Protection by dendritic cells-based HIV synthetic peptide cocktail vaccine: preclinical studies in the SHIV-rhesus model

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 23; no. 17; pp. 2154 - 2159
• Main Authors: Nehete, Pramod N., Nehete, Bharti P., Manuri, Pallavi, Hill, Lori, Palmer, J. Lynn, Sastry, K. Jagannadha
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 18.03.2005; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; AIDS Vaccines - pharmacology; Animal models; Animals; Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis; Applied microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cytotoxic T cells; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Helper T cells; HIV; HIV Antigens - biosynthesis; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; Immune system; Immunization; Infections; Laboratory animals; Macaca mulatta; Macaques; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Mortality; Neutralization Tests; Peptides; Public health; SAIDS Vaccines - pharmacology; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - immunology; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - prevention & control; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus - immunology; Vaccine; Vaccines; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Vaccines, Synthetic - pharmacology; Viremia - immunology; Viremia - prevention & control; Virology; Vaccine; Macaques; Helper T cells; Cytotoxic T cells; Dendritic cell; Peptides; Recombinant virus; Retroviridae; Helper cell; Lentivirus; Virus; T-Lymphocyte; Models; Human immunodeficiency virus
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.01.052

Vaccine development efforts against HIV-1 have been hindered because of the high mutation rate of the virus, and limitations for direct testing of HIV antigens in animal models to discern the nature of protective immunity. We developed a multivalent vaccine comprised of highly conserved HIV envelope peptide cocktail focused on priming antigen-specific helper T cell and CTL responses. Here we report protection of rhesus macaques against pathogenic SHIV 89.6P challenge through priming cell-mediated immunity by prophylactic vaccination with the peptide-cocktail delivered by dendritic cells. Compared to monkeys mock-vaccinated or immunized with the peptide cocktail using IFA, vaccination with peptide cocktail-pulsed DC showed significant protection from AIDS-associated mortality and reduction in plasma viremia to undetectable levels.