Selected Grantee Publications

Modified Adenovirus Prime–Protein Boost Clade C HIV Vaccine Strategy Results in Reduced Viral DNA in Blood and Tissues Following Tier 2 SHIV Challenge

Malherbe et al., Frontiers in Immunology. 2021.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.626464

Researchers conducted a comparative vaccine challenge study in rhesus macaques. One group of monkeys was vaccinated using co-immunization with DNA Gag and Env expression plasmids and trimeric Env gp140 glycoprotein. The other group was primed with two replicating simian adenovirus-vectored vaccines expressing Gag and boosted with trimeric Env gp140. Both strategies elicited antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, but neither approach provided significant protection from viral acquisition upon repeated mucosal challenges with a heterologous Tier 2 SHIV. Nevertheless, both regimens significantly lowered cell-associated viral DNA in multiple tissues, thus potentially dampening the infection and providing clues for further vaccine development. Supported by ORIP (U42OD023038, P51OD011092) and NIAID.