HIV preventive vaccine research at the ANRS: the lipopeptide vaccine approach.
The HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)/AIDS epidemic is of unprecedented gravity and is spreading rapidly, notably in the most disadvantaged regions of the world. The search for a preventive vaccine is thus an absolute priority. For over 10 years the ANRS (Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA) has been committed to an original programme combining basic science and clinical research. The HIV preventive vaccine research programme includes upstream research for the definition of immunogens, animal models, and clinical research to evaluate candidate vaccines. In 2004, most researchers believed that it should be possible to obtain partial vaccine protection through the induction of a strong and multiepitopic cellular response. Since 1992, 15 phase I and II clinical trials have been established with the aim of evaluating the safety of candidate vaccines and their capacity to induce cellular immune responses. The candidate vaccines tested were recombinant canarypox viruses (ALVAC) containing sequences coding for certain viral proteins, utilised alone or combined with other immunogens (whole or truncated envelope proteins). An original strategy, based on the use of lipopeptides, is also under development. These vaccines comprise synthetic fragments of HIV proteins associated with lipids that facilitate the induction of a cellular immune response. These approaches have within a short time allowed the assessment of a prime-boost strategy combining a viral vector and lipopeptides.
Gahery
Hanne
H
INSERM U567, Cochin Institute, Immunology Department, CNRS UMR 8104, Paris V University, Paris, France.
Choppin
Jeannine
J
Bourgault
Isabelle
I
Fischer
Elizabeth
E
Maillère
Bernard
B
Guillet
Jean-Gèrard
JG
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005602:France; D006077:Government Agencies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D008074:Lipoproteins