An HIV vaccine stimulating T cell and antibody responses

INDICATION: HIV/AIDS

Adding T cell-stimulating heterologous viral vectors (HVVs) to an adjuvanted, HIV env-based HIV vaccine could improve the prevention of HIV infection. The HVVs comprise a vesicular stomatitis virus vector, a vaccinia virus vector and an adenovirus serotype 5 vector that each express the HIV gag polyprotein homolog from simian immunodeficiency virus strain SIVmac239. In rhesus macaques, sequential immunization with each HVV and BG505 SOSIP.664 adjuvanted with 3M-052 induced the antiviral CD8⁺ T cell, CD4⁺ T cell and neutralizing antibody responses. Vaccination with the HVVs plus adjuvanted BG505 SOSIP.664 led to lower rates of infection compared with BG505 SOSIP.664 plus 3M-052 in monkeys vaginally challenged 10 times with low doses of simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV). The HVVs plus adjuvanted BG505 SOSIP.664 also resulted in a lower infection rate in animals that had remained uninfected after the 10 challenges and rechallenged six times five months later...