaccination with a Heterologous DNA Prime-Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Boost HIV-1 Vaccine Regimen. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.00730-17. [PMID: 28701395 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00730-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prime-boost vaccination strategies against HIV-1 often include multiple variants for a given immunogen for better coverage of the extensive viral diversity. To study the immunologic effects of this approach, we characterized breadth, phenotype, function, and specificity of Gag-specific T cells induced by a DNA-prime modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)-boost vaccination strategy, which uses mismatched Gag immunogens in the TamoVac 01 phase IIa trial. Healthy Tanzanian volunteers received three injections of the DNA-SMI vaccine encoding a subtype B and AB-recombinant Gagp37 and two vaccinations with MVA-CMDR encoding subtype A Gagp55 Gag-specific T-cell responses were studied in 42 vaccinees using fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells. After the first MVA-CMDR boost, vaccine-induced gamma interferon-positive (IFN-γ+) Gag-specific T-cell responses were dominated by CD4+ T cells (P < 0.001 compared to CD8+ T cells) that coexpressed interleukin-2 (IL-2) (66.4%) and/or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (63.7%). A median of 3 antigenic regions were targeted with a higher-magnitude median response to Gagp24 regions, more conserved between prime and boost, compared to those of regions within Gagp15 (not primed) and Gagp17 (less conserved; P < 0.0001 for both). Four regions within Gagp24 each were targeted by 45% to 74% of vaccinees upon restimulation with DNA-SMI-Gag matched peptides. The response rate to individual antigenic regions correlated with the sequence homology between the MVA- and DNA Gag-encoded immunogens (P = 0.04, r2 = 0.47). In summary, after the first MVA-CMDR boost, the sequence-mismatched DNA-prime MVA-boost vaccine strategy induced a Gag-specific T-cell response that was dominated by polyfunctional CD4+ T cells and that targeted multiple antigenic regions within the conserved Gagp24 protein.IMPORTANCE Genetic diversity is a major challenge for the design of vaccines against variable viruses. While including multiple variants for a given immunogen in prime-boost vaccination strategies is one approach that aims to improve coverage for global virus variants, the immunologic consequences of this strategy have been poorly defined so far. It is unclear whether inclusion of multiple variants in prime-boost vaccination strategies improves recognition of variant viruses by T cells and by which mechanisms this would be achieved, either by improved cross-recognition of multiple variants for a given antigenic region or through preferential targeting of antigenic regions more conserved between prime and boost. Engineering vaccines to induce adaptive immune responses that preferentially target conserved antigenic regions of viral vulnerability might facilitate better immune control after preventive and therapeutic vaccination for HIV and for other variable viruses.
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16
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Hinkula J, Petkov S, Ljungberg K, Hallengärd D, Bråve A, Isaguliants M, Falkeborn T, Sharma S, Liakina V, Robb M, Eller M, Moss B, Biberfeld G, Sandström E, Nilsson C, Markland K, Blomberg P, Wahren B. HIVIS-DNA or HIVISopt-DNA priming followed by CMDR vaccinia-based boosts induce both humoral and cellular murine immune responses to HIV. Heliyon 2017; 3:e00339. [PMID: 28721397 PMCID: PMC5496381 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In order to develop a more effective prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine it is important optimize the components, improve Envelope glycoprotein immunogenicity as well as to explore prime-boost immunization schedules. It is also valuable to include several HIV-1 subtype antigens representing the world-wide epidemic. Methods HIVIS-DNA plasmids which include Env genes of subtypes A, B and C together with Gag subtypes A and B and RTmut/Rev of subtype B were modified as follows: the Envelope sequences were shortened, codon optimized, provided with an FT4 sequence and an immunodominant region mutated. The reverse transcriptase (RT) gene was shortened to contain the most immunogenic N-terminal fragment and fused with an inactivated viral protease vPR gene. HIVISopt-DNA thus contains fewer plasmids but additional PR epitopes compared to the native HIVIS-DNA. DNA components were delivered intradermally to young Balb/c mice once, using a needle-free Biojector® immediately followed by dermal electroporation. Vaccinia-based MVA-CMDR boosts including Env gene E and Gag-RT genes A were delivered intramuscularly by needle, once or twice. Results Both HIVIS-DNA and HIVISopt-DNA primed humoral and cell mediated responses well. When boosted with heterologous MVA-CMDR (subtypes A and E) virus inhibitory neutralizing antibodies were obtained to HIV-1 subtypes A, B, C and AE. Both plasmid compositions boosted with MVA-CMDR generated HIV-1 specific cellular responses directed against HIV-1 Env, Gag and Pol, as measured by IFNγ ELISpot. It was shown that DNA priming augmented the vector MVA immunological boosting effects, the HIVISopt-DNA with a trend to improved (Env) neutralization, the HIVIS-DNA with a trend to better (Gag) cell mediated immune reponses. Conclusions HIVIS-DNA was modified to obtain HIVISopt-DNA that had fewer plasmids, and additional epitopes. Even with one DNA prime followed by two MVA-CMDR boosts, humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were readily induced by priming with either DNA construct composition. Priming by HIV-DNA augmented neutralizing antibody responses revealed by boosting with the vaccinia-based heterologous sequences. Cellular and antibody responses covered selected strains representing HIV-1 subtypes A, B, C and CRF01_AE. We assume this is related to the inclusion of heterologous full genes in the vaccine schedule.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Hinkula
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - S Petkov
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - K Ljungberg
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - D Hallengärd
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Bråve
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Isaguliants
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - T Falkeborn
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - S Sharma
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - V Liakina
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University 2, 08661 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - M Robb
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, 20892 MD, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, 20892 MD, USA
| | - M Eller
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, 20892 MD, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, 20892 MD, USA
| | - B Moss
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 20892 MD, USA
| | - G Biberfeld
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - E Sandström
- Department of South Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, 11883 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - C Nilsson
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - K Markland
- Clinical Research Center and Vecura, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - P Blomberg
- Clinical Research Center and Vecura, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - B Wahren
- Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
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17
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Churchyard G, Mlisana K, Karuna S, Williamson AL, Williamson C, Morris L, Tomaras GD, De Rosa SC, Gilbert PB, Gu N, Yu C, Mkhize NN, Hermanus T, Allen M, Pensiero M, Barnett SW, Gray G, Bekker LG, Montefiori DC, Kublin J, Corey L. Sequential Immunization with gp140 Boosts Immune Responses Primed by Modified Vaccinia Ankara or DNA in HIV-Uninfected South African Participants. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161753. [PMID: 27583368 PMCID: PMC5008759 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The safety and immunogenicity of SAAVI DNA-C2 (4 mg IM), SAAVI MVA-C (2.9 x 109 pfu IM) and Novartis V2-deleted subtype C gp140 (100 mcg) with MF59 adjuvant in various vaccination regimens was evaluated in HIV-uninfected adults in South Africa. METHODS Participants at three South African sites were randomized (1:1:1:1) to one of four vaccine regimens: MVA prime, sequential gp140 protein boost (M/M/P/P); concurrent MVA/gp140 (MP/MP); DNA prime, sequential MVA boost (D/D/M/M); DNA prime, concurrent MVA/gp140 boost (D/D/MP/MP) or placebo. Peak HIV specific humoral and cellular responses were measured. RESULTS 184 participants were enrolled: 52% were female, all were Black/African, median age was 23 years (range, 18-42 years) and 79% completed all vaccinations. 159 participants reported at least one adverse event, 92.5% were mild or moderate. Five, unrelated, serious adverse events were reported. The M/M/P/P and D/D/MP/MP regimens induced the strongest peak neutralizing and binding antibody responses and the greatest CD4+ T-cell responses to Env. All peak neutralizing and binding antibody responses decayed with time. The MVA, but not DNA, prime contributed to the humoral and cellular immune responses. The D/D/M/M regimen was poorly immunogenic overall but did induce modest CD4+ T-cell responses to Gag and Pol. CD8+ T-cell responses to any antigen were low for all regimens. CONCLUSIONS The SAAVI DNA-C2, SAAVI MVA-C and Novartis gp140 with MF59 adjuvant in various combinations were safe and induced neutralizing and binding antibodies and cellular immune responses. Sequential immunization with gp140 boosted immune responses primed by MVA or DNA. The best overall immune responses were seen with the M/M/P/P regimen. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01418235.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin Churchyard
- Aurum Institute for Health Research, Klerksdorp, South Africa
- School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Advancing Care and Treatment for TB and HIV, Medical Research Council Collaborating Centre, Klerksdorp, South Africa
| | | | - Shelly Karuna
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Carolyn Williamson
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Services, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lynn Morris
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Services, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Georgia D. Tomaras
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Stephen C. De Rosa
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Peter B. Gilbert
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Niya Gu
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Chenchen Yu
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Nonhlanhla N. Mkhize
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Services, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Tandile Hermanus
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Services, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mary Allen
- Vaccine Research Program, Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Michael Pensiero
- Vaccine Research Program, Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Susan W. Barnett
- Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Glenda Gray
- South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Linda-Gail Bekker
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David C. Montefiori
- Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - James Kublin
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Lawrence Corey
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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18
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Joachim A, Bauer A, Joseph S, Geldmacher C, Munseri PJ, Aboud S, Missanga M, Mann P, Wahren B, Ferrari G, Polonis VR, Robb ML, Weber J, Tatoud R, Maboko L, Hoelscher M, Lyamuya EF, Biberfeld G, Sandström E, Kroidl A, Bakari M, Nilsson C, McCormack S. Boosting with Subtype C CN54rgp140 Protein Adjuvanted with Glucopyranosyl Lipid Adjuvant after Priming with HIV-DNA and HIV-MVA Is Safe and Enhances Immune Responses: A Phase I Trial. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0155702. [PMID: 27192151 PMCID: PMC4871571 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A vaccine against HIV is widely considered the most effective and sustainable way of reducing new infections. We evaluated the safety and impact of boosting with subtype C CN54rgp140 envelope protein adjuvanted in glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant (GLA-AF) in Tanzanian volunteers previously given three immunizations with HIV-DNA followed by two immunizations with recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (HIV-MVA). Methods Forty volunteers (35 vaccinees and five placebo recipients) were given two CN54rgp140/GLA-AF immunizations 30–71 weeks after the last HIV-MVA vaccination. These immunizations were delivered intramuscularly four weeks apart. Results The vaccine was safe and well tolerated except for one episode of asymptomatic hypoglycaemia that was classified as severe adverse event. Two weeks after the second HIV-MVA vaccination 34 (97%) of the 35 previously vaccinated developed Env-specific binding antibodies, and 79% and 84% displayed IFN-γ ELISpot responses to Gag and Env, respectively. Binding antibodies to subtype C Env (included in HIV-DNA and protein boost), subtype B Env (included only in HIV-DNA) and CRF01_AE Env (included only in HIV-MVA) were significantly boosted by the CN54rgp140/GLA-AF immunizations. Functional antibodies detected using an infectious molecular clone virus/peripheral blood mononuclear cell neutralization assay, a pseudovirus/TZM-bl neutralization assay or by assays for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) were not significantly boosted. In contrast, T-cell proliferative responses to subtype B MN antigen and IFN-γ ELISpot responses to Env peptides were significantly enhanced. Four volunteers not primed with HIV-DNA and HIV-MVA before the CN54rgp140/GLA-AF immunizations mounted an antibody response, while cell-mediated responses were rare. After the two Env subtype C protein immunizations, a trend towards higher median subtype C Env binding antibody titers was found in vaccinees who had received HIV-DNA and HIV-MVA prior to the two Env protein immunizations as compared to unprimed vaccinees (p = 0.07). Conclusion We report excellent tolerability, enhanced binding antibody responses and Env-specific cell-mediated immune responses but no ADCC antibody increase after two immunizations with a subtype C rgp140 protein adjuvanted in GLA-AF in healthy volunteers previously immunized with HIV-DNA and HIV-MVA. Trial Registration International Clinical Trials Registry PACTR2010050002122368
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Affiliation(s)
- Agricola Joachim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail: ;
| | - Asli Bauer
- National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya, Medical Research Center, Mbeya, Tanzania
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Sarah Joseph
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christof Geldmacher
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Patricia J. Munseri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Said Aboud
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Marco Missanga
- National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya, Medical Research Center, Mbeya, Tanzania
| | - Philipp Mann
- National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya, Medical Research Center, Mbeya, Tanzania
| | - Britta Wahren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Guido Ferrari
- Department of Surgery and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Victoria R. Polonis
- The Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Merlin L. Robb
- The Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
- The Military HIV Research Program, The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | | | - Leonard Maboko
- National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya, Medical Research Center, Mbeya, Tanzania
| | - Michael Hoelscher
- National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya, Medical Research Center, Mbeya, Tanzania
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eligius F. Lyamuya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Gunnel Biberfeld
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eric Sandström
- Venhälsan, Karolinska Insitutet at Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arne Kroidl
- National Institute for Medical Research-Mbeya, Medical Research Center, Mbeya, Tanzania
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Muhammad Bakari
- Department of Internal Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Charlotta Nilsson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- The Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sheena McCormack
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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19
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Karpenko LI, Bazhan SI, Bogryantseva MP, Ryndyuk NN, Ginko ZI, Kuzubov VI, Lebedev LR, Kaplina ON, Reguzova AY, Ryzhikov AB, Usova SV, Oreshkova SF, Nechaeva EA, Danilenko ED, Ilyichev AA. Results of phase I clinical trials of a combined vaccine against HIV-1 based on synthetic polyepitope immunogens. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162016020060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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20
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Balance between activation and regulation of HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell response after modified vaccinia Ankara B therapeutic vaccination. AIDS 2016; 30:553-62. [PMID: 26558724 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000000966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The causes of HIV-vaccines failure are poorly understood. Therapeutic vaccination with modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-B in HIV-1-infected individuals did not control the virus upon analytical treatment interruption (ATI). We investigated whether the functional characteristics of HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses stimulated by this vaccine, and the level of exhaustion of these cells might explain these results. METHODS Twenty-one HIV-1 chronically infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy, included in the therapeutic vaccine trial RISVAC03, were studied: 13 immunized and eight controls. Functional characteristics, cytotoxic potential and exhaustion of HIV-specific CD8 T cells, were evaluated by polychromatic flow cytometry. Differences between groups were tested using nonparametric tests. RESULTS MVA-B vaccine induced an increase in HIV-specific CD8 T-cell response, but also increased their levels of exhaustion. At week 18 (following three immunizations) the level of response increased with respect to baseline (P = 0.02). A significant increase at weeks 18 and 24 (ATI) in granzyme B content was also observed. Interestingly, an increase in expression of exhaustion markers was found at weeks 18 (P = 0.006) and 24 (P = 0.01). However, there was no significant change in the functional profile of vaccine-induced CD8 cells. At week 36, in parallel to the rebound of plasma viremia after 12 weeks ATI, a significant increase in the level of CD8 response, in granzyme B content and in exhaustion markers expression, was observed in both groups. CONCLUSION We show that therapeutic vaccination with MVA-B tilts the balance between activation and regulation of the response of HIV-specific CD8 T cells towards regulation, which impacts on the viral rebound after ATI.
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21
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Sheets RL, Zhou T, Knezevic I. Scientific and regulatory challenges in evaluating clinical trial protocols for HIV-1/AIDS vaccines - A review from a regulatory perspective. Biologicals 2015; 44:90-110. [PMID: 26732973 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2015.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical development of prophylactic HIV/AIDS vaccines presents many scientific challenges that result in challenges for regulators reviewing clinical trial applications (CTAs). The World Health Organization (WHO) has the responsibility to provide technical support to these regulators. The search for an HIV/AIDS vaccine will only succeed through well-designed, -conducted and -controlled human efficacy studies reviewed and approved by regulators in countries worldwide, particularly in countries where the epidemic has hit hardest, such as in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. This review summarizes the current candidates in development and focuses on challenges regulators face when reviewing CTAs, such as the evolving landscape of "standard of prevention," trials in adolescents, adaptive trial designs, correlates of protection and their analysis, and access to successful vaccines. There are many unknowns in the field of HIV/AIDS vaccine development and often, there is not a clear right or wrong approach because of the scientific challenges described in this review. Consequently, regulators should not feel that decisions need be made in isolation, when there are many available international collaborative efforts and opportunities to seek expert advice. The WHO provides many such opportunities and support to regulators across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - TieQun Zhou
- Technologies Standards and Norms Team, Regulation of Medicines and Other Health Technologies, Department of Essential Medicines and Health Products, Health Systems and Innovation, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
| | - Ivana Knezevic
- Technologies Standards and Norms Team, Regulation of Medicines and Other Health Technologies, Department of Essential Medicines and Health Products, Health Systems and Innovation, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
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22
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Klein N, Palma P, Luzuriaga K, Pahwa S, Nastouli E, Gibb DM, Rojo P, Borkowsky W, Bernardi S, Zangari P, Calvez V, Compagnucci A, Wahren B, Foster C, Munoz-Fernández MÁ, De Rossi A, Ananworanich J, Pillay D, Giaquinto C, Rossi P. Early antiretroviral therapy in children perinatally infected with HIV: a unique opportunity to implement immunotherapeutic approaches to prolong viral remission. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2015; 15:1108-1114. [PMID: 26187030 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(15)00052-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
From the use of antiretroviral therapy to prevent mother-to-child transmission to the possibility of HIV cure hinted at by the Mississippi baby experience, paediatric HIV infection has been pivotal to our understanding of HIV pathogenesis and management. Daily medication and indefinite antiretroviral therapy is recommended for children infected with HIV. Maintenance of life-long adherence is difficult and the incidence of triple-class virological failure after initiation of antiretroviral therapy increases with time. This challenge shows the urgent need to define novel strategies to provide long-term viral suppression that will allow safe interruption of antiretroviral therapy without viral rebound and any associated complications. HIV-infected babies treated within a few days of birth have a unique combination of a very small pool of integrated viruses, a very high proportion of relatively HIV resistant naive T cells, and an unparalleled capacity to regenerate an immune repertoire. These features make this group the optimum model population to investigate the potential efficacy of immune-based therapies. If successful, these investigations could change the way we manage HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel Klein
- Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Paolo Palma
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Katherine Luzuriaga
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Savita Pahwa
- Miami Center for AIDS Research Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Eleni Nastouli
- Department of Virology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Diane M Gibb
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, London, UK
| | - Pablo Rojo
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Stefania Bernardi
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Zangari
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincent Calvez
- Pierre et Marie Curie University and Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Compagnucci
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale SC10-US019 Clinical Trials and Infectious Diseases, Villejuif, Paris, France
| | - Britta Wahren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline Foster
- Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Anita De Rossi
- Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology-DiSCOG, University of Padova, and Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy
| | - Jintanat Ananworanich
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Deenan Pillay
- Africa Centre, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Carlo Giaquinto
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, and Penta Foundation, Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Rossi
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
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23
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Ramirez LA, Arango T, Boyer J. Therapeutic and prophylactic DNA vaccines for HIV-1. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2015; 13:563-73. [PMID: 23477730 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2013.758709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION DNA vaccines have moved into clinical trials in several fields and their success will be important for licensure of this vaccine modality. An effective vaccine for HIV-1 remains elusive and the development of one is troubled by safety and efficacy issues. Additionally, the ability for an HIV-1 vaccine to induce both the cellular and humoral arms of the immune system is needed. DNA vaccines not only offer a safe approach for the development of an HIV-1 vaccine but they have also been shown to elicit both arms of the immune system. AREAS COVERED This review explores how DNA vaccine design including the regimen, genetic adjuvants used, targeting, and mode of delivery continues to undergo improvements, thereby providing a potential option for an immunogenic vaccine for HIV-1. EXPERT OPINION Continued improvements in delivery technology, in particular electroporation, and the use of prime-boost vaccine strategies will aid in boosting the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. Basic immunology research will also help discover new potential adjuvant targets that can be combined with DNA vaccination, such as inhibitors of inhibitory receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Antonio Ramirez
- University of Pennsylvania, Pathology, Stellar Chance Labs, 422 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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24
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The EPIICAL project: an emerging global collaboration to investigate immunotherapeutic strategies in HIV-infected children. J Virus Erad 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/s2055-6640(20)30510-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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25
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Palma P, Foster C, Rojo P, Zangari P, Yates A, Cotugno N, Klein N, Luzuriaga K, Pahwa S, Nastouli E, Gibb DM, Borkowsky W, Bernardi S, Calvez V, Manno E, Mora N, Compagnucci A, Wahren B, Muñoz-Fernández MÁ, De Rossi A, Ananworanich J, Pillay D, Giaquinto C, Rossi P. The EPIICAL project: an emerging global collaboration to investigate immunotherapeutic strategies in HIV-infected children. J Virus Erad 2015; 1:134-139. [PMID: 26893908 PMCID: PMC4755515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The EPIICAL (Early-treated Perinatally HIV-infected Individuals: Improving Children's Actual Life with Novel Immunotherapeutic Strategies) project arises from the firm belief that perinatally infected children treated with suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) from early infancy represent the optimal population model in which to study novel immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at achieving ART-free remission. This is because HIV-infected infants treated within 2-3 months of life have a much reduced viral reservoir size, and rarely show HIV-specific immunity but preserve normal immune development. The goal of EPIICAL is the establishment of an international collaboration to develop a predictive platform using this model to select promising HIV therapeutic vaccine candidates, leading to prioritisation or deprioritisation of novel immunotherapeutic strategies. To establish this platform, the EPIICAL Consortium aims to: develop predictive models of virological and immunological dynamics associated with response to early ART and to treatment interruption using available data from existing cohorts/studies of early-treated perinatally HIV-infected children; optimise methodologies to better characterise immunological, virological and genomic correlates/profiles associated with viral control; test novel immunotherapeutic strategies using in vivo proof-of-concept (PoC) studies with the aim of inducing virological, immunological and transcriptomic correlates/profiles equivalent to those defined by the predictive model. This approach will strengthen the capacity for discovery, development and initial testing of new therapeutic vaccine strategies through the integrated efforts of leading international scientific groups, with the aim of improving the health of HIV-infected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Palma
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases,
Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù,
Rome,
Italy
| | - C Foster
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust,
London,
UK
| | - P Rojo
- Department of Pediatrics,
Hospital 12 de Octubre,
Madrid,
Spain
| | - P Zangari
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases,
Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù,
Rome,
Italy
- Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Systems Medicine,
University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’,
Italy
| | - A Yates
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation,
University of Glasgow,
Glasgow,
UK
| | - N Cotugno
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases,
Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù,
Rome,
Italy
- Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Systems Medicine,
University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’,
Italy
| | - N Klein
- Institute of Child Health,
University College London,
London,
UK
| | - K Luzuriaga
- Program in Molecular Medicine,
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester,
MA,
USA
| | - S Pahwa
- Miami Center for AIDS Research Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine,
Miami,
FL,
USA
| | - E Nastouli
- Department of Virology,
University College London Hospitals,
London,
UK
| | - DM Gibb
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit,
London,
UK
| | | | - S Bernardi
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases,
Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù,
Rome,
Italy
| | - V Calvez
- Pierre et Marie Curie University and Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital,
Paris,
France
| | - E Manno
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases,
Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù,
Rome,
Italy
- Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Systems Medicine,
University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’,
Italy
| | - Nadia Mora
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases,
Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù,
Rome,
Italy
| | - A Compagnucci
- INSERM SC10-US019 Clinical Trials and Infectious Diseases,
Villejuif Paris,
France
| | - B Wahren
- Department of Microbiology,
Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet,
Stockholm,
Sweden
| | - MÁ Muñoz-Fernández
- Department of Molecular ImmunoBiology,
Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon,
Madrid,
Spain
| | - A De Rossi
- Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology-DiSCOG,
University of Padova & Istituto Oncologico Veneto(IOV)-IRCCS,
Padova Padova,
Italy
| | - J Ananworanich
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine,
Maryland,
USA
| | - D Pillay
- Africa Centre,
KwaZulu Natal,
South Africa
| | - C Giaquinto
- Department of Women's and Child's Health, Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit,
University of Padova and PENTA Foundation,
Italy
| | - P Rossi
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases,
Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù,
Rome,
Italy
- Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Systems Medicine,
University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’,
Italy
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26
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Nilsson C, Hejdeman B, Godoy-Ramirez K, Tecleab T, Scarlatti G, Bråve A, Earl PL, Stout RR, Robb ML, Shattock RJ, Biberfeld G, Sandström E, Wahren B. HIV-DNA Given with or without Intradermal Electroporation Is Safe and Highly Immunogenic in Healthy Swedish HIV-1 DNA/MVA Vaccinees: A Phase I Randomized Trial. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131748. [PMID: 26121679 PMCID: PMC4486388 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We compared safety and immunogenicity of intradermal (ID) vaccination with and without electroporation (EP) in a phase I randomized placebo-controlled trial of an HIV-DNA prime HIV-MVA boost vaccine in healthy Swedish volunteers. METHODS HIV-DNA plasmids encoding HIV-1 genes gp160 subtypes A, B and C; Rev B; Gag A and B and RTmut B were given ID at weeks 0, 6 and 12 in a dose of 0.6 mg. Twenty-five volunteers received vaccine using a needle-free device (ZetaJet) with (n=16) or without (n=9) ID EP (Dermavax). Five volunteers were placebo recipients. Boosting with recombinant MVA-CMDR expressing HIV-1 Env, Gag, Pol of CRF01_AE (HIV-MVA) or placebo was performed at weeks 24 and 40. Nine of the vaccinees received a subtype C CN54 gp140 protein boost together with HIV-MVA. RESULTS The ID/EP delivery was very well tolerated. After three HIV-DNA immunizations, no statistically significant difference was seen in the IFN-γ ELISpot response rate to Gag between HIV-DNA ID/EP recipients (5/15, 33%) and HIV-DNA ID recipients (1/7, 14%, p=0.6158). The first HIV-MVA or HIV-MVA+gp140 vaccination increased the IFN-γ ELISpot response rate to 18/19 (95%). CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cell responses to Gag or Env were demonstrable in 94% of vaccinees. A balanced CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response was noted, with 78% and 71% responders, respectively. IFN-γ and IL-2 dominated the CD4+ T cell response to Gag and Env. The CD8+ response to Gag was broader with expression of IFN-γ, IL-2, MIP-1β and/or CD107. No differences were seen between DNA vaccine groups. Binding antibodies were induced after the second HIV-MVA+/-gp140 in 93% of vaccinees to subtype C Env, with the highest titers among EP/gp140 recipients. CONCLUSION Intradermal electroporation of HIV-DNA was well tolerated. Strong cell- and antibody-mediated immune responses were elicited by the HIV-DNA prime and HIV-MVA boosting regimen, with or without intradermal electroporation use. TRIAL REGISTRATION International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 60284968.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotta Nilsson
- Department of Microbiology, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Bo Hejdeman
- Venhälsan, Department of Education and Clinical Research, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Teghesti Tecleab
- Department of Microbiology, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Gabriella Scarlatti
- Viral Evolution and Transmission Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and infectious diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andreas Bråve
- Department of Microbiology, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Patricia L. Earl
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD, United States of America
| | | | - Merlin L. Robb
- Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Robin J. Shattock
- Imperial College London, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Medicine, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gunnel Biberfeld
- Department of Microbiology, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eric Sandström
- Venhälsan, Department of Education and Clinical Research, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Britta Wahren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Gupta S, Garg NJ. A Two-Component DNA-Prime/Protein-Boost Vaccination Strategy for Eliciting Long-Term, Protective T Cell Immunity against Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004828. [PMID: 25951312 PMCID: PMC4423834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the long-term efficacy of a two-component subunit vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with TcG2/TcG4 vaccine delivered by a DNA-prime/Protein-boost (D/P) approach and challenged with T. cruzi at 120 or 180 days post-vaccination (dpv). We examined whether vaccine-primed T cell immunity was capable of rapid expansion and intercepting the infecting T. cruzi. Our data showed that D/P vaccine elicited CD4+ (30-38%) and CD8+ (22-42%) T cells maintained an effector phenotype up to 180 dpv, and were capable of responding to antigenic stimulus or challenge infection by a rapid expansion (CD8>CD4) with type 1 cytokine (IFNγ+ and TFNα+) production and cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Subsequently, challenge infection at 120 or 180 dpv, resulted in 2-3-fold lower parasite burden in vaccinated mice than was noted in unvaccinated/infected mice. Co-delivery of IL-12- and GMCSF-encoding expression plasmids provided no significant benefits in enhancing the anti-parasite efficacy of the vaccine-induced T cell immunity. Booster immunization (bi) with recombinant TcG2/TcG4 proteins 3-months after primary vaccine enhanced the protective efficacy, evidenced by an enhanced expansion (1.2-2.8-fold increase) of parasite-specific, type 1 CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and a potent CTL response capable of providing significantly improved (3-4.5-fold) control of infecting T. cruzi. Further, CD8+T cells in vaccinated/bi mice were predominantly of central memory phenotype, and capable of responding to challenge infection 4-6-months post bi by a rapid expansion to a poly-functional effector phenotype, and providing a 1.5-2.3-fold reduction in tissue parasite replication. We conclude that the TcG2/TcG4 D/P vaccine provided long-term anti-T. cruzi T cell immunity, and bi would be an effective strategy to maintain or enhance the vaccine-induced protective immunity against T. cruzi infection and Chagas disease. Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, represents the third greatest tropical disease burden in the world. No vaccine or suitable treatment is available for control of this infection. Based upon several studies we have conducted, we believe that TcG2 and TcG4 candidate antigens that are highly conserved in T. cruzi, expressed in clinically relevant forms of the parasite, and recognized by both B and T cell responses in multiple hosts, are an excellent choice for subunit vaccine development. In this study, we demonstrate that the delivery of TcG2 and TcG4 as a DNA-prime/protein-boost vaccine provided long-term protection from challenge infection, and this protection was associated with elicitation of long-lived CD8+ effector T cells. The longevity and efficacy of vaccine could be enhanced by booster immunization. We believe that this is the first report demonstrating a) a subunit vaccine can be useful in achieving long-term protection against T. cruzi infection and Chagas disease, and b) the effector T cells can be long-lived and play a role in vaccine elicited protection from parasitic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivali Gupta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SG); (NJG)
| | - Nisha J. Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SG); (NJG)
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Priming with a simplified intradermal HIV-1 DNA vaccine regimen followed by boosting with recombinant HIV-1 MVA vaccine is safe and immunogenic: a phase IIa randomized clinical trial. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119629. [PMID: 25875843 PMCID: PMC4398367 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Intradermal priming with HIV-1 DNA plasmids followed by HIV-1MVA boosting induces strong and broad cellular and humoral immune responses. In our previous HIVIS-03 trial, we used 5 injections with 2 pools of HIV-DNA at separate sites for each priming immunization. The present study explores whether HIV-DNA priming can be simplified by reducing the number of DNA injections and administration of combined versus separated plasmid pools. Methods In this phase IIa, randomized trial, priming was performed using 5 injections of HIV-DNA, 1000 μg total dose, (3 Env and 2 Gag encoding plasmids) compared to two “simplified” regimens of 2 injections of HIV-DNA, 600 μg total dose, of Env- and Gag-encoding plasmid pools with each pool either administered separately or combined. HIV-DNA immunizations were given intradermally at weeks 0, 4, and 12. Boosting was performed intramuscularly with 108 pfu HIV-MVA at weeks 30 and 46. Results 129 healthy Tanzanian participants were enrolled. There were no differences in adverse events between the groups. The proportion of IFN-γ ELISpot responders to Gag and/or Env peptides after the second HIV-MVA boost did not differ significantly between the groups primed with 2 injections of combined HIV-DNA pools, 2 injections with separated pools, and 5 injections with separated pools (90%, 97% and 97%). There were no significant differences in the magnitude of Gag and/or Env IFN-γ ELISpot responses, in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses measured as IFN-γ/IL-2 production by intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) or in response rates and median titers for binding antibodies to Env gp160 between study groups. Conclusions A simplified intradermal vaccination regimen with 2 injections of a total of 600 μg with combined HIV-DNA plasmids primed cellular responses as efficiently as the standard regimen of 5 injections of a total of 1000 μg with separated plasmid pools after boosting twice with HIV-MVA. Trial Registration World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform PACTR2010050002122368
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29
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Knudsen ML, Ljungberg K, Tatoud R, Weber J, Esteban M, Liljeström P. Alphavirus replicon DNA expressing HIV antigens is an excellent prime for boosting with recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) or with HIV gp140 protein antigen. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117042. [PMID: 25643354 PMCID: PMC4314072 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination with DNA is an attractive strategy for induction of pathogen-specific T cells and antibodies. Studies in humans have shown that DNA vaccines are safe, but their immunogenicity needs further improvement. As a step towards this goal, we have previously demonstrated that immunogenicity is increased with the use of an alphavirus DNA-launched replicon (DREP) vector compared to conventional DNA vaccines. In this study, we investigated the effect of varying the dose and number of administrations of DREP when given as a prime prior to a heterologous boost with poxvirus vector (MVA) and/or HIV gp140 protein formulated in glucopyranosyl lipid A (GLA-AF) adjuvant. The DREP and MVA vaccine constructs encoded Env and a Gag-Pol-Nef fusion protein from HIV clade C. One to three administrations of 0.2 μg DREP induced lower HIV-specific T cell and IgG responses than the equivalent number of immunizations with 10 μg DREP. However, the two doses were equally efficient as a priming component in a heterologous prime-boost regimen. The magnitude of immune responses depended on the number of priming immunizations rather than the dose. A single low dose of DREP prior to a heterologous boost resulted in greatly increased immune responses compared to MVA or protein antigen alone, demonstrating that a mere 0.2 μg DREP was sufficient for priming immune responses. Following a DREP prime, T cell responses were expanded greatly by an MVA boost, and IgG responses were also expanded when boosted with protein antigen. When MVA and protein were administered simultaneously following multiple DREP primes, responses were slightly compromised compared to administering them sequentially. In conclusion, we have demonstrated efficient priming of HIV-specific T cell and IgG responses with a low dose of DREP, and shown that the priming effect depends on number of primes administered rather than dose.
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MESH Headings
- Alphavirus/genetics
- Animals
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
- DNA, Recombinant/genetics
- DNA, Viral/genetics
- Female
- Gene Expression
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- HIV Antigens/genetics
- HIV Antigens/immunology
- HIV-1/immunology
- Immunization, Secondary
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Lipid A/chemistry
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Replicon/genetics
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccinia virus/genetics
- env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/chemistry
- env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L. Knudsen
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail: (MLK); (PL)
| | - Karl Ljungberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Roger Tatoud
- Imperial College London, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Medicine, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Weber
- Imperial College London, Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Medicine, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mariano Esteban
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Peter Liljeström
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail: (MLK); (PL)
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30
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Grunwald T, Ulbert S. Improvement of DNA vaccination by adjuvants and sophisticated delivery devices: vaccine-platforms for the battle against infectious diseases. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2015; 4:1-10. [PMID: 25648133 PMCID: PMC4313101 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2015.4.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 11/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Advantages of DNA vaccination against infectious diseases over more classical immunization methods include the possibilities for rapid manufacture, fast adaptation to newly emerging pathogens and high stability at ambient temperatures. In addition, upon DNA immunization the antigen is produced by the cells of the vaccinated individual, which leads to activation of both cellular and humoral immune responses due to antigen presentation via MHC I and MHC II molecules. However, so far DNA vaccines have shown most efficient immunogenicity mainly in small rodent models, whereas in larger animals including humans there is still the need to improve effectiveness. This is mostly due to inefficient delivery of the DNA plasmid into cells and nuclei. Here, we discuss technologies used to overcome this problem, including physical means such as in vivo electroporation and co-administration of adjuvants. Several of these methods have already entered clinical testing in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Grunwald
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ulbert
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
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31
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Ondondo BO. The influence of delivery vectors on HIV vaccine efficacy. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:439. [PMID: 25202303 PMCID: PMC4141443 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of an effective HIV/AIDS vaccine remains a big challenge, largely due to the enormous HIV diversity which propels immune escape. Thus novel vaccine strategies are targeting multiple variants of conserved antibody and T cell epitopic regions which would incur a huge fitness cost to the virus in the event of mutational escape. Besides immunogen design, the delivery modality is critical for vaccine potency and efficacy, and should be carefully selected in order to not only maximize transgene expression, but to also enhance the immuno-stimulatory potential to activate innate and adaptive immune systems. To date, five HIV vaccine candidates have been evaluated for efficacy and protection from acquisition was only achieved in a small proportion of vaccinees in the RV144 study which used a canarypox vector for delivery. Conversely, in the STEP study (HVTN 502) where human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) was used, strong immune responses were induced but vaccination was more associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition than protection in vaccinees with pre-existing Ad5 immunity. The possibility that pre-existing immunity to a highly promising delivery vector may alter the natural course of HIV to increase acquisition risk is quite worrisome and a huge setback for HIV vaccine development. Thus, HIV vaccine development efforts are now geared toward delivery platforms which attain superior immunogenicity while concurrently limiting potential catastrophic effects likely to arise from pre-existing immunity or vector-related immuno-modulation. However, it still remains unclear whether it is poor immunogenicity of HIV antigens or substandard immunological potency of the safer delivery vectors that has limited the success of HIV vaccines. This article discusses some of the promising delivery vectors to be harnessed for improved HIV vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice O Ondondo
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford Oxford, UK
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32
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Immunotherapy with an HIV-DNA Vaccine in Children and Adults. Vaccines (Basel) 2014; 2:563-80. [PMID: 26344746 PMCID: PMC4494215 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines2030563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Revised: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic HIV immunization is intended to induce new HIV-specific cellular immune responses and to reduce viral load, possibly permitting extended periods without antiretroviral drugs. A multigene, multi-subtype A, B, C HIV-DNA vaccine (HIVIS) has been used in clinical trials in both children and adults with the aim of improving and broadening the infected individuals' immune responses. Despite the different country locations, different regimens and the necessary variations in assays performed, this is, to our knowledge, the first attempt to compare children's and adults' responses to a particular HIV vaccine. Ten vertically HIV-infected children aged 4-16 years were immunized during antiretroviral therapy (ART). Another ten children were blindly recruited as controls. Both groups continued their antiretroviral treatment during and after vaccinations. Twelve chronically HIV-infected adults were vaccinated, followed by repeated structured therapy interruptions (STI) of their antiretroviral treatment. The adult group included four controls, receiving placebo vaccinations. The HIV-DNA vaccine was generally well tolerated, and no serious adverse events were registered in any group. In the HIV-infected children, an increased specific immune response to Gag and RT proteins was detected by antigen-specific lymphoproliferation. Moreover, the frequency of HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell lymphocytes releasing perforin was significantly higher in the vaccinees than the controls. In the HIV-infected adults, increased CD8+ T-cell responses to Gag, RT and viral protease peptides were detected. No augmentation of HIV-specific lymphoproliferative responses were detected in adults after vaccination. In conclusion, the HIV-DNA vaccine can elicit new HIV-specific cellular immune responses, particularly to Gag antigens, in both HIV-infected children and adults. Vaccinated children mounted transient new HIV-specific immune responses, including both CD4+ T-cell lymphoproliferation and late CD8+ T-cell responses. In the adult cohort, primarily CD8+ T-cell responses related to MHC class I alleles were noted. However, no clinical benefits with respect to viral load reduction were ascribable to the vaccinations alone. No severe adverse effects related to the vaccine were found in either cohort, and no virological failures or drug resistances were detected.
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33
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Felber BK, Valentin A, Rosati M, Bergamaschi C, Pavlakis GN. HIV DNA Vaccine: Stepwise Improvements Make a Difference. Vaccines (Basel) 2014; 2:354-79. [PMID: 26344623 PMCID: PMC4494255 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines2020354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Revised: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Inefficient DNA delivery methods and low expression of plasmid DNA have been major obstacles for the use of plasmid DNA as vaccine for HIV/AIDS. This review describes successful efforts to improve DNA vaccine methodology over the past ~30 years. DNA vaccination, either alone or in combination with other methods, has the potential to be a rapid, safe, and effective vaccine platform against AIDS. Recent clinical trials suggest the feasibility of its translation to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara K Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Antonio Valentin
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Margherita Rosati
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Cristina Bergamaschi
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - George N Pavlakis
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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34
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Nilsson C, Godoy-Ramirez K, Hejdeman B, Bråve A, Gudmundsdotter L, Hallengärd D, Currier JR, Wieczorek L, Hasselrot K, Earl PL, Polonis VR, Marovich MA, Robb ML, Sandström E, Wahren B, Biberfeld G. Broad and potent cellular and humoral immune responses after a second late HIV-modified vaccinia virus ankara vaccination in HIV-DNA-primed and HIV-modified vaccinia virus Ankara-boosted Swedish vaccinees. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2014; 30:299-311. [PMID: 24090081 PMCID: PMC3938943 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2013.0149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that an HIV vaccine regimen including three HIV-DNA immunizations and a single HIV-modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) boost was safe and highly immunogenic in Swedish volunteers. A median 38 months after the first HIV-MVA vaccination, 24 volunteers received 10(8) plaque-forming units of HIV-MVA. The vaccine was well tolerated. Two weeks after this HIV-MVA vaccination, 18 (82%) of 22 evaluable vaccinees were interferon (IFN)-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) reactive: 18 to Gag and 10 (45%) to Env. A median minimal epitope count of 4 to Gag or Env was found in a subset of 10 vaccinees. Intracellular cytokine staining revealed CD4(+) and/or CD8(+) T cell responses in 23 (95%) of 24 vaccinees, 19 to Gag and 19 to Env. The frequency of HIV-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses was equally high (75%). A high proportion of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses to Gag was polyfunctional with production of three or more cytokines (40% and 60%, respectively). Of the Env-specific CD4(+) T cells 40% were polyfunctional. Strong lymphoproliferative responses to Aldrithiol-2 (AT-2)-treated subtype A, B, C, and A_E virus were demonstrable in 21 (95%) of 22 vaccinees. All vaccinees developed binding antibodies to Env and Gag. Neutralizing antibodies were detected in a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-based assay against subtype B and CRF01_AE viruses. The neutralizing antibody response rates were influenced by the vaccine dose and/or mode of delivery used at the previous HIV-MVA vaccination. Thus, a second late HIV-MVA boost induced strong and broad cellular immune responses and improved antibody responses. The data support further exploration of this vaccine concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotta Nilsson
- Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | | | - Bo Hejdeman
- Venhälsan, Department of Education and Clinical Research, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Bråve
- Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lindvi Gudmundsdotter
- Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David Hallengärd
- Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jeffrey R. Currier
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Department of Retrovirology, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Lindsay Wieczorek
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Department of Retrovirology, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Klara Hasselrot
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Disease Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) and Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Patricia L. Earl
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Victoria R. Polonis
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Department of Retrovirology, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Mary A. Marovich
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Department of Retrovirology, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Merlin L. Robb
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Department of Retrovirology, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Eric Sandström
- Venhälsan, Department of Education and Clinical Research, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Britta Wahren
- Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gunnel Biberfeld
- Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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35
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Iyer SS, Amara RR. DNA/MVA Vaccines for HIV/AIDS. Vaccines (Basel) 2014; 2:160-78. [PMID: 26344473 PMCID: PMC4494194 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines2010160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Revised: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the initial proof-of-concept studies examining the ability of antigen-encoded plasmid DNA to serve as an immunogen, DNA vaccines have evolved as a clinically safe and effective platform for priming HIV-specific cellular and humoral responses in heterologous "prime-boost" vaccination regimens. Direct injection of plasmid DNA into the muscle induces T- and B-cell responses against foreign antigens. However, the insufficient magnitude of this response has led to the development of approaches for enhancing the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. The last two decades have seen significant progress in the DNA-based vaccine platform with optimized plasmid constructs, improved delivery methods, such as electroporation, the use of molecular adjuvants and novel strategies combining DNA with viral vectors and subunit proteins. These innovations are paving the way for the clinical application of DNA-based HIV vaccines. Here, we review preclinical studies on the DNA-prime/modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-boost vaccine modality for HIV. There is a great deal of interest in enhancing the immunogenicity of DNA by engineering DNA vaccines to co-express immune modulatory adjuvants. Some of these adjuvants have demonstrated encouraging results in preclinical and clinical studies, and these data will be examined, as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smita S Iyer
- Emory Vaccine Center, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
| | - Rama R Amara
- Emory Vaccine Center, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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36
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Accelerating clinical development of HIV vaccine strategies: methodological challenges and considerations in constructing an optimised multi-arm phase I/II trial design. Trials 2014; 15:68. [PMID: 24571662 PMCID: PMC3941694 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many candidate vaccine strategies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are under study, but their clinical development is lengthy and iterative. To accelerate HIV vaccine development optimised trial designs are needed. We propose a randomised multi-arm phase I/II design for early stage development of several vaccine strategies, aiming at rapidly discarding those that are unsafe or non-immunogenic. Methods We explored early stage designs to evaluate both the safety and the immunogenicity of four heterologous prime-boost HIV vaccine strategies in parallel. One of the vaccines used as a prime and boost in the different strategies (vaccine 1) has yet to be tested in humans, thus requiring a phase I safety evaluation. However, its toxicity risk is considered minimal based on data from similar vaccines. We newly adapted a randomised phase II trial by integrating an early safety decision rule, emulating that of a phase I study. We evaluated the operating characteristics of the proposed design in simulation studies with either a fixed-sample frequentist or a continuous Bayesian safety decision rule and projected timelines for the trial. Results We propose a randomised four-arm phase I/II design with two independent binary endpoints for safety and immunogenicity. Immunogenicity evaluation at trial end is based on a single-stage Fleming design per arm, comparing the observed proportion of responders in an immunogenicity screening assay to an unacceptably low proportion, without direct comparisons between arms. Randomisation limits heterogeneity in volunteer characteristics between arms. To avoid exposure of additional participants to an unsafe vaccine during the vaccine boost phase, an early safety decision rule is imposed on the arm starting with vaccine 1 injections. In simulations of the design with either decision rule, the risks of erroneous conclusions were controlled <15%. Flexibility in trial conduct is greater with the continuous Bayesian rule. A 12-month gain in timelines is expected by this optimised design. Other existing designs such as bivariate or seamless phase I/II designs did not offer a clear-cut alternative. Conclusions By combining phase I and phase II evaluations in a multi-arm trial, the proposed optimised design allows for accelerating early stage clinical development of HIV vaccine strategies.
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Boosting functional avidity of CD8+ T cells by vaccinia virus vaccination depends on intrinsic T-cell MyD88 expression but not the inflammatory milieu. J Virol 2014; 88:5356-68. [PMID: 24554667 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.03664-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED T-cell functional avidity is a crucial determinant for efficient pathogen clearance. Although recombinant DNA priming coupled with a vaccinia-vectored vaccine (VACV) boost has been widely used to mount robust CD8+ T-cell responses, how VACV boost shapes the properties of memory CD8+ T cells remains poorly defined. Here, we characterize the memory CD8+ T cells boosted by VACV and demonstrate that the intrinsic expression of MyD88 is critical for their high functional avidity. Independent of selection of clones with high-affinity T-cell receptor (TCR) or of enhanced proximal TCR signaling, the VACV boost significantly increased T-cell functional avidity through a decrease in the activation threshold. VACV-induced inflammatory milieu is not sufficient for this improvement, as simultaneous administration of the DNA vaccine and mock VACV had no effects on the functional avidity of memory CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, reciprocal adoptive transfer models revealed that the intrinsic MyD88 pathway is required for instructing the functional avidity of CD8+ T cells boosted by VACV. Taking these results together, the intrinsic MyD88 pathway is required for the high functional avidity of VACV-boosted CD8+ T cells independent of TCR selection or the VACV infection-induced MyD88-mediated inflammatory milieu. IMPORTANCE Functional avidity is one of the crucial determinants of T-cell functionality. Interestingly, although it has been demonstrated that a DNA prime-VACV boost regimen elicits high levels of T-cell functional avidity, how VACV changes the low avidity of CD8+ T cells primed by DNA into higher ones in vivo is less defined. Here, we proved that the enhancement of CD8+ T cell avidity induced by VACV boost is mediated by the intrinsic MyD88 pathway but not the MyD88-mediated inflammatory milieu, which might provide prompts in vaccine design.
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Quinan BR, Daian DSO, Coelho FM, da Fonseca FG. Modified vaccinia virus Ankara as vaccine vectors in human and veterinary medicine. Future Virol 2014. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl.13.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Disease prevention through vaccination is one of the most important achievements of medicine. Today, we have a substantial number of vaccines against a variety of pathogens. In this context, poxviruses and vaccinology are closely related, as the birth of modern vaccinology was marked by the use of poxviruses as immunogens and so was the eradication of smallpox, one of the world's most feared diseases ever. Nowadays, poxviruses continue to notoriously contribute to vaccinology since their use as vaccine vectors has become popular and widespread. One of the most promising vectors is the modified vaccinia ankara. In this review we provide an overview of the contribution of poxvirus to vaccine immunology, particularly focusing on modified vaccinia ankara-based vaccines developed to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara R Quinan
- Laboratory of Basic & Applied Virology, Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Danielle SO Daian
- Laboratory of Basic & Applied Virology, Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Fabiana M Coelho
- Laboratory of Basic & Applied Virology, Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Flávio G da Fonseca
- Laboratory of Basic & Applied Virology, Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Microbiologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, 31270-901
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Deletion of the vaccinia virus N2L gene encoding an inhibitor of IRF3 improves the immunogenicity of modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing HIV-1 antigens. J Virol 2014; 88:3392-410. [PMID: 24390336 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02723-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED A modified vaccinia virus Ankara poxvirus vector expressing the HIV-1 Env, Gag, Pol, and Nef antigens from clade B (MVA-B) is currently being tested in clinical trials. To improve its immunogenicity, we have generated and characterized the immune profile of MVA-B containing a deletion of the vaccinia viral gene N2L, which codes for an inhibitor of IRF3 (MVA-B ΔN2L). Deletion of N2L had no effect on virus growth kinetics or on the expression of HIV-1 antigens; hence, the N2 protein is not essential for MVA replication. The innate immune responses triggered by MVA-B ΔN2L revealed an increase in beta interferon, proinflammatory cytokines, and chemokines. Mouse prime-boost protocols showed that MVA-B ΔN2L improves the magnitude and polyfunctionality of HIV-1-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell adaptive and memory immune responses, with most of the HIV-1 responses mediated by CD8(+) T cells. In the memory phase, HIV-1-specific CD8(+) T cells with an effector phenotype were predominant and in a higher percentage with MVA-B ΔN2L than with MVA-B. In both immunization groups, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses were directed mainly against Env. Furthermore, MVA-B ΔN2L in the memory phase enhanced levels of antibody against Env. For the vector immune responses, MVA-B ΔN2L induced a greater magnitude and polyfunctionality of VACV-specific CD8(+) T memory cells than MVA-B, with an effector phenotype. These results revealed the immunomodulatory role of N2L, whose deletion enhanced the innate immunity and improved the magnitude and quality of HIV-1-specific T cell adaptive and memory immune responses. These findings are relevant for the optimization of poxvirus vectors as vaccines. IMPORTANCE On the basis of the limited efficacy of the RV144 phase III clinical trial, new optimized poxvirus vectors as vaccines against HIV/AIDS are needed. Here we have generated and characterized a new HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate on the basis of the poxvirus MVA vector expressing HIV-1 Env, Gag, Pol, and Nef antigens (MVA-B) and containing a deletion in the vaccinia virus N2L gene. Our findings revealed the immunomodulatory role of N2L and proved that its deletion from the MVA-B vector triggered an enhanced innate immune response in human macrophages and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Furthermore, in immunized mice, MVA-B ΔN2L induced improvements in the magnitude and quality of adaptive and memory HIV-1-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell immune responses, together with an increase in the memory phase of levels of antibody against Env. Thus, the selective deletion of the N2L viral immunomodulatory gene is important for the optimization of MVA vectors as HIV-1 vaccines.
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Starodubova ES, Isaguliants MG, Kuzmenko YV, Latanova AA, Krotova OA, Karpov VL. Fusion to the Lysosome Targeting Signal of the Invariant Chain Alters the Processing and Enhances the Immunogenicity of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase. Acta Naturae 2014; 6:61-8. [PMID: 24772328 PMCID: PMC3999467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular processing of the antigen encoded by a DNA vaccine is one of the key steps in generating an immune response. Immunization with DNA constructs targeted to the endosomal-lysosomal compartments and to the MHC class II pathway can elicit a strong immune response. Herein, the weakly immunogenic reverse transcriptase of HIV-1 was fused to the minimal lysosomal targeting motif of the human MHC class II invariant chain. The motif fused to the N-terminus shifted the enzyme intracellular localization and accelerated its degradation. Degradation of the chimeric protein occurred predominantly in the lysosomal compartment. BALB/c mice immunized with the plasmid encoding the chimeric protein demonstrated an enhanced immune response, in the form of an increased antigen-specific production of Th1 cytokines, INF-γ and IL-2, by mouse splenocytes. Moreover, the majority of the splenocytes secreted both cytokines; i.e., were polyfunctional. These findings suggest that retargeting of the antigen to the lysosomes enhances the immune response to DNA vaccine candidates with low intrinsic immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. S. Starodubova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Vaviolva str., 32, 119991, Moscow, Russia
- D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098, Moscow, Russia
| | - M. G. Isaguliants
- D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Y. V. Kuzmenko
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Vaviolva str., 32, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - A. A. Latanova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Vaviolva str., 32, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - O. A. Krotova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Vaviolva str., 32, 119991, Moscow, Russia
- D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098, Moscow, Russia
| | - V. L. Karpov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Vaviolva str., 32, 119991, Moscow, Russia
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Bakari M, Munseri P, Francis J, Aris E, Moshiro C, Siyame D, Janabi M, Ngatoluwa M, Aboud S, Lyamuya E, Sandström E, Mhalu F. Experiences on recruitment and retention of volunteers in the first HIV vaccine trial in Dar es Salam, Tanzania - the phase I/II HIVIS 03 trial. BMC Public Health 2013; 13:1149. [PMID: 24321091 PMCID: PMC4029747 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-1149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Eventual control of HIV/AIDS is believed to be ultimately dependent on a safe, effective and affordable vaccine. Participation of sub-Saharan Africa in the conduct of HIV trials is crucial as this region still experiences high HIV incidences. We describe the experience of recruiting and retaining volunteers in the first HIV vaccine trial (HIVIS03) in Tanzania. Methods In this trial enrolled volunteers from amongst Police Officers (POs) in Dar es Salaam were primed with HIV-1 DNA vaccine at months 0, 1 and 3; and boosted with HIV-1 MVA vaccine at months 9 and 21. A stepwise education provision/sensitization approach was employed to eventual recruitment. Having identified a “core” group of POs keen on HIV prevention activities, those interested to participate in the vaccine trial were invited for a first screening session that comprised of provision of detailed study information and medical evaluation. In the second screening session results of the initial assessment were provided and those eligible were assessed for willingness to participate (WTP). Those willing were consented and eventually randomized into the trial having met the eligibility criteria. Voluntary participation was emphasized throughout. Results Out of 408 POs who formed the core group, 364 (89.0%) attended the educational sessions. 263 out of 364 (72.2%) indicated willingness to participate in the HIV vaccine trial. 98% of those indicating WTP attended the pre-screening workshops. 220 (85.0%) indicated willingness to undergo first screening and 177 POs attended for initial screenings, of whom 162 (91.5%) underwent both clinical and laboratory screenings. 119 volunteers (73.5%) were eligible for the study. 79 were randomized into the trial, while 19 did not turn up, the major reason being partner/family advice. 60 volunteers including 15 females were recruited during a one-year period. All participated in the planned progress updates workshops. Retention into the schedule was: 98% for the 3 DNA/placebo vaccinations, while it was 83% and 73% for the first and second MVA/placebo vaccinations respectively. Conclusion In this first HIV vaccine trial in Tanzania, we successfully recruited the volunteers and there was no significant loss to follow up. Close contact and updates on study progress facilitated the observed retention rates. Trial registration numbers ISRCTN90053831 ISRNCT01132976 and ATMR2009040001075080
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Bakari
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P,O, Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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Karpenko LI, Bazhan SI, Antonets DV, Belyakov IM. Novel approaches in polyepitope T-cell vaccine development against HIV-1. Expert Rev Vaccines 2013; 13:155-73. [PMID: 24308576 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2014.861748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
RV144 clinical trial was modestly effective in preventing HIV infection. New alternative approaches are needed to design improved HIV-1 vaccines and their delivery strategies. One of these approaches is construction of synthetic polyepitope HIV-1 immunogen using protective T- and B-cell epitopes that can induce broadly neutralizing antibodies and responses of cytotoxic (CD8(+) CTL) and helpers (CD4(+) Th) T-lymphocytes. This approach seems to be promising for designing of new generation of vaccines against HIV-1, enables in theory to cope with HIV-1 antigenic variability, focuses immune responses on protective determinants and enables to exclude from the vaccine compound that can induce autoantibodies or antibodies enhancing HIV-1 infectivity. Herein, the authors will focus on construction and rational design of polyepitope T-cell HIV-1 immunogens and their delivery, including: advantages and disadvantages of existing T-cell epitope prediction methods; features of organization of polyepitope immunogens, which can generate high-level CD8(+) and CD4(+) T-lymphocyte responses; the strategies to optimize efficient processing, presentation and immunogenicity of polyepitope constructs; original software to design polyepitope immunogens; and delivery vectors as well as mucosal strategies of vaccination. This new knowledge may bring us a one step closer to developing an effective T-cell vaccine against HIV-1, other chronic viral infections and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa I Karpenko
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, 630559, Russia
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Palma P, Romiti ML, Montesano C, Santilli V, Mora N, Aquilani A, Dispinseri S, Tchidjou HK, Montano M, Eriksson LE, Baldassari S, Bernardi S, Scarlatti G, Wahren B, Rossi P. Therapeutic DNA vaccination of vertically HIV-infected children: report of the first pediatric randomised trial (PEDVAC). PLoS One 2013; 8:e79957. [PMID: 24312194 PMCID: PMC3842924 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Subjects Twenty vertically HIV-infected children, 6–16 years of age, with stable viral load control and CD4+ values above 400 cells/mm3. Intervention Ten subjects continued their ongoing antiretroviral treatment (ART, Group A) and 10 were immunized with a HIV-DNA vaccine in addition to their previous therapy (ART and vaccine, Group B). The genetic vaccine represented HIV-1 subtypes A, B and C, encoded Env, Rev, Gag and RT and had no additional adjuvant. Immunizations took place at weeks 0, 4 and 12, with a boosting dose at week 36. Monitoring was performed until week 60 and extended to week 96. Results Safety data showed good tolerance of the vaccine. Adherence to ART remained high and persistent during the study and did not differ significantly between controls and vaccinees. Neither group experienced either virological failure or a decline of CD4+ counts from baseline. Higher HIV-specific cellular immune responses were noted transiently to Gag but not to other components of the vaccine. Lymphoproliferative responses to a virion antigen HIV-1 MN were higher in the vaccinees than in the controls (p = 0.047), whereas differences in reactivity to clade-specific Gag p24, RT or Env did not reach significance. Compared to baseline, the percentage of HIV-specific CD8+ lymphocytes releasing perforin in the Group B was higher after the vaccination schedule had been completed (p = 0.031). No increased CD8+ perforin levels were observed in control Group A. Conclusions The present study demonstrates the feasibility, safety and moderate immunogenicity of genetic vaccination in vertically HIV-infected children, paving the way for amplified immunotherapeutic approaches in the pediatric population. Trial registration clinicaltrialsregister.eu _2007-002359-18IT
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Palma
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital “Bambino Gesu”, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Maria Luisa Romiti
- Department of Medicine, Chair of Pediatrics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Montesano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Santilli
- Department of Medicine, Chair of Pediatrics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Nadia Mora
- Department of Medicine, Chair of Pediatrics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Aquilani
- Department of Medicine, Chair of Pediatrics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Dispinseri
- Unit of Viral Evolution and Transmission, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Hyppolite K. Tchidjou
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital “Bambino Gesu”, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Montano
- Chair of Infectious Diseases, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Lars E. Eriksson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
- School of Health Science, City University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stefania Baldassari
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital “Bambino Gesu”, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Bernardi
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital “Bambino Gesu”, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Scarlatti
- Unit of Viral Evolution and Transmission, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Britta Wahren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paolo Rossi
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital “Bambino Gesu”, Rome, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Chair of Pediatrics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
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García F, Plana M, Climent N, León A, Gatell JM, Gallart T. Dendritic cell based vaccines for HIV infection: the way ahead. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2013; 9:2445-52. [PMID: 23912672 PMCID: PMC3981855 DOI: 10.4161/hv.25876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells have a central role in HIV infection. On one hand, they are essential to induce strong HIV-specific CD4⁺ helper T-cell responses that are crucial to achieve a sustained and effective HIV-specific CD8⁺ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte able to control HIV replication. On the other hand, DCs contribute to virus dissemination and HIV itself could avoid a correct antigen presentation. As the efficacy of immune therapy and therapeutic vaccines against HIV infection has been modest in the best of cases, it has been hypothesized that ex vivo generated DC therapeutic vaccines aimed to induce effective specific HIV immune responses might overcome some of these problems. In fact, DC-based vaccine clinical trials have yielded the best results in this field. However, despite these encouraging results, functional cure has not been reached with this strategy in any patient. In this Commentary, we discuss new approaches to improve the efficacy and feasibility of this type of therapeutic vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe García
- Hospital Clinic-HIVACAT; IDIBAPS; University of Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montserrat Plana
- Hospital Clinic-HIVACAT; IDIBAPS; University of Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Climent
- Hospital Clinic-HIVACAT; IDIBAPS; University of Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain
| | - Agathe León
- Hospital Clinic-HIVACAT; IDIBAPS; University of Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose M Gatell
- Hospital Clinic-HIVACAT; IDIBAPS; University of Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Gallart
- Hospital Clinic-HIVACAT; IDIBAPS; University of Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain
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Gómez CE, Perdiguero B, García-Arriaza J, Esteban M. Clinical applications of attenuated MVA poxvirus strain. Expert Rev Vaccines 2013; 12:1395-416. [PMID: 24168097 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2013.845531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The highly attenuated poxvirus strain modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) has reached maturity as a vector delivery system and as a vaccine candidate against a broad spectrum of diseases. This has been largely recognized from research on virus-host cell interactions and immunological studies in pre-clinical and clinical trials. This review addresses the studies of MVA vectors used in phase I/II clinical trials, with the aim to provide the main findings obtained on their behavior when tested against relevant human diseases and cancer and also highlights the strategies currently implemented to improve the MVA immunogenicity. The authors assess that MVA vectors are progressing as strong vaccine candidates either alone or when administered in combination with other vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Elena Gómez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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Sui Y, Gordon S, Franchini G, Berzofsky JA. Nonhuman primate models for HIV/AIDS vaccine development. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 102:12.14.1-12.14.30. [PMID: 24510515 DOI: 10.1002/0471142735.im1214s102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The development of HIV vaccines has been hampered by the lack of an animal model that can accurately predict vaccine efficacy. Chimpanzees can be infected with HIV-1 but are not practical for research. However, several species of macaques are susceptible to the simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) that cause disease in macaques, which also closely mimic HIV in humans. Thus, macaque-SIV models of HIV infection have become a critical foundation for AIDS vaccine development. Here we examine the multiple variables and considerations that must be taken into account in order to use this nonhuman primate (NHP) model effectively. These include the species and subspecies of macaques, virus strain, dose and route of administration, and macaque genetics, including the major histocompatibility complex molecules that affect immune responses, and other virus restriction factors. We illustrate how these NHP models can be used to carry out studies of immune responses in mucosal and other tissues that could not easily be performed on human volunteers. Furthermore, macaques are an ideal model system to optimize adjuvants, test vaccine platforms, and identify correlates of protection that can advance the HIV vaccine field. We also illustrate techniques used to identify different macaque lymphocyte populations and review some poxvirus vaccine candidates that are in various stages of clinical trials. Understanding how to effectively use this valuable model will greatly increase the likelihood of finding a successful vaccine for HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Sui
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.,These authors contributed equally
| | - Shari Gordon
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.,These authors contributed equally
| | - Genoveffa Franchini
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.,These authors contributed equally
| | - Jay A Berzofsky
- Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.,These authors contributed equally
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Hallengärd D, Wahren B, Bråve A. A truncated plasmid-encoded HIV-1 reverse transcriptase displays strong immunogenicity. Viral Immunol 2013; 26:163-6. [PMID: 23573980 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2012.0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Besides being an important target in the antiretroviral therapy against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme has potential as a vaccine antigen. In this study, we explored the ability of plasmid-encoded RT to induce cell-mediated immune responses. The strategy for increasing the immunogenicity of the protein was to delete non- or low-immunogenic parts in order to focus the immune responses to known immunogenic regions. Expression and immunogenicity of the truncated RT was compared to a clinically evaluated full-length RT construct, and the truncated RT displayed enhanced in vitro expression and cell-mediated immune responses in BALB/c and HLA-A0201 transgenic C57BL/6 mice. The strong immune responses were retained also when the truncated RT was delivered as a part of a multigene HIV-1 vaccine. Linking the RT gene to a highly expressed HIV-1 protease gene did not increase the immunogenicity of RT. This optimization strategy could be used to enhance the immunogenicity of other RT-encoding DNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hallengärd
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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48
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Considerable HIV-1 vaccine development efforts have been deployed over the past decade. Put into perspective, the results from efficacy trials and the identification of correlates of risk have opened large and unforeseen avenues for vaccine development. RECENT FINDINGS The Thai efficacy trial, RV144, provided the first evidence that HIV-1 vaccine protection against HIV-1 acquisition could be achieved. The correlate of risk analysis showed that IgG antibodies against the gp120 V2 loop inversely correlated with a decreased risk of infection, whereas Env-specific IgA directly correlated with risk. Further clinical trials will focus on testing new envelope subunit proteins formulated with adjuvants capable of inducing higher and more durable functional antibody responses (both binding and broadly neutralizing antibodies). Moreover, vector-based vaccine regimens that can induce cell-mediated immune responses in addition to humoral responses remain a priority. SUMMARY Future efficacy trials will focus on prevention of HIV-1 transmission in heterosexual population in Africa and MSM in Asia. The recent successes leading to novel directions in HIV-1 vaccine development are a result of collaboration and commitment among vaccine manufacturers, funders, scientists and civil society stakeholders. Sustained and broad collaborative efforts are required to advance new vaccine strategies for higher levels of efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Louis Excler
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP), Bethesda, Maryland 20817, USA.
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49
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Choi Y, Chang J. Viral vectors for vaccine applications. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2013; 2:97-105. [PMID: 23858400 PMCID: PMC3710930 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2013.2.2.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Revised: 04/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional approach of inactivated or live-attenuated vaccine immunization has resulted in impressive success in the reduction and control of infectious disease outbreaks. However, many pathogens remain less amenable to deal with the traditional vaccine strategies, and more appropriate vaccine strategy is in need. Recent discoveries that led to increased understanding of viral molecular biology and genetics has rendered the used of viruses as vaccine platforms and as potential anti-cancer agents. Due to their ability to effectively induce both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, viral vectors are deemed as an attractive alternative to the traditional platforms to deliver vaccine antigens as well as to specifically target and kill tumor cells. With potential targets ranging from cancers to a vast number of infectious diseases, the benefits resulting from successful application of viral vectors to prevent and treat human diseases can be immense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngjoo Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
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50
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García-Arriaza J, Arnáez P, Gómez CE, Sorzano CÓS, Esteban M. Improving Adaptive and Memory Immune Responses of an HIV/AIDS Vaccine Candidate MVA-B by Deletion of Vaccinia Virus Genes (C6L and K7R) Blocking Interferon Signaling Pathways. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66894. [PMID: 23826170 PMCID: PMC3694958 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Poxvirus vector Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara (MVA) expressing HIV-1 Env, Gag, Pol and Nef antigens from clade B (termed MVA-B) is a promising HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate, as confirmed from results obtained in a prophylactic phase I clinical trial in humans. To improve the immunogenicity elicited by MVA-B, we have generated and characterized the innate immune sensing and the in vivo immunogenicity profile of a vector with a double deletion in two vaccinia virus (VACV) genes (C6L and K7R) coding for inhibitors of interferon (IFN) signaling pathways. The innate immune signals elicited by MVA-B deletion mutants (MVA-B ΔC6L and MVA-B ΔC6L/K7R) in human macrophages and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) showed an up-regulation of the expression of IFN-β, IFN-α/β-inducible genes, TNF-α, and other cytokines and chemokines. A DNA prime/MVA boost immunization protocol in mice revealed that these MVA-B deletion mutants were able to improve the magnitude and quality of HIV-1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell adaptive and memory immune responses, which were mostly mediated by CD8+ T cells of an effector phenotype, with MVA-B ΔC6L/K7R being the most immunogenic virus recombinant. CD4+ T cell responses were mainly directed against Env, while GPN-specific CD8+ T cell responses were induced preferentially by the MVA-B deletion mutants. Furthermore, antibody levels to Env in the memory phase were slightly enhanced by the MVA-B deletion mutants compared to the parental MVA-B. These findings revealed that double deletion of VACV genes that act blocking intracellularly the IFN signaling pathway confers an immunological benefit, inducing innate immune responses and increases in the magnitude, quality and durability of the HIV-1-specific T cell immune responses. Our observations highlighted the immunomodulatory role of the VACV genes C6L and K7R, and that targeting common pathways, like IRF3/IFN-β signaling, could be a general strategy to improve the immunogenicity of poxvirus-based vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan García-Arriaza
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Arnáez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen E. Gómez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Óscar S. Sorzano
- Biocomputing Unit, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariano Esteban
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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