A human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) clade A vaccine in clinical trials: stimulation of HIV-specific T-cell responses by DNA and recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vaccines in humans

J Gen Virol. 2004 Apr;85(Pt 4):911-919. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.19701-0.

Abstract

The immunogenicities of candidate DNA- and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)-vectored human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccines were evaluated on their own and in a prime-boost regimen in phase I clinical trials in healthy uninfected individuals in the United Kingdom. Given the current lack of approaches capable of inducing broad HIV-neutralizing antibodies, the pTHr.HIVA DNA and MVA.HIVA vaccines focus solely on the induction of cell-mediated immunity. The vaccines expressed a common immunogen, HIVA, which consists of consensus HIV-1 clade A Gag p24/p17 proteins fused to a string of clade A-derived epitopes recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Volunteers' fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells were tested for HIV-specific responses in a validated gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay using four overlapping peptide pools across the Gag domain and three pools of known CTL epitopes present in all of the HIVA protein. Both the DNA and the MVA vaccines alone and in a DNA prime-MVA boost combination were safe and induced HIV-specific responses in 14 out of 18, seven out of eight and eight out of nine volunteers, respectively. These results are very encouraging and justify further vaccine development.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / adverse effects
  • AIDS Vaccines / genetics
  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology
  • AIDS Vaccines / pharmacology*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Gene Products, gag
  • HIV Antibodies / biosynthesis
  • HIV Antigens
  • HIV Core Protein p24
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Injections, Intradermal
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Safety
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Vaccines, DNA / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, DNA / genetics
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology
  • Vaccines, DNA / pharmacology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / pharmacology
  • Vaccinia virus / genetics
  • Vaccinia virus / immunology
  • Viral Proteins*
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Gene Products, gag
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Antigens
  • HIV Core Protein p24
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Viral Proteins
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • p17 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1