title: Inclusion of a CRF01_AE HIV envelope protein boost with a DNA/MVA prime-boost vaccine: Impact on humoral and cellular immunogenicity and viral load reduction after SHIV-E challenge.
abstract: The current study assessed the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of various prime-boost vaccine regimens in rhesus macaques using combinations of recombinant DNA (rDNA), recombinant MVA (rMVA), and subunit gp140 protein. The rDNA and rMVA vectors were constructed to express Env from HIV-1 subtype CRF01_AE and Gag-Pol from CRF01_AE or SIVmac 239. One of the rMVAs, MVA/CMDR, has been recently tested in humans. Immunizations were administered at months 0 and 1 (prime) and months 3 and 6 (boost). After priming, HIV env-specific serum IgG was detected in monkeys receiving gp140 alone or rMVA but not in those receiving rDNA. Titers were enhanced in these groups after boosting either with gp140 alone or with rMVA plus gp140. The groups that received the rDNA prime developed env-specific IgG after boosting with rMVA with or without gp140. HIV Env-specific serum IgG binding antibodies were elicited more frequently and of higher titer, and breadth of neutralizing antibodies was increased with the inclusion of the subunit Env boost. T cell responses were measured by tetramer binding to Gag p11c in Mamu-A*01 macaques, and by IFN-γ ELISPOT assay to SIV-Gag. T cell responses were induced after vaccination with the highest responses seen in macaques immunized with rDNA and rMVA. Macaques were challenged intravenously with a novel SHIV-E virus (SIVmac239 Gag-Pol with an HIV-1 subtype E-Env CAR402). Post challenge with SHIV-E, antibody titers were boosted in all groups and peaked at 4 weeks. Robust T cell responses were seen in all groups post challenge and in macaques immunized with rDNA and rMVA a clear boosting of responses was seen. A greater than two-log drop in RNA copies/ml at peak viremia and earlier set point was achieved in macaques primed with rDNA, and boosted with rMVA/SHIV-AE plus gp140. Post challenge viremia in macaques immunized with other regimens was not significantly different to that of controls. These results demonstrate that a gp140 subunit and inclusion of SIV Gag-Pol may be critical for control of SHIV post challenge.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Military HIV Program, Rockville, MD, USA. jcox@iavi.org
authors.forename: Josephine H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Earl
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Jagodzinski
authors.forename: Victoria R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Polonis
authors.forename: Ellen G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Kuta
authors.forename: Jean D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ratto-Kim
authors.forename: Leigh-Anne
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.forename: Doan-Trang
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montefiori
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parrish
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Jerome H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birx
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: VanCott
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology; D015684:Gene Products, pol / Q000276:immunology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015684:Gene Products, pol; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C560489:MVA vaccine; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C097729:gp140 envelope protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1