RESUMO
The importance of Fc-dependent effector functions of Abs induced by vaccination is increasingly recognized. However, vaccination of mice against HIV envelope (Env) induced a skewed Th cell response leading to Env-specific Abs with reduced effector function. To overcome this bias, GagPol-specific Th cells were harnessed to provide intrastructural help for Env-specific B cells after immunization with virus-like particles containing GagPol and Env. This led to a balanced Env-specific humoral immune response with a more inflammatory Fc glycan profile. The increased quality in the Ab response against Env was confirmed by FcγR activation assays. Because the Env-specific Th cell response was also biased in human vaccinees, intrastructural help is an attractive novel approach to increase the efficacy of prophylactic HIV Env-based vaccines and may also be applicable to other particulate vaccines.
Assuntos
Vacinas contra a AIDS/imunologia , Anticorpos Anti-HIV/imunologia , HIV-1/imunologia , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/imunologia , Produtos do Gene env do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/imunologia , Produtos do Gene gag do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/imunologia , Produtos do Gene pol do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/imunologia , Vacinas contra a AIDS/administração & dosagem , Animais , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Feminino , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB CRESUMO
Targeting of antigens to the endocytic uptake receptor DEC205 resulted in enhanced antigen presentation by dendritic cells (DCs). In combination with adjuvants for DC maturation, proteins coupled to an antibody against DEC205 induced strong pathogen-specific immune responses, whereas without additional adjuvant tolerance could be induced. As less is known about DNA vaccines encoding DEC205-targeted antigens, we explored the immunogenicity and efficacy of a dendritic cell-targeted DNA vaccine against influenza A virus (IAV) delivered by electroporation. Although coupling of haemagglutinin to a single-chain antibody against DEC205 enhanced antigen presentation on MHC class II and activation of T-cell receptor-transgenic CD4 T cells, the T-cell responses induced by the targeted DNA vaccine in wild-type BALB/c mice were significantly reduced compared with DNA encoding non-targeted antigens. Consistently, these mice were less protected against an IAV infection. Adoptive transfer experiments were performed to assess the fate of the antigen-specific T cells in animals vaccinated with DNA encoding DEC205-targeted antigens. By this, we could exclude the general deletion of antigen-specific T cells as cause for the reduced efficacy, but observed a local expansion of antigen-specific regulatory T cells, which could suppress the activation of effector cells. In conclusion, DNA vaccines encoding DEC205-targeted antigens induce peripheral tolerance rather than immunity in our study. Finally, we evaluated our DNA vaccines as prophylactic or therapeutic treatment in an allergen-induced asthma mouse model.
Assuntos
Antígenos CD/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/imunologia , Tolerância Imunológica/efeitos dos fármacos , Imunidade Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Vírus da Influenza A/imunologia , Vacinas contra Influenza/farmacologia , Lectinas Tipo C/imunologia , Infecções por Orthomyxoviridae/imunologia , Receptores de Superfície Celular/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/farmacologia , Animais , Antígenos Virais/genética , Antígenos Virais/imunologia , Antígenos Virais/farmacologia , Asma/imunologia , Asma/prevenção & controle , Feminino , Células HEK293 , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe II/imunologia , Humanos , Vírus da Influenza A/genética , Vacinas contra Influenza/genética , Vacinas contra Influenza/imunologia , Camundongos , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Menor , Infecções por Orthomyxoviridae/prevenção & controle , Vacinas de DNA/genética , Vacinas de DNA/imunologiaRESUMO
UNLABELLED: Induction of long-lasting immunity against viral respiratory tract infections remains an elusive goal. Using a nonhuman primate model of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) infection, we compared mucosal and systemic immune responses induced by different DNA delivery approaches to a novel parenteral DNA prime-tonsillar adenoviral vector booster immunization regimen. Intramuscular (i.m.) electroporation (EP) of a DNA vaccine encoding the fusion protein of hRSV induced stronger systemic immune responses than intradermal EP, tattoo immunization, and conventional i.m. DNA injection. A single EP i.m., followed by two atraumatic tonsillar immunizations with the adenoviral vector, elicited strong systemic immune responses, an unique persistent CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell response in the lower respiratory tract and protection from intranasal hRSV challenge. Thus, parenteral DNA priming followed by booster immunization targeted to a mucosal inductive site constitutes an effective vaccine regimen for eliciting protective immune responses at mucosal effector sites. IMPORTANCE: The human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the most common cause of severe respiratory tract disease in infancy and leads to substantial morbidity and morality in the elderly. In this study, we compared the immunogenicity and efficacy of several gene-based immunization protocols in rhesus macaques. Thereby, we found that the combination of an initially parenterally delivered DNA vaccine with a subsequent atraumatic tonsillar adenoviral vector immunization results in a strong systemic immune response accompanied by an exceptional high T-cell response in the mucosa. Strikingly, these animals were protected against a RSV challenge infection controlling the viral replication indicated by a 1,000-fold-lower viral load in the lower respiratory tract. Since mucosal cellular responses of this strength had not been described in earlier RSV vaccine studies, this heterologous DNA prime-tonsillar boost vaccine strategy is very promising and should be pursued for further preclinical and clinical testing.
Assuntos
Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/imunologia , Vacinas contra Vírus Sincicial Respiratório/imunologia , Vírus Sincicial Respiratório Humano/imunologia , Sistema Respiratório/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Humanos , Imunização , Macaca mulatta , Masculino , Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/prevenção & controle , Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/virologia , Vacinas contra Vírus Sincicial Respiratório/administração & dosagem , Vacinas contra Vírus Sincicial Respiratório/genética , Vírus Sincicial Respiratório Humano/genética , Sistema Respiratório/virologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Clinical trials with passive and active Alzheimer's disease (AD) vaccines suggest that early interventions are needed for improvement of cognitive and/or functional performance in patients, providing impetus for the development of safe and immunologically potent active vaccines targeting amyloid ß (Aß). The AN-1792 trial has indicated that Aß-specific T cells may be unsafe for humans; therefore, other vaccines based on small Aß epitopes are undergoing preclinical and clinical testing. METHODS: Humoral and cellular immune responses elicited in response to a novel DNA epitope-based vaccine (AV-1955) delivered to rhesus macaques using the TriGrid electroporation device were evaluated. Functional activities of anti-Aß antibodies generated in response to vaccination were assessed in vitro. RESULTS: AV-1955 generates long-term, potent anti-Aß antibodies and cellular immune responses specific to foreign T-helper epitopes but not to self-Aß. CONCLUSIONS: This translational study demonstrates that a DNA-based epitope vaccine for AD could be appropriate for human clinical testing.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/imunologia , Doença de Alzheimer/terapia , Vacinas contra Alzheimer/uso terapêutico , Ativação Linfocitária , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/fisiologia , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos/sangue , Anticorpos/imunologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Relação Dose-Resposta Imunológica , Epitopos de Linfócito T , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Estudos Longitudinais , Macaca mulatta , Masculino , Placa Amiloide/imunologia , Distribuição Aleatória , Fatores de Tempo , Pesquisa Translacional Biomédica , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: An HIV-1 DNA vaccine composed of seven highly conserved, structurally important elements (Conserved Elements, CE) of HIV p24Gag was tested in a phase I randomized, double-blind clinical trial (HVTN 119, NCT03181789) in people without HIV. A CE prime- CE+full-length p55Gag boost DNA vaccine was compared to p55Gag DNA vaccination only. METHODS: Two groups (n=25 each) received 4 DNA vaccinations [2xCE prime- 2xCE+p55Gag boost or 4x p55Gag] by intramuscular injection/electroporation, including IL-12 DNA adjuvant. The placebo group (n=6) received saline. Participants were followed for safety and tolerability. Immunogenicity was assessed for T cell and antibody responses. RESULTS: Both regimens were safe and generally well-tolerated. The p24CE vaccine was immunogenic (29% CD4+ and 4% CD8+ responders) and was significantly boosted by CE+p55Gag (64% CD4+, p=0.037; 42% CD8+, p=0.004). CE+p55Gag induced CD4+ responses to 5 of 7 CE, compared to only 2 CE by p55Gag DNA alone, with a higher reponse to CE5 in 30% of individuals (p=0.006). CE+p55Gag induced significantly higher mean CD4+ CE Tcell breadth (0.68 vs 0.22 CE; p=0.029) and a strong trend for increased CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell breadth (1.14 vs. 0.52 CE; p=0.051) compared to p55Gag alone. Both groups developed high p55Gag T-cell (91% each) and p24Gag antibody (91% vs. 80%) responses. p24CE vaccine-induced CD4+ CE T-cell responses correlated (p=0.007) with p24Gag antibody responses. CONCLUSION: The combination CE/CE+p55Gag DNA vaccine induced T-cell immune responses to conserved regions in p24Gag resulting in significant increases in breadth and epitope recognition throughout p55Gag. Vaccines able to focus immune responses by priming responses to highly conserved regions could be part of a comprehensive HIV vaccine strategy. CLINICAL TRIALS: gov NCT03181789 Study URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/search?term=NCT03181789 FUNDING. HIV vaccine trial network (HVTN), NIAID/NIH.
RESUMO
Although therapeutic HPV vaccines are able to elicit systemic HPV-specific immunity, clinical responses have not always correlated with levels of vaccine-induced CD8(+) T cells in human clinical trials. This observed discrepancy may be attributable to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in which the CD8(+) T cells are recruited. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are cells that can dampen cytotoxic CD8(+) T-cell function. Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a systemic chemotherapeutic agent, which can eradicate immune cells, including inhibitory Tregs. The optimal dose and schedule of CTX administration in combination with immunotherapy to eliminate the Treg population without adversely affecting vaccine-induced T-cell responses is unknown. Therefore, we investigated various dosing and administration schedules of CTX in combination with a therapeutic HPV vaccine in a preclinical tumor model. HPV tumor-bearing mice received either a single preconditioning dose or a daily dose of CTX in combination with the pNGVL4a-CRT/E7(detox) DNA vaccine. Both single and daily dosing of CTX in combination with vaccine had a synergistic antitumor effect as compared to monotherapy alone. The potent antitumor responses were attributed to the reduction in Treg frequency and increased infiltration of HPV16 E7-specific CD8(+) T cells, which led to higher ratios of CD8(+)/Treg and CD8(+)/CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). There was an observed trend toward decreased vaccine-induced CD8(+) T-cell frequency with daily dosing of CTX. We recommend a single, preconditioning dose of CTX prior to vaccination due to its efficacy, ease of administration, and reduced cumulative adverse effect on vaccine-induced T cells.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Anticâncer/imunologia , Ciclofosfamida/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias Experimentais/terapia , Vacinas contra Papillomavirus/imunologia , Animais , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Vacinas Anticâncer/administração & dosagem , Terapia Combinada , Citometria de Fluxo , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Neoplasias Experimentais/imunologia , Vacinas contra Papillomavirus/administração & dosagem , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Vacinas de DNA/imunologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: HIV subtypes B and C together account for around 60% of HIV-1 cases worldwide. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a subtype B DNA vaccine prime followed by a subtype C viral vector boost. METHODS: Fourteen healthy adults received DNA plasmid encoding HIV-1 subtype B nef/tat/vif and env (n = 11) or placebo (n = 3) intramuscularly (IM) via electroporation (EP) at 0, 1, and 3 months, followed by IM injection of recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus encoding subtype C Env or placebo at 6 and 9 months. Participants were assessed for safety, tolerability of EP, and Env-specific T-cell and antibody responses. RESULTS: EP was generally well tolerated, although some device-related adverse events did occur, and vaccine reactogenicity was mild to moderate. The vaccine stimulated Env-specific CD4 + T-cell responses in greater than 80% of recipients, and CD8 + T-cell responses in 30%. Subtype C Env-specific IgG binding antibodies (bAb) were elicited in all vaccine recipients, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) responses to vaccine-matched subtype C targets in 80%. Negligible V1/V2 and neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses were detected. CONCLUSIONS: This prime/boost regimen was safe and tolerable, with some device-related events, and immunogenic. Although immunogenicity missed targets for an HIV vaccine, the DNA/rVSV platform may be useful for other applications. CLINICALTRIALS: gov: NCT02654080.
Assuntos
Vacinas contra a AIDS , Infecções por HIV , Vacinas de DNA , Estomatite Vesicular , Adulto , Animais , Humanos , Imunização Secundária , Infecções por HIV/prevenção & controle , Eletroporação , Anticorpos Neutralizantes , DNA , Anticorpos Anti-HIVRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of the study was to assess the immunogenicity of an HIV-1 Gag conserved element DNA vaccine (p24CE DNA) in people with HIV (PWH) receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). DESIGN: AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5369 was a phase I/IIa, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of PWH receiving ART with plasma HIV-1 RNA less than 50âcopies/ml, current CD4+ T-cell counts greater than 500âcells/µl, and nadir CD4+ T-cell counts greater than 350âcells/µl. METHODS: The study enrolled 45 participants randomized 2â:â1â:â1 to receive p24CE DNA vaccine at weeks 0 and 4, followed by p24CE DNA admixed with full-length p55Gag DNA vaccine at weeks 12 and 24 (arm A); full-length p55Gag DNA vaccine at weeks 0, 4, 12, and 24 (arm B); or placebo at weeks 0, 4, 12, and 24 (arm c). The active and placebo vaccines were administered by intramuscular electroporation. RESULTS: There was a modest, but significantly greater increase in the number of conserved elements recognized by CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells in arm A compared with arm C (Pâ=â0.014). The percentage of participants with an increased number of conserved elements recognized by T cells was also highest in arm A (8/18, 44.4%) vs. arm C (0/10, 0.0%) (Pâ=â0.025). There were no significant differences between treatment groups in the change in magnitude of responses to total conserved elements. CONCLUSION: A DNA-delivered HIV-1 Gag conserved element vaccine boosted by a combination of this vaccine with a full-length p55Gag DNA vaccine induced a new conserved element-directed cellular immune response in approximately half the treated PWH on ART.
RESUMO
The development of therapeutic vaccines for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been hampered by host immune tolerance and the generally low magnitude and inconsistent immune responses to conventional vaccines and proposed new delivery methods. Electroporation (EP) for plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccine delivery has demonstrated the enhanced immunogenicity of HBV antigens in various animal models. In the present study, the efficiency of the EP-based delivery of pDNA expressing various reporter genes first was evaluated in normal woodchucks, and then the immunogenicity of an analog woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) surface antigen (WHsAg) pDNA vaccine was studied in this model. The expression of reporter genes was greatly increased when the cellular uptake of pDNA was facilitated by EP. The EP of WHsAg-pDNA resulted in enhanced, dose-dependent antibody and T-cell responses to WHsAg compared to those of the conventional hypodermic needle injection of WHsAg-pDNA. Although subunit WHsAg protein vaccine elicited higher antibody titers than the DNA vaccine delivered with EP, T-cell response rates were comparable. However, in WHsAg-stimulated mononuclear cell cultures, the mRNA expression of CD4 and CD8 leukocyte surface markers and Th1 cytokines was more frequent and was skewed following DNA vaccination compared to that of protein immunization. Thus, the EP-based vaccination of normal woodchucks with pDNA-WHsAg induced a skew in the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1 immune responses, which may be considered more appropriate for approaches involving therapeutic vaccines to treat chronic HBV infection.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Superfície/imunologia , Eletroporação , Vacinas contra Hepatite B/imunologia , Vírus da Hepatite B da Marmota/imunologia , Vacinação/métodos , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Proteínas Virais/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Antígenos de Superfície/genética , Feminino , Vacinas contra Hepatite B/administração & dosagem , Vacinas contra Hepatite B/genética , Vírus da Hepatite B da Marmota/genética , Marmota , Plasmídeos , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Células Th1/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Vacinas de DNA/genética , Proteínas Virais/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Induction of a humoral response against amyloid-ß peptide may be beneficial for Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and may alleviate the onset and progression of AD. DNA-based vaccination provides a unique alternative method of immunization for treatment and prevention of AD. Currently, the two major delivery methods used for enhancing DNA uptake and immune responses to DNA vaccines in humans are electroporation (EP) and gene gun (GG). OBJECTIVE: The goal of this translational study was to evaluate the efficacy of an AD DNA epitope vaccine (DepVac) delivered intramuscularly by EP or intradermally by GG. METHODS: Humoral and cellular immune responses to immunization with DepVac were evaluated by ELISA and ELISPOT, respectively. Functional activity of the antibodies was also assessed. RESULTS: EP- and GG-mediated immunizations with DepVac induced similar anti-amyloid-ß (Aß) antibody and T cell responses. Anti-Aß antibodies bound to amyloid plaques in AD brain tissue and to toxic forms of Aß(42) peptide. CONCLUSION: Both delivery methods are effective at promoting potent antibodies specific for Aß.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/imunologia , Anticorpos/sangue , Eletroporação/métodos , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Doença de Alzheimer/sangue , Doença de Alzheimer/imunologia , Doença de Alzheimer/terapia , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Animais , Biolística/métodos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/métodos , Epitopos/imunologia , Vacinas Antimaláricas/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/imunologia , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Timidina/metabolismo , Fatores de Tempo , Trítio/metabolismoRESUMO
DNA vaccines promote an immune response by providing antigen-encoding DNA to the recipient, but the efficacy of such vaccines needs improving. Many approaches have considerable potential but currently induce relatively weak immune responses despite multiple high doses of DNA vaccine. Here, we asked whether targeting vaccine antigens to DCs would increase the immunity and protection that result from DNA vaccines. To determine this, we generated a DNA vaccine encoding a fusion protein comprised of the vaccine antigen and a single-chain Fv antibody (scFv) specific for the DC-restricted antigen-uptake receptor DEC205. Following vaccination of mice, the vaccine antigen was expressed selectively by DCs, which were required for the increased efficacy of MHC class I and MHC class II antigen presentation relative to a control scFv DNA vaccine. In addition, a DNA vaccine encoding an HIV gag p41-scFv DEC205 fusion protein induced 10-fold higher antibody levels and increased numbers of IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. After a single i.m. injection of the DNA vaccine encoding an HIV gag p41-scFv DEC205 fusion protein, mice were protected from an airway challenge with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the HIV gag p41, even with 1% of the dose of nontargeted DNA vaccine. The efficacy of DNA vaccines therefore may be enhanced by inclusion of sequences such as single-chain antibodies to target the antigen to DCs.
Assuntos
Antígenos/imunologia , Antígenos/metabolismo , Células Dendríticas/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos/imunologia , Antígenos/genética , Linhagem Celular , Cricetinae , Produtos do Gene gag/genética , Produtos do Gene gag/imunologia , Produtos do Gene gag/metabolismo , Humanos , Camundongos , Mucosa/imunologia , Linfócitos T/imunologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Intramuscular electroporation (IM/EP) is a vaccine delivery technique that improves the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. We evaluated the acceptability and tolerability of electroporation among healthy African study participants. METHODS: Forty-five participants were administered a DNA vaccine (HIV-MAG) or placebo by electroporation at three visits occurring at four week-intervals. At the end of each visit, participants were asked to rate pain at four times: (1) when the device was placed on the skin and vaccine injected, before the electrical stimulation, (2) at the time of electrical stimulation and muscle contraction, and (3) at 10 minutes and (4) 30 minutes after the procedure was completed. For analyses, pain level was dichotomized as either "acceptable" (none/slight/uncomfortable) or "too much" (Intense, severe, and very severe) and examined over time using repeated measures models. Optional brief comments made by participants were summarized anecdotally. RESULTS: All 45 participants completed all three vaccination visits; none withdrew from the study due to the electroporation procedure. Most (76%) reported pain levels as acceptable at every time point across all vaccination visits. The majority of "unacceptable" pain was reported at the time of electrical stimulation. The majority of the participants (97%) commented that they preferred electroporation to standard injection. CONCLUSION: Repeated intramuscular electroporation for vaccine delivery was found to be acceptable and feasible among healthy African HIV vaccine trial participants. The majority of participants reported an acceptable pain level at all vaccination time points. Further investigation may be warranted into the value of EP to improve immunization outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01496989.
Assuntos
Vacinas contra a AIDS/administração & dosagem , Eletroporação , Contração Muscular , Músculo Esquelético , Vacinação , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Adolescente , Adulto , Método Duplo-Cego , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
The envelope protein (Env) is the only surface protein of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and as such the exclusive target for protective antibody responses. Experimental evidences from mouse models suggest a modulating property of Env to steer antibody class switching towards the less effective antibody subclass IgG1 accompanied with strong TH2 helper responses. By simple physical linkage we were able to imprint this bias, exemplified by a low IgG2a/IgG1 ratio of antigen-specific antibodies, onto an unrelated antigen, namely the HIV capsid protein p24. Here, our results indicate the glycan moiety of Env as the responsible immune modulating activity. Firstly, in Card9-/- mice lacking specific C-Type lectin responsiveness, DNA immunization significantly increased the IgG2a/IgG1 ratio for the Env-specific antibodies while the antibody response against the F-protein of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) serving as control antigen remained unchanged. Secondly, sequential shortening of the Env encoding sequence revealed the C2V3 domain as responsible for the strong IgG1 responses and TH2 cytokine production. Removing all potential N-glycosylation sites from the C2V3 domain by site-specific mutagenesis reversed the vaccine-induced immune response towards a Th1-dominated T-cell response and a balanced IgG2a/IgG1 ratio. Accordingly, the stretch of oligomannose glycans in the C2V3 domain of Env might mediate a specific uptake and/or signaling modus in antigen presenting cells by involving interaction with an as yet unknown C-type lectin receptor. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of the impact of Env glycosylation on HIV antigen-specific immune responses, which will further support HIV vaccine development.
Assuntos
Vacinas contra a AIDS/imunologia , Anticorpos Anti-HIV/imunologia , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Produtos do Gene env do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/imunologia , Animais , Glicosilação , Glicoproteínas de Hemaglutininação de Vírus da Influenza/genética , Glicoproteínas de Hemaglutininação de Vírus da Influenza/imunologia , Imunidade Humoral , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Células Th2/imunologia , Proteínas Virais de Fusão/genética , Proteínas Virais de Fusão/imunologiaRESUMO
Previous studies have shown targeting different tissues via the transcutaneous (TC) and intramuscular injection (IM) with or without electroporation (EP) has the potential to trigger immune responses to DNA vaccination. The CUTHIVTHER 001 Phase I/II randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to determine whether the mode of DNA vaccination delivery (TC+IM or EP+IM) could influence the quality and function of induced cellular immune responses compared to placebo, in an HIV positive clade B cohort on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The GTU®MultiHIV B DNA vaccine DNA vaccine encoded a MultiHIV B clade fusion protein to target the cellular response. Overall the vaccine and regimens were safe and well-tolerated. There were robust pre-vaccination IFN-γ responses with no measurable change following vaccination compared to placebo. However, modest intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) responses were seen in the TC+IM group. A high proportion of individuals demonstrated potent viral inhibition at baseline that was not improved by vaccination. These results show that HIV positive subjects with nadir CD4+ counts ≥250 on suppressive ART display potent levels of cellular immunity and viral inhibition, and that DNA vaccination alone is insufficient to improve such responses. These data suggest that more potent prime-boost vaccination strategies are likely needed to improve pre-existing responses in similar HIV-1 cohorts (This study has been registered at http://ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT02457689).
Assuntos
Vacinas contra a AIDS/imunologia , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , Infecções por HIV/prevenção & controle , HIV-1/imunologia , Imunogenicidade da Vacina , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Vacinas contra a AIDS/administração & dosagem , Vacinas contra a AIDS/efeitos adversos , Administração Cutânea , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade , Citocinas/metabolismo , Eletroporação , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Injeções Intramusculares , Avaliação de Resultados da Assistência ao Paciente , Vacinação , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Vacinas de DNA/efeitos adversosRESUMO
There remains a need for vaccines that can safely and effectively protect against the biological threat agents Venezuelan (VEEV), western (WEEV), and eastern (EEEV) equine encephalitis virus. Previously, we demonstrated that a VEEV DNA vaccine that was optimized for increased antigen expression and delivered by intramuscular (IM) electroporation (EP) elicited robust and durable virus-specific antibody responses in multiple animal species and provided complete protection against VEEV aerosol challenge in mice and nonhuman primates. Here, we performed a comparative evaluation of the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of individual optimized VEEV, WEEV, and EEEV DNA vaccines with that of a 1 : 1 : 1 mixture of these vaccines, which we have termed the 3-EEV DNA vaccine, when delivered by IM EP. The individual DNA vaccines and the 3-EEV DNA vaccine elicited robust and durable virus-specific antibody responses in mice and rabbits and completely protected mice from homologous VEEV, WEEV, and EEEV aerosol challenges. Taken together, the results from these studies demonstrate that the individual VEEV, WEEV, and EEEV DNA vaccines and the 3-EEV DNA vaccine delivered by IM EP provide an effective means of eliciting protection against lethal encephalitic alphavirus infections in a murine model and represent viable next-generation vaccine candidates that warrant further development.
Assuntos
Alphavirus , Vírus da Encefalite Equina do Leste/imunologia , Encefalomielite Equina/imunologia , Encefalomielite Equina/prevenção & controle , Vetores Genéticos , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Vacinas Virais/imunologia , Aerossóis , Alphavirus/genética , Alphavirus/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Especificidade de Anticorpos/imunologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Eletroporação , Feminino , Vetores Genéticos/administração & dosagem , Vetores Genéticos/genética , Vetores Genéticos/imunologia , Imunidade Celular/imunologia , Imunização , Camundongos , Coelhos , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Virais/administração & dosagemRESUMO
A DNA vaccine, SCIB1, incorporating two CD8 and two CD4 epitopes from TRP-2/gp100 was evaluated in patients with metastatic melanoma. Each patient received SCIB1 via intramuscular injection with electroporation. The trial was designed to find the safest dose of SCIB1 which induced immune/clinical responses in patients with or without tumour. Fifteen patients with tumor received SCIB1 doses of 0.4-8 mg whilst 20 fully-resected patients received 2-8 mg doses. Twelve patients elected to continue immunization every 3 months for up to 39 months. SCIB1 induced dose-dependent T cell responses in 88% of patients with no serious adverse effects or dose limiting toxicities. The intensity of the T cell responses was significantly higher in patients receiving 4 mg doses without tumor when compared to those with tumor (p < 0.01). In contrast, patients with tumor showed a significantly higher response to the 8 mg dose than the 4 mg dose (p < 0.03) but there was no significant difference in the patients without tumor. One of 15 patients with measurable disease showed an objective tumor response and 7/15 showed stable disease. 5/20 fully-resected patients have experienced disease recurrence but all remained alive at the cut-off date with a median observation time of 37 months. A positive clinical outcome was associated with MHC-I and MHC-II expression on tumors prior to therapy (p = 0.027). We conclude that SCIB1 is well tolerated and stimulates potent T cell responses in melanoma patients. It deserves further evaluation as a single agent adjuvant therapy or in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in advanced disease.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The addition of plasmid cytokine adjuvants, electroporation, and live attenuated viral vectors may further optimize immune responses to DNA vaccines in heterologous prime-boost combinations. The objective of this study was to test the safety and tolerability of a novel prime-boost vaccine regimen incorporating these strategies with different doses of IL-12 plasmid DNA adjuvant. METHODS: In a phase 1 study, 88 participants received an HIV-1 multiantigen (gag/pol, env, nef/tat/vif) DNA vaccine (HIV-MAG, 3000 µg) co-administered with IL-12 plasmid DNA adjuvant at 0, 250, 1000, or 1500 µg (N = 22/group) given intramuscularly with electroporation (Ichor TriGrid™ Delivery System device) at 0, 1 and 3 months; followed by attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus, serotype Indiana, expressing HIV-1 Gag (VSV-Gag), 3.4 â 107 plaque-forming units (PFU), at 6 months; 12 others received placebo. Injections were in both deltoids at each timepoint. Participants were monitored for safety and tolerability for 15 months. RESULTS: The dose of IL-12 pDNA did not increase pain scores, reactogenicity, or adverse events with the co-administered DNA vaccine, or following the VSV-Gag boost. Injection site pain and reactogenicity were common with intramuscular injections with electroporation, but acceptable to most participants. VSV-Gag vaccine often caused systemic reactogenicity symptoms, including a viral syndrome (in 41%) of fever, chills, malaise/fatigue, myalgia, and headache; and decreased lymphocyte counts 1 day after vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-MAG DNA vaccine given by intramuscular injection with electroporation was safe at all doses of IL-12 pDNA. The VSV-Gag vaccine at this dose was associated with fever and viral symptoms in some participants, but the vaccine regimens were safe and generally well-tolerated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov NCT01578889.
Assuntos
Vacinas contra a AIDS/administração & dosagem , Vetores Genéticos/administração & dosagem , Interleucina-12/genética , Vacinas Atenuadas/administração & dosagem , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Vírus da Estomatite Vesicular Indiana/genética , Vacinas contra a AIDS/efeitos adversos , Adulto , Terapia Combinada , Método Duplo-Cego , Eletroporação , Feminino , Vetores Genéticos/efeitos adversos , HIV-1 , Voluntários Saudáveis , Humanos , Imunização Secundária , Injeções Intramusculares , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Plasmídeos/genética , Vacinas Atenuadas/efeitos adversos , Vacinas de DNA/efeitos adversos , Adulto Jovem , Produtos do Gene gag do Vírus da Imunodeficiência HumanaRESUMO
Intradermal (i.d.) and intramuscular (i.m.) injections when administered with or without electroporation (EP) have the potential to tailor the immune response to DNA vaccination. This Phase I randomized controlled clinical trial in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-negative volunteers investigated whether the site and mode of DNA vaccination influences the quality of induced cellular and humoral immune responses following the DNA priming phase and subsequent protein boost with recombinant clade C CN54 gp140. A strategy of concurrent i.d. and i.m. DNA immunizations administered with or without EP was adopted. Subtle differences were observed in the shaping of vaccine-induced virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell-mediated immune responses between groups receiving: i.d.EP + i.m., i.d. + i.m.EP, and i.d.EP + i.m.EP regimens. The DNA priming phase induced 100% seroconversion in all of the groups. A single, non-adjuvanted protein boost induced a rapid and profound increase in binding antibodies in all groups, with a trend for higher responses in i.d.EP + i.m.EP. The magnitude of antigen-specific binding immunoglobulin G correlated with neutralization of closely matched clade C 93MW965 virus and Fc-dimer receptor binding (FcγRIIa and FcγRIIIa). These results offer new perspectives on the use of combined skin and muscle DNA immunization in priming humoral and cellular responses to recombinant protein.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Anti-HIV/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Produtos do Gene env do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/administração & dosagem , Vacinas contra a AIDS/administração & dosagem , Vacinas contra a AIDS/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Animais , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Primers do DNA/imunologia , Eletroporação , Feminino , HIV-1/imunologia , HIV-1/patogenicidade , Voluntários Saudáveis , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe II/genética , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe II/imunologia , Humanos , Imunidade Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Imunidade Celular/imunologia , Imunidade Humoral/efeitos dos fármacos , Imunidade Humoral/imunologia , Injeções Intradérmicas , Injeções Intramusculares , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Vacinação/métodos , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Adulto Jovem , Produtos do Gene env do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/genética , Produtos do Gene env do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/imunologiaRESUMO
Pfs48/45 and Pfs25 are leading candidates for the development of Plasmodium falciparum transmission blocking vaccines (TBV). Expression of Pfs48/45 in the erythrocytic sexual stages and presentation to the immune system during infection in the human host also makes it ideal for natural boosting. However, it has been challenging to produce a fully folded, functionally active Pfs48/45, using various protein expression platforms. In this study, we demonstrate that full-length Pfs48/45 encoded by DNA plasmids is able to induce significant transmission reducing immune responses. DNA plasmids encoding Pfs48/45 based on native (WT), codon optimized (SYN), or codon optimized and mutated (MUT1 and MUT2), to prevent any asparagine (N)-linked glycosylation were compared with or without intramuscular electroporation (EP). EP significantly enhanced antibody titers and transmission blocking activity elicited by immunization with SYN Pfs48/45 DNA vaccine. Mosquito membrane feeding assays also revealed improved functional immunogenicity of SYN Pfs48/45 (N-glycosylation sites intact) as compared to MUT1 or MUT2 Pfs48/45 DNA plasmids (all N-glycosylation sites mutated). Boosting with recombinant Pfs48/45 protein after immunization with each of the different DNA vaccines resulted in significant boosting of antibody response and improved transmission reducing capabilities of all four DNA vaccines. Finally, immunization with a combination of DNA plasmids (SYN Pfs48/45 and SYN Pfs25) also provides support for the possibility of combining antigens targeting different life cycle stages in the parasite during transmission through mosquitoes.
Assuntos
Vacinas Antimaláricas/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Antimaláricas/imunologia , Malária Falciparum/prevenção & controle , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/imunologia , Proteínas de Protozoários/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/administração & dosagem , Vacinas de DNA/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Antígenos de Protozoários/genética , Antígenos de Protozoários/imunologia , Transmissão de Doença Infecciosa/prevenção & controle , Eletroporação , Feminino , Malária Falciparum/transmissão , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/genética , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Proteínas de Protozoários/genéticaRESUMO
Immunoinformatics tools were used to predict human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II-restricted T cell epitopes within the envelope glycoproteins and nucleocapsid proteins of Ebola virus (EBOV) and Sudan virus (SUDV) and the structural proteins of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV). Selected epitopes were tested for binding to soluble HLA molecules representing 5 class II alleles (DRB1*0101, DRB1*0301, DRB1*0401, DRB1*0701, and DRB1*1501). All but one of the 25 tested peptides bound to at least one of the DRB1 alleles, and 4 of the peptides bound at least moderately or weakly to all 5 DRB1 alleles. Additional algorithms were used to design a single "string-of-beads" expression construct with 44 selected epitopes arranged to avoid creation of spurious junctional epitopes. Seventeen of these 44 predicted epitopes were conserved between the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of humans and mice, allowing initial testing in mice. BALB/c mice vaccinated with the multi-epitope construct developed statistically significant cellular immune responses to EBOV, SUDV, and VEEV peptides as measured by interferon (IFN)-γ ELISpot assays. Significant levels of antibodies to VEEV, but not EBOV, were also detected in vaccinated BALB/c mice. To assess immunogenicity in the context of a human MHC, HLA-DR3 transgenic mice were vaccinated with the multi-epitope construct and boosted with a mixture of the 25 peptides used in the binding assays. The vaccinated HLA-DR3 mice developed significant cellular immune responses to 4 of the 25 (16%) tested individual class II peptides as measured by IFN-γ ELISpot assays. In addition, these mice developed antibodies against EBOV and VEEV as measured by ELISA. While a low but significant level of protection was observed in vaccinated transgenic mice after aerosol exposure to VEEV, no protection was observed after intraperitoneal challenge with mouse-adapted EBOV. These studies provide proof of concept for the use of an informatics approach to design a multi-agent, multi-epitope immunogen and provide a basis for further testing aimed at focusing immune responses toward desired protective T cell epitopes.