1
|
Michelo CM, Fiore-Gartland A, Dalel JA, Hayes P, Tang J, McGowan E, Kilembe W, Fernandez N, Gilmour J, Hunter E. Cohort-Specific Peptide Reagents Broaden Depth and Breadth Estimates of the CD8 T Cell Response to HIV-1 Gag Potential T Cell Epitopes. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:472. [PMID: 36851349 PMCID: PMC9961105 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
An effective HIV vaccine will need to stimulate immune responses against the sequence diversity presented in circulating virus strains. In this study, we evaluate breadth and depth estimates of potential T-cell epitopes (PTEs) in transmitted founder virus sequence-derived cohort-specific peptide reagents against reagents representative of consensus and global sequences. CD8 T-cells from twenty-six HIV-1+ PBMC donor samples, obtained at 1-year post estimated date of infection, were evaluated. ELISpot assays compared responses to 15mer consensus (n = 121), multivalent-global (n = 320), and 10mer multivalent cohort-specific (n = 300) PTE peptides, all mapping to the Gag antigen. Responses to 38 consensus, 71 global, and 62 cohort-specific PTEs were confirmed, with sixty percent of common global and cohort-specific PTEs corresponding to consensus sequences. Both global and cohort-specific peptides exhibited broader epitope coverage compared to commonly used consensus reagents, with mean breadth estimates of 3.2 (global), 3.4 (cohort) and 2.2 (consensus) epitopes. Global or cohort peptides each identified unique epitope responses that would not be detected if these peptide pools were used alone. A peptide set designed around specific virologic and immunogenetic characteristics of a target cohort can expand the detection of CD8 T-cell responses to epitopes in circulating viruses, providing a novel way to better define the host response to HIV-1 with implications for vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clive M. Michelo
- Center for Family Health Research Zambia, PostNet 412, P/Bag E891, B22/737 Bwembelelo, Emmasdale, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | - Andrew Fiore-Gartland
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Jama A. Dalel
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Peter Hayes
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Jianming Tang
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Edward McGowan
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - William Kilembe
- Center for Family Health Research Zambia, PostNet 412, P/Bag E891, B22/737 Bwembelelo, Emmasdale, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
| | - Natalia Fernandez
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Jill Gilmour
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Eric Hunter
- Center for Family Health Research Zambia, PostNet 412, P/Bag E891, B22/737 Bwembelelo, Emmasdale, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cohen KW, Fiore-Gartland A, Walsh SR, Yusim K, Frahm N, Elizaga ML, Maenza J, Scott H, Mayer KH, Goepfert PA, Edupuganti S, Pantaleo G, Hutter J, Morris DE, De Rosa SC, Geraghty DE, Robb ML, Michael NL, Fischer W, Giorgi EE, Malhi H, Pensiero MN, Ferrari G, Tomaras GD, Montefiori DC, Gilbert PB, McElrath MJ, Haynes BF, Korber BT, Baden LR. Trivalent mosaic or consensus HIV immunogens prime humoral and broader cellular immune responses in adults. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e163338. [PMID: 36787249 PMCID: PMC9927951 DOI: 10.1172/jci163338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDMosaic and consensus HIV-1 immunogens provide two distinct approaches to elicit greater breadth of coverage against globally circulating HIV-1 and have shown improved immunologic breadth in nonhuman primate models.METHODSThis double-blind randomized trial enrolled 105 healthy HIV-uninfected adults who received 3 doses of either a trivalent global mosaic, a group M consensus (CON-S), or a natural clade B (Nat-B) gp160 env DNA vaccine followed by 2 doses of a heterologous modified vaccinia Ankara-vectored HIV-1 vaccine or placebo. We performed prespecified blinded immunogenicity analyses at day 70 and day 238 after the first immunization. T cell responses to vaccine antigens and 5 heterologous Env variants were fully mapped.RESULTSEnv-specific CD4+ T cell responses were induced in 71% of the mosaic vaccine recipients versus 48% of the CON-S recipients and 48% of the natural Env recipients. The mean number of T cell epitopes recognized was 2.5 (95% CI, 1.2-4.2) for mosaic recipients, 1.6 (95% CI, 0.82-2.6) for CON-S recipients, and 1.1 (95% CI, 0.62-1.71) for Nat-B recipients. Mean breadth was significantly greater in the mosaic group than in the Nat-B group using overall (P = 0.014), prime-matched (P = 0.002), heterologous (P = 0.046), and boost-matched (P = 0.009) measures. Overall T cell breadth was largely due to Env-specific CD4+ T cell responses.CONCLUSIONPriming with a mosaic antigen significantly increased the number of epitopes recognized by Env-specific T cells and enabled more, albeit still limited, cross-recognition of heterologous variants. Mosaic and consensus immunogens are promising approaches to address global diversity of HIV-1.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov NCT02296541.FUNDINGUS NIH grants UM1 AI068614, UM1 AI068635, UM1 AI068618, UM1 AI069412, UL1 RR025758, P30 AI064518, UM1 AI100645, and UM1 AI144371, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant OPP52282.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen W. Cohen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Andrew Fiore-Gartland
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephen R. Walsh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karina Yusim
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - Nicole Frahm
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Marnie L. Elizaga
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Janine Maenza
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hyman Scott
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kenneth H. Mayer
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | - Julia Hutter
- Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Daryl E. Morris
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephen C. De Rosa
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Daniel E. Geraghty
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Merlin L. Robb
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Nelson L. Michael
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Will Fischer
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - Elena E. Giorgi
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - Harmandeep Malhi
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Michael N. Pensiero
- Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Guido Ferrari
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute and
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Georgia D. Tomaras
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute and
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - David C. Montefiori
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute and
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peter B. Gilbert
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - M. Juliana McElrath
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Bette T. Korber
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - Lindsey R. Baden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Castro IM, Ricciardi MJ, Gonzalez-Nieto L, Rakasz EG, Lifson JD, Desrosiers RC, Watkins DI, Martins MA. Recombinant Herpesvirus Vectors: Durable Immune Responses and Durable Protection against Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmac239 Acquisition. J Virol 2021; 95:e0033021. [PMID: 33910957 PMCID: PMC8223948 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00330-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A prophylactic vaccine that confers durable protection against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) would provide a valuable tool to prevent new HIV/AIDS cases. As herpesviruses establish lifelong infections that remain largely subclinical, the use of persistent herpesvirus vectors to deliver HIV antigens may facilitate the induction of long-term anti-HIV immunity. We previously developed recombinant (r) forms of the gamma-herpesvirus rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (rRRV) expressing a replication-incompetent, near-full-length simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVnfl) genome. We recently showed that 8/16 rhesus macaques (RMs) vaccinated with a rDNA/rRRV-SIVnfl regimen were significantly protected against intrarectal (i.r.) challenge with SIVmac239. Here we investigated the longevity of this vaccine-mediated protection. Despite receiving no additional booster immunizations, the protected rDNA/rRRV-SIVnfl vaccinees maintained detectable cellular and humoral anti-SIV immune responses for more than 1.5 years after the rRRV boost. To assess if these responses were still protective, the rDNA/rRRV-SIVnfl vaccinees were subjected to a second round of marginal-dose i.r. SIVmac239 challenges, with eight SIV-naive RMs serving as concurrent controls. After three SIV exposures, 8/8 control animals became infected, compared to 3/8 vaccinees. This difference in SIV acquisition was statistically significant (P = 0.0035). The three vaccinated monkeys that became infected exhibited significantly lower viral loads than those in unvaccinated controls. Collectively, these data illustrate the ability of rDNA/rRRV-SIVnfl vaccination to provide long-term immunity against stringent mucosal challenges with SIVmac239. Future work is needed to identify the critical components of this vaccine-mediated protection and the extent to which it can tolerate sequence mismatches in the challenge virus. IMPORTANCE We report on the long-term follow-up of a group of rhesus macaques (RMs) that received an AIDS vaccine regimen and were subsequently protected against rectal acquisition of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. The vaccination regimen employed included a live recombinant herpesvirus vector that establishes persistent infection in RMs. Consistent with the recurrent SIV antigen expression afforded by this herpesvirus vector, vaccinees maintained detectable SIV-specific immune responses for more than 1.5 years after the last vaccination. Importantly, these vaccinated RMs were significantly protected against a second round of rectal SIV exposures performed 1 year after the first SIV challenge phase. These results are relevant for HIV vaccine development because they show the potential of herpesvirus-based vectors to maintain functional antiretroviral immunity without the need for repeated boosting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eva G. Rakasz
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Lifson
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | | | - David I. Watkins
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mauricio A. Martins
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pedreño-Lopez N, Rosen BC, Flores WJ, Gorman MJ, Voigt TB, Ricciardi MJ, Crosno K, Weisgrau KL, Parks CL, Lifson JD, Alter G, Rakasz EG, Magnani DM, Martins MA, Watkins DI. Non-neutralizing Antibodies May Contribute to Suppression of SIVmac239 Viremia in Indian Rhesus Macaques. Front Immunol 2021; 12:657424. [PMID: 33796119 PMCID: PMC8008062 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.657424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The antiviral properties of broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV are well-documented but no vaccine is currently able to elicit protective titers of these responses in primates. While current vaccine modalities can readily induce non-neutralizing antibodies against simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and HIV, the ability of these responses to restrict lentivirus transmission and replication remains controversial. Here, we investigated the antiviral properties of non-neutralizing antibodies in a group of Indian rhesus macaques (RMs) that were vaccinated with vif, rev, tat, nef, and env, as part of a previous study conducted by our group. These animals manifested rapid and durable control of viral replication to below detection limits shortly after SIVmac239 infection. Although these animals had no serological neutralizing activity against SIVmac239 prior to infection, their pre-challenge titers of Env-binding antibodies correlated with control of viral replication. To assess the contribution of anti-Env humoral immune responses to virologic control in two of these animals, we transiently depleted their circulating antibodies via extracorporeal plasma immunoadsorption and inhibition of IgG recycling through antibody-mediated blockade of the neonatal Fc receptor. These procedures reduced Ig serum concentrations by up to 80% and temporarily induced SIVmac239 replication in these animals. Next, we transferred purified total Ig from the rapid controllers into six vaccinated RMs one day before intrarectal challenge with SIVmac239. Although recipients of the hyperimmune anti-SIV Ig fraction were not protected from infection, their peak and chronic phase viral loads were significantly lower than those in concurrent unvaccinated control animals. Together, our results suggest that non-neutralizing Abs may play a role in the suppression of SIVmac239 viremia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Pedreño-Lopez
- Department of Pathology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Brandon C Rosen
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Walter J Flores
- Nonhuman Primate Reagent Resource, MassBiologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matthew J Gorman
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Thomas B Voigt
- Department of Pathology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Michael J Ricciardi
- Department of Pathology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Kristin Crosno
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kim L Weisgrau
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Christopher L Parks
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, AIDS Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Jeffrey D Lifson
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Galit Alter
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Eva G Rakasz
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Diogo M Magnani
- Nonhuman Primate Reagent Resource, MassBiologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mauricio A Martins
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, Jupiter, FL, United States
| | - David I Watkins
- Department of Pathology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li H, Omange RW, Liang B, Toledo N, Hai Y, Liu LR, Schalk D, Crecente-Campo J, Dacoba TG, Lambe AB, Lim SY, Li L, Kashem MA, Wan Y, Correia-Pinto JF, Seaman MS, Liu XQ, Balshaw RF, Li Q, Schultz-Darken N, Alonso MJ, Plummer FA, Whitney JB, Luo M. Vaccine targeting SIVmac251 protease cleavage sites protects macaques against vaginal infection. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:6429-6442. [PMID: 32853182 DOI: 10.1172/jci138728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
After over 3 decades of research, an effective anti-HIV vaccine remains elusive. The recently halted HVTN702 clinical trial not only further stresses the challenge to develop an effective HIV vaccine but also emphasizes that unconventional and novel vaccine strategies are urgently needed. Here, we report that a vaccine focusing the immune response on the sequences surrounding the 12 viral protease cleavage sites (PCSs) provided greater than 80% protection to Mauritian cynomolgus macaques against repeated intravaginal SIVmac251 challenges. The PCS-specific T cell responses correlated with vaccine efficacy. The PCS vaccine did not induce immune activation or inflammation known to be associated with increased susceptibility to HIV infection. Machine learning analyses revealed that the immune microenvironment generated by the PCS vaccine was predictive of vaccine efficacy. Our study demonstrates, for the first time to our knowledge, that a vaccine which targets only viral maturation, but lacks full-length Env and Gag immunogens, can prevent intravaginal infection in a stringent macaque/SIV challenge model. Targeting HIV maturation thus offers a potentially novel approach to developing an effective HIV vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhao Li
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Robert W Omange
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Binhua Liang
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Nikki Toledo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Yan Hai
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Lewis R Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Dane Schalk
- Scientific Protocol Implementation Unit, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jose Crecente-Campo
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Campus Vida, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Tamara G Dacoba
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Campus Vida, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - So-Yon Lim
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lin Li
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Mohammad Abul Kashem
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Yanmin Wan
- Nebraska Center for Virology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Jorge F Correia-Pinto
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Campus Vida, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Michael S Seaman
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xiao Qing Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Robert F Balshaw
- Centre for Healthcare Innovation, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Qingsheng Li
- Nebraska Center for Virology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Nancy Schultz-Darken
- Scientific Protocol Implementation Unit, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Maria J Alonso
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Campus Vida, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Francis A Plummer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - James B Whitney
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ma Luo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.,National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Martins MA, Gonzalez-Nieto L, Ricciardi MJ, Bailey VK, Dang CM, Bischof GF, Pedreño-Lopez N, Pauthner MG, Burton DR, Parks CL, Earl P, Moss B, Rakasz EG, Lifson JD, Desrosiers RC, Watkins DI. Rectal Acquisition of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) SIVmac239 Infection despite Vaccine-Induced Immune Responses against the Entire SIV Proteome. J Virol 2020; 94:e00979-20. [PMID: 33028714 PMCID: PMC7925177 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00979-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the complex biology of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its remarkable capacity to evade host immune responses, HIV vaccine efficacy may benefit from the induction of both humoral and cellular immune responses of maximal breadth, potency, and longevity. Guided by this rationale, we set out to develop an immunization protocol aimed at maximizing the induction of anti-Envelope (anti-Env) antibodies and CD8+ T cells targeting non-Env epitopes in rhesus macaques (RMs). Our approach was to deliver the entire simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) proteome by serial vaccinations. To that end, 12 RMs were vaccinated over 81 weeks with DNA, modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), adenovirus type 5 (Ad5), rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV), and DNA again. Both the RRV and the final DNA boosters delivered a near-full-length SIVmac239 genome capable of assembling noninfectious SIV particles and inducing T-cell responses against all nine SIV proteins. Compared to previous SIV vaccine trials, the present DNA-MVA-VSV-Ad5-RRV-DNA regimen resulted in comparable levels of Env-binding antibodies and SIV-specific CD8+ T-cells. Interestingly, one vaccinee developed low titers of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SIVmac239, a tier 3 virus. Following repeated intrarectal marginal-dose challenges with SIVmac239, vaccinees were not protected from SIV acquisition but manifested partial control of viremia. Strikingly, the animal with the low-titer vaccine-induced anti-SIVmac239 NAb response acquired infection after the first SIVmac239 exposure. Collectively, these results highlight the difficulties in eliciting protective immunity against immunodeficiency virus infection.IMPORTANCE Our results are relevant to HIV vaccine development efforts because they suggest that increasing the number of booster immunizations or delivering additional viral antigens may not necessarily improve vaccine efficacy against immunodeficiency virus infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Varian K Bailey
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Christine M Dang
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Georg F Bischof
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | - Matthias G Pauthner
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Dennis R Burton
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Christopher L Parks
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, AIDS Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Patricia Earl
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Bernard Moss
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eva G Rakasz
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Lifson
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | | | - David I Watkins
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rosen BC, Pedreño-Lopez N, Ricciardi MJ, Reed JS, Sacha JB, Rakasz EG, Watkins DI. Rhesus Cytomegalovirus-Specific CD8 + Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Do Not Become Functionally Exhausted in Chronic SIVmac239 Infection. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1960. [PMID: 32922404 PMCID: PMC7457070 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) exert potent antiviral activity after HIV/SIV infection. However, efforts to harness the antiviral efficacy of CTLs for HIV/SIV prophylaxis and therapy have been severely hindered by two major problems: viral escape and exhaustion. By contrast, CTLs directed against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a ubiquitous chronic herpesvirus, seldom select for escape mutations and remain functional and refractory to exhaustion during chronic HCMV and HIV infection. Recently, attempts have been made to retarget HCMV-specific CTLs for cancer immunotherapy. We speculate that such a strategy may also be beneficial in the context of HIV/SIV infection, facilitating CTL-mediated control of HIV/SIV replication. As a preliminary assessment of the validity of this approach, we investigated the phenotypes and functionality of rhesus CMV (RhCMV)-specific CTLs in SIVmac239-infected Indian rhesus macaques (RMs), a crucial HIV animal model system. We recently identified two immunodominant, Mamu-A∗02-restricted CTL epitopes derived from RhCMV proteins and sought to evaluate the phenotypic and functional characteristics of these CTL populations in chronic SIVmac239 infection. We analyzed and directly compared RhCMV- and SIVmac239-specific CTLs during SIVmac239 infection in a cohort of Mamu-A∗01 + and Mamu-A∗02 + RMs. CTL populations specific for at least one of the RhCMV-derived CTL epitopes were detected in ten of eleven Mamu-A∗02 + animals tested, and both populations were detected in five of these animals. Neither RhCMV-specific CTL population exhibited significant changes in frequency, memory phenotype, granzyme B expression, exhaustion marker (PD-1 and CTLA-4) expression, or polyfunctionality between pre- and chronic SIVmac239 infection timepoints. In chronic SIVmac239 infection, RhCMV-specific CTLs exhibited higher levels of granzyme B expression and polyfunctionality, and lower levels of exhaustion marker expression, than SIVmac239-specific CTLs. Additionally, compared to SIVmac239-specific CTLs, greater proportions of RhCMV-specific CTLs were of the terminally differentiated effector memory phenotype (CD28- CCR7-) during chronic SIVmac239 infection. These results suggest that, in contrast to SIVmac239-specific CTLs, RhCMV-specific CTLs maintain their phenotypes and cytolytic effector functions during chronic SIVmac239 infection, and that retargeting RhCMV-specific CTLs might be a promising SIV immunotherapeutic strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon C Rosen
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States.,Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Nuria Pedreño-Lopez
- Department of Pathology, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Michael J Ricciardi
- Department of Pathology, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jason S Reed
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States.,Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Jonah B Sacha
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States.,Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Eva G Rakasz
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - David I Watkins
- Department of Pathology, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
A Novel Immunogen Selectively Eliciting CD8 + T Cells but Not CD4 + T Cells Targeting Immunodeficiency Virus Antigens. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01876-19. [PMID: 32024773 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01876-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Optimization of immunogen is crucial for induction of effective T-cell responses in the development of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine. Conventional T-cell-based vaccines have been designed to induce virus-specific CD4+ T as well as CD8+ T cells. However, it has been indicated that induction of HIV-specific CD4+ T cells, preferential targets for HIV infection, by vaccination may be detrimental and accelerate viral replication after HIV exposure. In the present study, we present a novel immunogen to selectively induce CD8+ T cells but not CD4+ T cells targeting viral antigens. The immunogen, CaV11, was constructed by tandem connection of overlapping 11-mer peptides spanning simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag capsid (CA) and Vif. Prime-boost immunization with DNA and Sendai virus (SeV) vectors expressing CaV11 efficiently induced Gag/Vif-specific CD8+ T-cell responses with inefficient Gag/Vif-specific CD4+ T-cell induction in rhesus macaques (n = 6). None of the macaques exhibited the enhancement of acute viral replication after an intravenous high-dose SIV challenge, which was observed in those immunized with DNA and SeV expressing the whole Gag protein in our previous study. Set point viral control postinfection was associated with SeV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses postimmunization, suggesting contribution of SeV-specific helper responses to effective Gag/Vif-specific CD8+ T-cell induction by vaccination. This immunogen design could be a promising method for selective induction of effective anti-HIV CD8+ T-cell responses.IMPORTANCE Induction of effective CD8+ T-cell responses is an important HIV vaccine strategy. Several promising vaccine delivery tools have been developed, and immunogen optimization is now crucial for effective T-cell induction. Conventional immunogens have been designed to induce virus-specific CD4+ T cells as well as CD8+ T cells, but induction of virus-specific CD4+ T cells that are preferential targets for HIV infection could enhance acute HIV proliferation. Here, we designed a novel immunogen to induce HIV-specific CD8+ T cells without HIV-specific CD4+ T-cell induction but with non-HIV antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell help. Our analysis in a macaque AIDS model showed that our immunogen can efficiently elicit effective CD8+ T but not CD4+ T cells targeting viral antigens, resulting in no enhancement of acute viral replication after virus exposure. This immunogen design, also applicable for other currently developed immunogens, could be a promising method for selective induction of effective anti-HIV CD8+ T-cell responses.
Collapse
|
9
|
Gonzalez-Nieto L, Castro IM, Bischof GF, Shin YC, Ricciardi MJ, Bailey VK, Dang CM, Pedreño-Lopez N, Magnani DM, Ejima K, Allison DB, Gil HM, Evans DT, Rakasz EG, Lifson JD, Desrosiers RC, Martins MA. Vaccine protection against rectal acquisition of SIVmac239 in rhesus macaques. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008015. [PMID: 31568531 PMCID: PMC6791558 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A prophylactic vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a top priority in biomedical research. Given the failure of conventional immunization protocols to confer robust protection against HIV, new and unconventional approaches may be needed to generate protective anti-HIV immunity. Here we vaccinated rhesus macaques (RMs) with a recombinant (r)DNA prime (without any exogenous adjuvant), followed by a booster with rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV)-a herpesvirus that establishes persistent infection in RMs (Group 1). Both the rDNA and rRRV vectors encoded a near-full-length simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVnfl) genome that assembles noninfectious SIV particles and expresses all nine SIV gene products. This rDNA/rRRV-SIVnfl vaccine regimen induced persistent anti-Env antibodies and CD8+ T-cell responses against the entire SIV proteome. Vaccine efficacy was assessed by repeated, marginal-dose, intrarectal challenges with SIVmac239. Encouragingly, vaccinees in Group 1 acquired SIVmac239 infection at a significantly delayed rate compared to unvaccinated controls (Group 3). In an attempt to improve upon this outcome, a separate group of rDNA/rRRV-SIVnfl-vaccinated RMs (Group 2) was treated with a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4)-blocking monoclonal antibody during the vaccine phase and then challenged in parallel with Groups 1 and 3. Surprisingly, Group 2 was not significantly protected against SIVmac239 infection. In sum, SIVnfl vaccination can protect RMs against rigorous mucosal challenges with SIVmac239, a feat that until now had only been accomplished by live-attenuated strains of SIV. Further work is needed to identify the minimal requirements for this protection and whether SIVnfl vaccine efficacy can be improved by means other than anti-CTLA-4 adjuvant therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Gonzalez-Nieto
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Isabelle M. Castro
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Georg F. Bischof
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Young C. Shin
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Ricciardi
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Varian K. Bailey
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Christine M. Dang
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Nuria Pedreño-Lopez
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Diogo M. Magnani
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Keisuke Ejima
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - David B. Allison
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Hwi Min Gil
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - David T. Evans
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Eva G. Rakasz
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D. Lifson
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ronald C. Desrosiers
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Mauricio A. Martins
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Schwerdtfeger M, Andersson AMC, Neukirch L, Holst PJ. Virus-like vaccines against HIV/SIV synergize with a subdominant antigen T cell vaccine. J Transl Med 2019; 17:175. [PMID: 31126293 PMCID: PMC6534914 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-1924-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In non-human primates (NHPs) and humans, partial protection from HIV/SIV infection or suppression of replication is achievable by Env-binding antibodies and Gag-specific CD8+ T-cells targeting protective epitopes. Unfortunately, such T-cell responses are frequently dominated by responses to non-protective, variable epitopes. In this study we attempt to combine three independent approaches, each developed to prevent immunodominance of non-protective epitopes. These approaches were (1) vaccines consisting exclusively of putatively protective p24 Gag highly conserved elements (CEs), (2) vaccines using solely subdominant antigens which were acutely protective in a recent NHP trial, and (3) virus-encoded virus-like particle vaccines (virus-like vaccines/VLVs) using heterologous Env and Gag sequences to enable selection of broadly cross-reactive responses and to avoid immunodominance of non-conserved sequences in prime-boost regimens as previously observed. Methods We vaccinated outbred CD1 mice with HIV-1 clade B Gag/Env encoded in an adenoviral prime and SIVmac239 Gag/Env in an MVA boost. We combined this completely heterologous immunization regimen and the homologous SIVmac239 Gag/Env immunization regimen with an additional prime encoding SIV CEs and accessory antigens Rev, Vif and Vpr (Ad-Ii-SIVCErvv). T-cell responses were analyzed by intracellular cytokine staining of splenocytes and antibody responses by trimer-specific ELISA, avidity and isotype-specific ELISA. Results Env dominance could be avoided successfully in the completely heterologous prime-boost regimen, but Env immunodominance reappeared when Ad-Ii-SIVCErvv was added to the prime. This regimen did however still induce more cross-reactive Gag-specific CD8+ T-cells and Env-specific antibodies. Including Ad-Ii-SIVCErvv in the homologous prime-boost not only elicited accessory antigen-specific CD8+ memory T-cells, but also significantly increased the ratio of Gag- to Env-specific CD8+ T-cells. The CD4+ T-cell response shifted away from structural antigens previously associated with infection-enhancement. Conclusion The homologous Gag/Env prime-boost with Ad-Ii-SIVCErvv prime combined acutely protective CD8+ T-cell responses to subdominant antigens and Env-binding antibodies with chronically protective Gag-specific CD8+ T-cells in outbred mice. This vaccine regimen should be tested in an NHP efficacy trial. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-019-1924-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Schwerdtfeger
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Mærsk Tower 07-11, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark. .,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via L. Armanni 5, 80138, Naples, Italy.
| | - Anne-Marie Carola Andersson
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Mærsk Tower 07-11, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark.,InProTherApS, BioInnovation Institute, COBIS, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Lasse Neukirch
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Mærsk Tower 07-11, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark.,Clinical Cooperation Unit "Applied Tumor Immunity", National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Johannes Holst
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Mærsk Tower 07-11, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark.,InProTherApS, BioInnovation Institute, COBIS, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Current advances in HIV vaccine preclinical studies using Macaque models. Vaccine 2019; 37:3388-3399. [PMID: 31088747 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.04.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The macaque simian or simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SIV/SHIV) challenge model has been widely used to inform and guide human vaccine trials. Substantial advances have been made recently in the application of repeated-low-dose challenge (RLD) approach to assess SIV/SHIV vaccine efficacies (VE). Some candidate HIV vaccines have shown protective effects in preclinical studies using the macaque SIV/SHIV model but the model's true predictive value for screening potential HIV vaccine candidates needs to be evaluated further. Here, we review key parameters used in the RLD approach and discuss their relevance for evaluating VE to improve preclinical studies of candidate HIV vaccines.
Collapse
|
12
|
Martins MA, Gonzalez-Nieto L, Shin YC, Domingues A, Gutman MJ, Maxwell HS, Magnani DM, Ricciardi MJ, Pedreño-Lopez N, Bailey VK, Altman JD, Parks CL, Allison DB, Ejima K, Rakasz EG, Capuano S, Desrosiers RC, Lifson JD, Watkins DI. The Frequency of Vaccine-Induced T-Cell Responses Does Not Predict the Rate of Acquisition after Repeated Intrarectal SIVmac239 Challenges in Mamu-B*08+ Rhesus Macaques. J Virol 2019; 93:e01626-18. [PMID: 30541854 PMCID: PMC6384082 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01626-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 50% of rhesus macaques (RMs) expressing the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) allele Mamu-B*08 spontaneously control chronic-phase viremia after infection with the pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus mac239 (SIVmac239) clone. CD8+ T-cell responses in these animals are focused on immunodominant Mamu-B*08-restricted SIV epitopes in Vif and Nef, and prophylactic vaccination with these epitopes increases the incidence of elite control in SIVmac239-infected Mamu-B*08-positive (Mamu-B*08+ ) RMs. Here we evaluated if robust vaccine-elicited CD8+ T-cell responses against Vif and Nef can prevent systemic infection in Mamu-B*08+ RMs following mucosal SIV challenges. Ten Mamu-B*08+ RMs were vaccinated with a heterologous prime/boost/boost regimen encoding Vif and Nef, while six sham-vaccinated MHC-I-matched RMs served as the controls for this experiment. Vaccine-induced CD8+ T cells against Mamu-B*08-restricted SIV epitopes reached high frequencies in blood but were present at lower levels in lymph node and gut biopsy specimens. Following repeated intrarectal challenges with SIVmac239, all control RMs became infected by the sixth SIV exposure. By comparison, four vaccinees were still uninfected after six challenges, and three of them remained aviremic after 3 or 4 additional challenges. The rate of SIV acquisition in the vaccinees was numerically lower (albeit not statistically significantly) than that in the controls. However, peak viremia was significantly reduced in infected vaccinees compared to control animals. We found no T-cell markers that distinguished vaccinees that acquired SIV infection from those that did not. Additional studies will be needed to validate these findings and determine if cellular immunity can be harnessed to prevent the establishment of productive immunodeficiency virus infection.IMPORTANCE It is generally accepted that the antiviral effects of vaccine-induced classical CD8+ T-cell responses against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are limited to partial reductions in viremia after the establishment of productive infection. Here we show that rhesus macaques (RMs) vaccinated with Vif and Nef acquired simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection at a lower (albeit not statistically significant) rate than control RMs following repeated intrarectal challenges with a pathogenic SIV clone. All animals in the present experiment expressed the elite control-associated major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecule Mamu-B*08 that binds immunodominant epitopes in Vif and Nef. Though preliminary, these results provide tantalizing evidence that the protective efficacy of vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cells may be greater than previously thought. Future studies should examine if vaccine-induced cellular immunity can prevent systemic viral replication in RMs that do not express MHC-I alleles associated with elite control of SIV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Young C Shin
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Aline Domingues
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Martin J Gutman
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Helen S Maxwell
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Diogo M Magnani
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | | | - Varian K Bailey
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - John D Altman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Christopher L Parks
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, AIDS Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - David B Allison
- School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Keisuke Ejima
- School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Eva G Rakasz
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Saverio Capuano
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey D Lifson
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - David I Watkins
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Martins MA, Tully DC, Pedreño-Lopez N, von Bredow B, Pauthner MG, Shin YC, Yuan M, Lima NS, Bean DJ, Gonzalez-Nieto L, Domingues A, Gutman MJ, Maxwell HS, Magnani DM, Ricciardi MJ, Bailey VK, Altman JD, Burton DR, Ejima K, Allison DB, Evans DT, Rakasz EG, Parks CL, Bonaldo MC, Capuano S, Lifson JD, Desrosiers RC, Allen TM, Watkins DI. Mamu-B*17+ Rhesus Macaques Vaccinated with env, vif, and nef Manifest Early Control of SIVmac239 Replication. J Virol 2018; 92:e00690-18. [PMID: 29875239 PMCID: PMC6069176 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00690-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Certain major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) alleles are associated with spontaneous control of viral replication in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected people and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques (RMs). These cases of "elite" control of HIV/SIV replication are often immune-mediated, thereby providing a framework for studying anti-lentiviral immunity. In this study, we examined how vaccination impacts SIV replication in RMs expressing the MHC-I allele Mamu-B*17 Approximately 21% of Mamu-B*17+ and 50% of Mamu-B*08+ RMs control chronic-phase viremia after SIVmac239 infection. Because CD8+ T cells targeting Mamu-B*08-restricted SIV epitopes have been implicated in virologic suppression in Mamu-B*08+ RMs, we investigated whether this might also be true for Mamu-B*17+ RMs. Two groups of Mamu-B*17+ RMs were vaccinated with genes encoding Mamu-B*17-restricted epitopes in Vif and Nef. These genes were delivered by themselves (group 1) or together with env (group 2). Group 3 included MHC-I-matched RMs and served as the control group. Surprisingly, the group 1 vaccine regimen had little effect on viral replication compared to group 3, suggesting that unlike Mamu-B*08+ RMs, preexisting SIV-specific CD8+ T cells alone do not facilitate long-term virologic suppression in Mamu-B*17+ RMs. Remarkably, however, 5/8 group 2 vaccinees controlled viremia to <15 viral RNA copies/ml soon after infection. No serological neutralizing activity against SIVmac239 was detected in group 2, although vaccine-elicited gp140-binding antibodies correlated inversely with nadir viral loads. Collectively, these data shed new light on the unique mechanism of elite control in Mamu-B*17+ RMs and implicate vaccine-induced, nonneutralizing anti-Env antibodies in the containment of immunodeficiency virus infection.IMPORTANCE A better understanding of the immune correlates of protection against HIV might facilitate the development of a prophylactic vaccine. Therefore, we investigated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection outcomes in rhesus macaques expressing the major histocompatibility complex class I allele Mamu-B*17 Approximately 21% of Mamu-B*17+ macaques spontaneously controlled chronic phase viremia after SIV infection, an effect that may involve CD8+ T cells targeting Mamu-B*17-restricted SIV epitopes. We vaccinated Mamu-B*17+ macaques with genes encoding immunodominant epitopes in Vif and Nef alone (group 1) or together with env (group 2). Although neither vaccine regimen prevented SIV infection, 5/8 group 2 vaccinees controlled viremia to below detection limits shortly after infection. This outcome, which was not observed in group 1, was associated with vaccine-induced, nonneutralizing Env-binding antibodies. Together, these findings suggest a limited contribution of Vif- and Nef-specific CD8+ T cells for virologic control in Mamu-B*17+ macaques and implicate anti-Env antibodies in containment of SIV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Damien C Tully
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Benjamin von Bredow
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Matthias G Pauthner
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery (CHAVI-ID), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Young C Shin
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Maoli Yuan
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, AIDS Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Noemia S Lima
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Flavivirus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - David J Bean
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Aline Domingues
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Martin J Gutman
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Helen S Maxwell
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Diogo M Magnani
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | - Varian K Bailey
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - John D Altman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Dennis R Burton
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery (CHAVI-ID), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Keisuke Ejima
- School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - David B Allison
- School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - David T Evans
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Eva G Rakasz
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Christopher L Parks
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, AIDS Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Myrna C Bonaldo
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Flavivirus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Saverio Capuano
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Lifson
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Todd M Allen
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David I Watkins
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hu X, Lu Z, Valentin A, Rosati M, Broderick KE, Sardesai NY, Marx PA, Mullins JI, Pavlakis GN, Felber BK. Gag and env conserved element CE DNA vaccines elicit broad cytotoxic T cell responses targeting subdominant epitopes of HIV and SIV Able to recognize virus-infected cells in macaques. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018; 14:2163-2177. [PMID: 29939820 PMCID: PMC6183272 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2018.1489949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV sequence diversity and the propensity of eliciting immunodominant responses targeting inessential variable regions are hurdles in the development of an effective AIDS vaccine. We developed a DNA vaccine comprising conserved elements (CE) of SIV p27Gag and HIV-1 Env and found that priming vaccination with CE DNA is critical to efficiently overcome the dominance imposed by Gag and Env variable regions. Here, we show that DNA vaccinated macaques receiving the CE prime/CE+full-length DNA co-delivery booster vaccine regimens developed broad, potent and durable cytotoxic T cell responses targeting conserved protein segments of SIV Gag and HIV Env. Gag CE-specific T cells showed robust anamnestic responses upon infection with SIVmac239 which led to the identification of CE-specific cytotoxic lymphocytes able to recognize epitopes covering distinct CE on the surface of SIV infected cells in vivo. Though not controlling infection overall, we found an inverse correlation between Gag CE-specific CD8+ T cell responses and peak viremia. The T cell responses induced by the HIV Env CE immunogen were recalled in some animals upon SIV infection, leading to the identification of two cross-reactive epitopes between HIV and SIV Env based in sequence homology. These data demonstrate that a vaccine combining Gag and Env CE DNA subverted the normal immunodominance patterns, eliciting immune responses that included subdominant, highly conserved epitopes. These vaccine regimens augment cytotoxic T cell responses to highly conserved epitopes in the viral proteome and maximize response breadth. The vaccine-induced CE-specific T cells were expanded upon SIV infection, indicating that the predicted CE epitopes incorporated in the DNA vaccine are processed and exposed by infected cells in their natural context within the viral proteome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xintao Hu
- a Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Zhongyan Lu
- a Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Antonio Valentin
- b Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research , National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick, Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Margherita Rosati
- b Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research , National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick, Frederick , MD , USA
| | | | | | - Preston A Marx
- d Tulane National Primate Research Center and Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine , Tulane University , New Orleans , LA , USA
| | - James I Mullins
- e Departments of Microbiology, Medicine and Laboratory Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA
| | - George N Pavlakis
- b Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research , National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick, Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Barbara K Felber
- a Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick , MD , USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Shin YC, Bischof GF, Lauer WA, Gonzalez-Nieto L, Rakasz EG, Hendricks GM, Watkins DI, Martins MA, Desrosiers RC. A recombinant herpesviral vector containing a near-full-length SIVmac239 genome produces SIV particles and elicits immune responses to all nine SIV gene products. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007143. [PMID: 29912986 PMCID: PMC6023237 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The properties of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pose serious difficulties for the development of an effective prophylactic vaccine. Here we describe the construction and characterization of recombinant (r), replication-competent forms of rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV), a gamma-2 herpesvirus, containing a near-full-length (nfl) genome of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). A 306-nucleotide deletion in the pol gene rendered this nfl genome replication-incompetent as a consequence of deletion of the active site of the essential reverse transcriptase enzyme. Three variations were constructed to drive expression of the SIV proteins: one with SIV’s own promoter region, one with a cytomegalovirus (cmv) immediate-early promoter/enhancer region, and one with an RRV dual promoter (p26 plus PAN). Following infection of rhesus fibroblasts in culture with these rRRV vectors, synthesis of the early protein Nef and the late structural proteins Gag and Env could be demonstrated. Expression levels of the SIV proteins were highest with the rRRV-SIVcmv-nfl construct. Electron microscopic examination of rhesus fibroblasts infected with rRRV-SIVcmv-nfl revealed numerous budding and mature SIV particles and these infected cells released impressive levels of p27 Gag protein (>150 ng/ml) into the cell-free supernatant. The released SIV particles were shown to be incompetent for replication. Monkeys inoculated with rRRV-SIVcmv-nfl became persistently infected, made readily-detectable antibodies against SIV, and developed T-cell responses against all nine SIV gene products. Thus, rRRV expressing a near-full-length SIV genome mimics live-attenuated strains of SIV in several important respects: the infection is persistent; >95% of the SIV proteome is naturally expressed; SIV particles are formed; and CD8+ T-cell responses are maintained indefinitely in an effector-differentiated state. Although the magnitude of anti-SIV immune responses in monkeys infected with rRRV-SIVcmv-nfl falls short of what is seen with live-attenuated SIV infection, further experimentation seems warranted. Given the magnitude and impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, development of a safe, effective vaccine against HIV remains a top priority for biomedical research. While live-attenuated strains of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) have shown promise in monkey studies, concern for safety has limited efforts along these lines. In an attempt to mimic the epitope presentation, epitope coverage, and persistence of live attenuated SIV, we have generated recombinant strains of rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV; a gamma-2 herpesvirus) containing a near-full-length genome of SIV. The near-full-length genome retains 96.7% of the coding capacity of SIV yet is incompetent for replication. Such recombinant RRV produces abundant SIV particles in infected cells in culture. Monkeys inoculated with one of these recombinant RRV strains became persistently infected, made readily detectable antibodies against the SIV envelope protein, and developed cellular immune responses to all nine SIV gene products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Young C. Shin
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Georg F. Bischof
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - William A. Lauer
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Lucas Gonzalez-Nieto
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Eva G. Rakasz
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Gregory M. Hendricks
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David I. Watkins
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Mauricio A. Martins
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MAM); (RCD)
| | - Ronald C. Desrosiers
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MAM); (RCD)
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Early Env-specific CTLs effectively suppress viral replication in SHIV controller macaques. Cell Immunol 2018; 331:30-37. [PMID: 29773224 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Early immunological events in acute HIV infection are thought to fundamentally influence long-term disease outcomes. Though the contribution of Gag-specific CD8 T cell responses to early viral control is well established, little is known about the role of Env-specific CD8 T cell responses in controlling viral replication during acute infection. In a macaque simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) model, some macaques who were able to control SHIV replication after ART interruption showed expansion of Env-specific CD8 T cell responses during acute infection, compared to macaques who progressed to viral rebound. To better understand the function of early Env-specific CD8 T cells, we isolated, expanded and examined their ability to act as effectors in vitro. We observed that Env-specific CD8 T cell clones have the capacity to directly recognize and kill SHIV-infected CD4 T cells, but failed to reduce viral replication in SHIV-infected macrophages. Our data suggest that early Env-specific CD8 T cell responses during acute SHIV infection contribute substantially to the control of viral replication. The T-cell clones composing of Env-specific effector cells demonstrates in vitro phenotypic and functional characteristics with the potentials to provide longlasting clinical benefit of in vivo HIV study.
Collapse
|
17
|
Boucau J, Le Gall S. Antigen processing and presentation in HIV infection. Mol Immunol 2018; 113:67-74. [PMID: 29636181 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The presentation of virus-derived peptides by MHC molecules constitutes the earliest signals for immune recognition by T cells. In HIV infection, immune responses elicited during infection do not enable to clear infection and correlates of immune protection are not well defined. Here we review features of antigen processing and presentation specific to HIV, analyze how HIV has adapted to the antigen processing machinery and discuss how advances in biochemical and computational protein degradation analyses and in immunopeptidome definition may help identify targets for efficient immune clearance and vaccine immunogen design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Boucau
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139, United States
| | - Sylvie Le Gall
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139, United States.
| |
Collapse
|