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Zhuang Z, Zhuo J, Yuan Y, Chen Z, Zhang S, Zhu A, Zhao J, Zhao J. Harnessing T-Cells for Enhanced Vaccine Development against Viral Infections. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:478. [PMID: 38793729 PMCID: PMC11125924 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12050478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite significant strides in vaccine research and the availability of vaccines for many infectious diseases, the threat posed by both known and emerging infectious diseases persists. Moreover, breakthrough infections following vaccination remain a concern. Therefore, the development of novel vaccines is imperative. These vaccines must exhibit robust protective efficacy, broad-spectrum coverage, and long-lasting immunity. One promising avenue in vaccine development lies in leveraging T-cells, which play a crucial role in adaptive immunity and regulate immune responses during viral infections. T-cell recognition can target highly variable or conserved viral proteins, and memory T-cells offer the potential for durable immunity. Consequently, T-cell-based vaccines hold promise for advancing vaccine development efforts. This review delves into the latest research advancements in T-cell-based vaccines across various platforms and discusses the associated challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China; (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (Y.Y.); (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (A.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jianfen Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China; (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (Y.Y.); (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (A.Z.); (J.Z.)
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Yaochang Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China; (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (Y.Y.); (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (A.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Zhao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China; (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (Y.Y.); (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (A.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China; (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (Y.Y.); (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (A.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Airu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China; (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (Y.Y.); (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (A.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jingxian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China; (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (Y.Y.); (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (A.Z.); (J.Z.)
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Jincun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China; (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (Y.Y.); (Z.C.); (S.Z.); (A.Z.); (J.Z.)
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China
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Arcia D, Acevedo-Sáenz L, Rugeles MT, Velilla PA. Role of CD8 + T Cells in the Selection of HIV-1 Immune Escape Mutations. Viral Immunol 2016; 30:3-12. [PMID: 27805477 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2016.0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection represents one of the biggest public health problems worldwide. The immune response, mainly the effector mechanisms mediated by CD8+ T cells, induces the selection of mutations that allows the virus to escape the immune control. These mutations are generally selected within CD8+ T cell epitopes restricted to human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I), leading to a decrease in the presentation and recognition of the epitope, decreasing the activation of CD8+ T cells. However, these mutations may also affect cellular processing of the peptide or recognition by the T cell receptor. Escape mutations often carry a negative impact in viral fitness that is partially or totally compensated by the selection of compensatory mutations. The selection of either escape mutations or compensatory mutations may negatively affect the course of the infection. In addition, these mutations are a major barrier for the development of new therapeutic strategies focused on the induction of specific CD8+ T cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Arcia
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA , Medellín, Colombia
| | - Liliana Acevedo-Sáenz
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA , Medellín, Colombia
| | - María Teresa Rugeles
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA , Medellín, Colombia
| | - Paula A Velilla
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA , Medellín, Colombia
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Chen J, Tibroni N, Sauter D, Galaski J, Miura T, Alter G, Mueller B, Haller C, Walker BD, Kirchhoff F, Brumme ZL, Ueno T, Fackler OT. Modest attenuation of HIV-1 Vpu alleles derived from elite controller plasma. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120434. [PMID: 25793728 PMCID: PMC4368696 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the absence of antiretroviral therapy, infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can typically not be controlled by the infected host and results in the development of acquired immunodeficiency. In rare cases, however, patients spontaneously control HIV-1 replication. Mechanisms by which such elite controllers (ECs) achieve control of HIV-1 replication include particularly efficient immune responses as well as reduced fitness of the specific virus strains. To address whether polymorphisms in the accessory HIV-1 protein Vpu are associated with EC status we functionally analyzed a panel of plasma-derived vpu alleles from 15 EC and 16 chronic progressor (CP) patients. Antagonism of the HIV particle release restriction by the intrinsic immunity factor CD317/tetherin was well conserved among EC and CP Vpu alleles, underscoring the selective advantage of this Vpu function in HIV-1 infected individuals. In contrast, interference with CD317/tetherin induced NF-κB activation was little conserved in both groups. EC Vpus more frequently displayed reduced ability to downregulate cell surface levels of CD4 and MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules as well as of the NK cell ligand NTB-A. Polymorphisms potentially associated with high affinity interactions of the inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) KIR2DL2 were significantly enriched among EC Vpus but did not account for these functional differences. Together these results suggest that in a subgroup of EC patients, some Vpu functions are modestly reduced, possibly as a result of host selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyan Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Integrative Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 324, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg. Germany
| | - Nadine Tibroni
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Integrative Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 324, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg. Germany
| | - Daniel Sauter
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Johanna Galaski
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Integrative Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 324, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg. Germany
| | - Toshiyuki Miura
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Galit Alter
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Birthe Mueller
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Integrative Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 324, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg. Germany
| | - Claudia Haller
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Integrative Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 324, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg. Germany
| | - Bruce D. Walker
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Zabrina L. Brumme
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Takamasa Ueno
- Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, 2–2–1 Honjo, Kumamoto, Japan
- International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Oliver T. Fackler
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Integrative Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 324, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg. Germany
- * E-mail:
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Román VRG, Jensen KJ, Jensen SS, Leo-Hansen C, Jespersen S, Té DDS, Rodrigues CM, Janitzek CM, Vinner L, Katzenstein TL, Andersen P, Kromann I, Andreasen LV, Karlsson I, Fomsgaard A. Therapeutic vaccination using cationic liposome-adjuvanted HIV type 1 peptides representing HLA-supertype-restricted subdominant T cell epitopes: safety, immunogenicity, and feasibility in Guinea-Bissau. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2013; 29:1504-12. [PMID: 23634822 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2013.0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We have designed a therapeutic HIV-1 vaccine concept based on peptides together with the adjuvant CAF01. Peptides represented 15 HLA-supertype-restricted subdominant and conserved CD8 T cell epitopes and three CD4 T-helper cell epitopes. In this phase I clinical trial, safety and immunogenicity were assessed in untreated HIV-1-infected individuals in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. Twenty-three HIV-1-infected individuals were randomized to receive placebo (n=5) or vaccine (n=18). Safety was appraised by clinical follow-up combined with monitoring of biochemistry, hematology, CD4 T cell counts, and HIV-1 viral loads. T cell immunogenicity was monitored longitudinally by interferon (IFN)-γ ELISpot. New vaccine-specific T cell responses were induced in 6/14 vaccinees for whom ELISpot data were valid. CD4 T cell counts and viral loads were stable. The study shows that therapeutic immunization is feasible and safe in Guinea-Bissau and that it is possible to redirect T cell immunity with CAF01-adjuvanted HIV-1 peptide vaccine during untreated HIV-1 infection in some patients. However, relatively few preexisting and vaccine-induced HIV-1 T cell responses to CD8 T cell epitopes were detected against HIV-1 using IFN-γ ELISpot in this chronically infected African population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - David da Silva Té
- Centro de Tratamento Ambulatório (CTA), Hospital Nacional Simão Mendes (HNSM), Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | - Candida Medina Rodrigues
- Centro de Tratamento Ambulatório (CTA), Hospital Nacional Simão Mendes (HNSM), Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | | | - Lasse Vinner
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Peter Andersen
- Vaccine Research and Development, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ingrid Kromann
- Vaccine Research and Development, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Vibe Andreasen
- Vaccine Research and Development, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ingrid Karlsson
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Fomsgaard
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Infectious Disease Research Unit, Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Pleguezuelos O, Stoloff GA, Caparrós-Wanderley W. Synthetic immunotherapy induces HIV virus specific Th1 cytotoxic response and death of an HIV-1 infected human cell line through classic complement activation. Virol J 2013; 10:107. [PMID: 23557359 PMCID: PMC3626621 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-10-107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This manuscript describes the development of a novel synthetic immunotherapy (HIV-v) composed of four multi-epitope polypeptides targeting conserved regions in the Nef, Rev, Vif and Vpr viral proteins. Immunogenicity and cytotoxicity of HIV-v are discussed. Methods Short conserved T-cell multi-epitope regions were identified in silico in the HIV proteome. The immunogenicity of the identified HIV-v polypeptides was assessed in vivo by immunisation of C57BLK6 mice transgenic for HLA-A*0201. Splenocytes from immunised animals were exposed in vitro to soluble HIV-v polypeptides or to syngeneic (T1) or allogeneic (Jurkat) cells transfected with these polypeptides. Specific T-cell reactivity was assessed by cell-based IFN-γ ELISA. Virus specific CD3 + CD8+ IFN-γ+ recall responses were also determined by flow cytometry following in vitro exposure of splenocytes from immunised mice to syngeneic (T1) and allogeneic (H9) cells infected with HIV-1 strain IIIB. HIV-v specific antibodies were quantified by ELISA whilst antibody mediated anti-viral immunotherapeutic effect on T1 cells infected with a laboratory adapted and a primary isolate of the HIV-1 virus was assessed in a LDH-based complement mediated lysis assay. Results HIV-v elicited antigen-specific IgG and IFN−γ responses against the synthetic polypeptides in the formulation. HIV-v specific T cells recognised polypeptides presented either as soluble antigen or complexed to HLA-A*0201 following natural processing and presentation by syngeneic human T1 cells. Moreover, the CD3 + CD8+ component of the response recognised syngeneic T1 cells naturally infected with HIV-1 in a virus-specific and MHC restricted-manner. The HIV-v specific IgG response was also able to recognise human T1 cells naturally infected with HIV-1 and induce cell death through classic activation of complement. Conclusions HIV-v induces a vaccine-specific type I immune response characterised by activation of effector CD8+ T cell and antibody responses that recognise and kill human cell lines naturally infected with a laboratory adapted and a primary isolate of the HIV-1 virus. The data supports the hypothesis that alternative HIV protein targets can be effectively used to prime both cellular and antibody immune responses of clinical value in the prevention and treatment of HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Pleguezuelos
- Research and Development, SEEK, 45 Beech Street, London, EC2Y 8AD, UK.
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Karlsson I, Brandt L, Vinner L, Kromann I, Andreasen LV, Andersen P, Gerstoft J, Kronborg G, Fomsgaard A. Adjuvanted HLA-supertype restricted subdominant peptides induce new T-cell immunity during untreated HIV-1-infection. Clin Immunol 2012; 146:120-30. [PMID: 23314272 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2012.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the potential of inducing additional T-cell immunity during chronic HIV-1 infection directed to subdominant HIV-1 epitopes from common HLA-supertypes. Ten treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals were immunized with peptides in the adjuvant CAF01. One individual received placebo. T-cell immunogenicity was examined longitudinally by a flow cytometry (CD107a, IFNγ, TNFα, IL-2 and/or MIP1β expression) as well as IFNγ ELISPOT. Safety was evaluated by clinical follow up combined with monitoring of biochemistry, hematology, CD4 T-cell counts and viral load. New CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses specific for one or more vaccine epitopes were induced in 10/10 vaccinees. The responses were dominated by CD107a and MIP1β expression. There were no significant changes in HIV-1 viral load or CD4 T-cell counts. Our study demonstrates that the peptide/CAF01 vaccine is safe and that it is possible to generate new HIV-1 T-cell responses to defined epitopes in treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Karlsson
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Karlsson I, Kløverpris H, Jensen KJ, Stryhn A, Buus S, Karlsson A, Vinner L, Goulder P, Fomsgaard A. Identification of conserved subdominant HIV Type 1 CD8(+) T Cell epitopes restricted within common HLA Supertypes for therapeutic HIV Type 1 vaccines. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2012; 28:1434-43. [PMID: 22747336 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2012.0081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The high HIV-1 prevalence, up to 4.6% in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, makes it a relevant location for testing of therapeutic vaccines. With the aim of performing a clinical study in Guinea-Bissau, after first testing the vaccine for safety in Denmark, Europe, we here describe the design of a universal epitope peptide-based T cell vaccine with relevance for any geographic locations. The two major obstacles when designing such a vaccine are the high diversities of the HIV-1 genome and of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. We selected 15 CD8-restricted epitopes predicted from conserved regions of HIV-1 that were subdominant (i.e., infrequently targeted) within natural infections. Moreover, the epitopes were predicted to be restricted to at least one of the five common HLA supertypes (HLA-A01, A02, A03, B07, and B44). Here, we validated the resulting peptide-specific, HLA-restricted T cell specificities using peptide-MHC class I tetramer labeling of CD8(+) T cells from HIV-1-infected individuals. The selected vaccine epitopes are infrequently targeted in HIV-1-infected individuals from both locations. Moreover, we HLA-typed HIV-1-infected individuals and demonstrated that the selected vaccine epitopes, when targeted, are restricted to the five most common HLA supertypes at both locations. Thus, the HLA supertype-directed approach achieved HLA coverage of 95% and 100% of the examined cohorts in Guinea-Bissau and Denmark, respectively. In conclusion, the selected vaccine epitopes match the host populations and HIV-1 strains of these two distant geographic regions, justifying clinical testing in both locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Karlsson
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Kløverpris
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kristoffer Jarlov Jensen
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Bandim Health Project, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | - Anette Stryhn
- Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Panum Institut, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Buus
- Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Panum Institut, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Annika Karlsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lasse Vinner
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Philip Goulder
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anders Fomsgaard
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Fomsgaard A, Karlsson I, Gram G, Schou C, Tang S, Bang P, Kromann I, Andersen P, Andreasen LV. Development and preclinical safety evaluation of a new therapeutic HIV-1 vaccine based on 18 T-cell minimal epitope peptides applying a novel cationic adjuvant CAF01. Vaccine 2011; 29:7067-74. [PMID: 21767590 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2011] [Revised: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic immunization of HIV-1-infected individuals with or without anti-retroviral therapy is a new promising disease prevention. To induce a new cytotoxic T(CD8) lymphocyte (CTL) immunity during chronic HIV-1 infection 15 infrequently targeted but conserved HLA-supertype binding CTL epitopes from Gag, Pol, Nef, Env, Vpu and Vif were identified. The 15 T(CD8) and three T(CD4) helper peptides were GMP synthesised and formulated with a new adjuvant CAF01 which is a synthetic two-component liposomic adjuvant comprising the quaternary ammonium dimethyl-dioctadecyl-ammonium (DDA) and the immune modulator trehalose 6,6'-dibehenate (TDB). Using IFN-γ ELISPOT assay, T-cell immune induction by the vaccine was found to both CD4 and CD8 T-cell restricted peptides in HLA-A2 transgenic mice. Comprehensive toxicity studies of the CAF01 adjuvant-alone and together with different vaccines showed that CAF01 when tested at human dose levels was safe and well tolerated with only local inflammation at the site of injection and no systemic reactions. No pharmacological safety issues were observed in Beagle dogs. The HIV-1 vaccine toxicity study in the Göttingen Minipig(®) showed no systemic toxicity from five repetitive i.m. injections, each with a 2-week interval, of either the 18 HIV-1 peptide antigen solution (AFO18) or the AFO18-CAF01, in which the 18 HIV-1 peptides were formulated with the CAF01 adjuvant. Distinct inflammatory responses were observed in the injected muscles of the AFO18-CAF01 vaccine treated animals as a result of the immune stimulating effect of the adjuvant on the vaccine. The results of the toxicity studies provide optimism for phase I clinical trials evaluating the therapeutic HIV-1 T-cell vaccination approach using multiple subdominant minimal epitope peptides applying the novel cationic adjuvant CAF01.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Fomsgaard
- Virus Research & Development Laboratory, Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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VINNER LASSE, HOLMGREN BIRGITTA, JENSEN KRISTOFFERJ, ESBJORNSSON JOAKIM, BORGGREN M, HENTZE JULIEL, KARLSSON INGRID, ANDRESEN BETINAS, GRAM GREGERSJ, KLOVERPRIS HENRIK, AABY PETER, DA SILVA ZACARIASJOSÉ, FENYÖ EVAMARIA, FOMSGAARD ANDERS. Sequence analysis of HIV-1 isolates from Guinea-Bissau: selection of vaccine epitopes relevant in both West African and European countries. APMIS 2011; 119:487-97. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2011.02763.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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10
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Kloverpris HN, Karlsson I, Thorn M, Buus S, Fomsgaard A. Immune hierarchy among HIV-1 CD8+ T cell epitopes delivered by dendritic cells depends on MHC-I binding irrespective of mode of loading and immunization in HLA-A*0201 mice. APMIS 2009; 117:849-55. [PMID: 19845536 PMCID: PMC2774155 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2009.02544.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Recent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccination strategies aim at targeting a broad range of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes from different HIV-1 proteins by immunization with multiple CTL epitopes simultaneously. However, this may establish an immune hierarchical response, where the immune system responds to only a small number of the epitopes administered. To evaluate the feasibility of such vaccine strategies, we used the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0201 transgenic (tg) HHD murine in vivo model and immunized with dendritic cells pulsed with seven HIV-1-derived HLA-A*0201 binding CTL epitopes. The seven peptides were simultaneously presented on the same dendritic cell (DC) or on separate DCs before immunization to one or different lymphoid compartments. Data from this study showed that the T-cell response, as measured by cytolytic activity and γ-interferon (IFN-γ)-producing CD8+ T cells, mainly focused on two of seven administered epitopes. The magnitude of individual T-cell responses induced by immunization with multiple peptides correlated with their individual immunogenicity that depended on major histocompatibility class I binding and was not influenced by mode of loading or mode of immunization. These findings may have implications for the design of vaccines based on DCs when using multiple epitopes simultaneously.
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Gram GJ, Karlsson I, Agger EM, Andersen P, Fomsgaard A. A novel liposome-based adjuvant CAF01 for induction of CD8(+) cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) to HIV-1 minimal CTL peptides in HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6950. [PMID: 19759892 PMCID: PMC2736401 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2009] [Accepted: 08/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specific cellular cytotoxic immune responses (CTL) are important in combating viral diseases and a highly desirable feature in the development of targeted HIV vaccines. Adjuvants are key components in vaccines and may assist the HIV immunogens in inducing the desired CTL responses. In search for appropriate adjuvants for CD8(+) T cells it is important to measure the necessary immunological features e.g. functional cell killing/lysis in addition to immunological markers that can be monitored by simple immunological laboratory methods. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We tested the ability of a novel two component adjuvant, CAF01, consisting of the immune stimulating synthetic glycolipid TDB (Trehalose-Dibehenate) incorporated into cationic DDA (Dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide) liposomes to induce CD8(+) T-cell restricted cellular immune responses towards subdominant minimal HLA-A0201-restricted CTL epitopes from HIV-1 proteins in HLA-A*0201 transgenic HHD mice. CAF01 has an acceptable safety profile and is used in preclinical development of vaccines against HIV-1, malaria and tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We found that CAF01 induced cellular immune responses against HIV-1 minimal CTL epitopes in HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice to levels comparable with that of incomplete Freund's adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ingrid Karlsson
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Else Marie Agger
- Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Andersen
- Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Fomsgaard
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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12
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Induction of novel CD8+ T-cell responses during chronic untreated HIV-1 infection by immunization with subdominant cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes. AIDS 2009; 23:1329-40. [PMID: 19528789 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e32832d9b00] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential to induce additional cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) immunity during chronic HIV-1 infection. DESIGN We selected infrequently targeted or subdominant but conserved HLA-A*0201-binding epitopes in Gag, Pol, Env, Vpu and Vif. These relatively immune silent epitopes were modified as anchor-optimized peptides to improve immunogenicity and delivered on autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs). METHODS Twelve treatment-naïve HLA-A*0201 HIV-1-infected Danish individuals received 1 x 10 MDDCs subcutaneously (s.c.) (weeks 0, 2, 4 and 8), pulsed with seven CD8 T-cell epitopes and three CD4 T-cell epitopes. Epitope-specific responses were evaluated by intracellular cytokine staining for interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-2 and/or pentamer labeling 3 weeks prior to, 10 weeks after and 32 weeks after the first immunization. RESULTS Previously undetected T-cell responses specific for one or more epitopes were induced in all 12 individuals. Half of the participants had sustained CD4 T-cell responses 32 weeks after immunization. No severe adverse effects were observed. No overall or sustained change in viral load or CD4 T-cell counts was observed. CONCLUSION These data show that it is possible to generate new T-cell responses in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected individuals despite high viral loads, and thereby redirect immunity to target new multiple and rationally selected subdominant CTL epitopes. Further optimization could lead to stronger and more durable cellular responses to selected epitopes with the potential to control viral replication and prevent disease in HIV-1-infected individuals.
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Fomsgaard A, Vinner L, Therrien D, Jørgensen LB, Nielsen C, Mathiesen L, Pedersen C, Corbet S. Full-length characterization of A1/D intersubtype recombinant genomes from a therapy-induced HIV type 1 controller during acute infection and his noncontrolling partner. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2008; 24:463-72. [PMID: 18373434 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2006.0294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To increase the understanding of mechanisms of HIV control we have genetically and immunologically characterized a full-length HIV-1 isolated from an acute infection in a rare case of undetectable viremia. The subject, a 43-year-old Danish white male (DK1), was diagnosed with acute HIV-1 infection after 1 year in Uganda. Following transient antiretroviral therapy DK1 maintained undetectable viral load for more than 10 years. His Ugandan wife (UG1) developed high viral load. HIV-1 sequences from both individuals were compared by bootscanning for recombination break points. Diversity plots and phylogenic trees were constructed and diversity and evolutionary distances were calculated. Intracellular IFN-gamma in CD8(+)CD3(+) T-lymphocyte reactions was investigated by intracellular flow cytometry (IC-FACS). Virus isolates from both patients were A1D intersubtype recombinants showing 98% sequence homology in shared regions. Four of seven crossover points were identical; however, the env gene from UG1 was subtype D, but A1 in DK1. Both viruses encoded proteins of the expected length and replicated equally well in vitro. DK1 and UG1 shared the HLA-A02 tissue type. HLA-A02-restricted CD8(+) T cell IFN-gamma IC-FACS response in DK1 was detected against only one (Pol(476)) of 23 conserved epitopes. Neutralizing antibodies were induced only to the homologous isolate. These results indicate an A1D intersubtype recombination or transmission of a minor variant. Transient early antiretroviral therapy may have induced full HIV-1 control in this individual mediated by a narrow specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte and neutralizing antibody response and/or other factors yet to be characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Fomsgaard
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lasse Vinner
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dominic Therrien
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Claus Nielsen
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Mathiesen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Court Pedersen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Odense, Odense, Denmark
| | - Sylvie Corbet
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Andresen BS, Vinner L, Tang S, Bragstad K, Kronborg G, Gerstoft J, Corbet S, Fomsgaard A. Characterization of near full-length genomes of HIV type 1 strains in Denmark: basis for a universal therapeutic vaccine. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2007; 23:1442-8. [PMID: 18184088 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2007.0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We report here the near full-length sequence characterization of 17 Danish clinical HIV-1 strains isolated from HLA-A02 patients not in need of ART, with relatively low viral loads and normal CD4 cell counts. Sequencing was performed directly on DNA extracted from short-term cocultures of PBMCs. The near full-length genomes did not contain any major insertions, deletions, or rearrangements. Sixteen of the isolates were characterized as nonrecombinant subtype B and one isolate as nonrecombinant subtype C. Phylogenetic analysis did not reveal any founder effect among the sequences. Also, we investigated the presence of infrequently targeted subdominant HLA-A02-binding CTL epitopes. The epitopes were conserved in the Danish strains as well as globally in reference sequences of all subtypes. Thus, the selected epitopes were not subtype-specific or region-specific. This lends support for the concept of a universal immunotherapeutic vaccine construct based on these epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lasse Vinner
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sheila Tang
- BioCentrum-DTU, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Gitte Kronborg
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Sylvie Corbet
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Fomsgaard
- Department of Virology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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