Assessment of mucosal immunity to HIV-1.
A key gap in the development and evaluation of HIV-1 vaccines is insufficient knowledge with regard to sampling techniques and assessment of mucosal immune responses required for early prevention and inhibition of viral dissemination. In an attempt to start bridging this gap, the EUROPRISE network of scientists working on HIV-1 vaccine and microbicide research organized a workshop with the aim to review the types of mucosal responses/biomarkers currently measured in mucosal immunology and to define how the mucosal responses/biomarkers are measured and/or the assays and sampling methods used. The Workshop addressed two critical questions: first whether, with current knowledge, it would be possible to define a consensus set of mucosal sampling methods to facilitate cross-species comparisons and ensure standardized implementation in clinical trials; second to determine the remaining challenges (technical and logistical) and their possible solutions for assessing mucosal responses to HIV-1 vaccines.
Jespers
Vicky
V
HIV/STI Epidemiology and Control Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
Harandi
Ali M
AM
Hinkula
Jorma
J
Medaglini
Donata
D
Le Grand
Roger
R
Stahl-Hennig
Christiane
C
Bogers
Willy
W
El Habib
Raphaelle
R
Wegmann
Frank
F
Fraser
Carol
C
Cranage
Martin
M
Shattock
Robin J
RJ
Spetz
Anna-Lena
AL
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D004493:Education / Q000592:standards; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology*
D016915:AIDS Vaccines