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Conjugation of HIV-1 Envelope to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Alters Vaccine Responses in Rhesus Macaques

Nettere et al., NPJ Vaccines. 2023.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10673864/

Researchers are interested in developing an HIV-1 vaccine that improves upon the regimen used in the RV144 clinical trial. The authors tested the hypothesis that a conjugate vaccine based on the learned response to immunization with hepatitis B virus could be utilized to expand T-cell help and improve antibody production against HIV-1. Using juvenile rhesus macaques of both sexes, they evaluated the immunogenicity of their conjugate regimen. Their findings suggest that conjugate vaccination can engage both HIV-1 Env– and hepatitis B surface antigen–specific T­cell help and modify antibody responses at early time points. This work may help inform future efforts to improve the durability and efficacy of next-generation HIV vaccines. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011107, K01OD024877) and NIAID.

Infant Rhesus Macaques Immunized Against SARS-CoV-2 Are Protected Against Heterologous Virus Challenge 1 Year Later

Milligan et al., Science Translational Medicine. 2023.

https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.add6383

The Moderna and Pfizer–BioNTech mRNA vaccines received emergency use authorization for infants 6 months and older in June 2022, but questions remain regarding the durability of vaccine efficacy against emerging variants in this age group. Using a two-dose vaccine regimen consisting of stabilized prefusion Washington-strain spike protein encoded by mRNA and encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles, the investigators immunized 2-month-old rhesus macaques of both sexes. They found that the immune responses persisted and protected from severe disease after heterologous challenge with the Delta variant 1 year later. The decay kinetics of vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody responses in the infant monkeys are comparable to those observed in adult humans and nonhuman primates. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011107), NIAID, and NCI.

Impaired Placental Hemodynamics and Function in a Non-Human Primate Model of Gestational Protein Restriction

Lo et al., Scientific Reports. 2023.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-28051-y

Maternal malnutrition is a global health epidemic that adversely affects fetal outcomes and results in long-term health complications in children. Investigators used a previously developed model in nonhuman primates for gestational protein restriction to study the impact of undernutrition, specifically protein deficiency, on placental function and pregnancy outcomes. The data demonstrate that a 50% protein-restricted diet reduces maternal placental perfusion, decreases fetal oxygen availability, and increases fetal mortality. These alterations in placental hemodynamics could partly explain human growth restriction and stillbirth seen with severe protein restriction in developing countries. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011092) and NICHD.