An HIV-1 clade C DNA prime, NYVAC boost vaccine regimen induces reliable, polyfunctional, and long-lasting T cell responses

A Harari, PA Bart, W Stöhr, G Tapia… - The Journal of …, 2008 - rupress.org
A Harari, PA Bart, W Stöhr, G Tapia, M Garcia, E Medjitna-Rais, S Burnet, C Cellerai…
The Journal of experimental medicine, 2008rupress.org
The EuroVacc 02 phase I trial has evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a prime-boost
regimen comprising recombinant DNA and the poxvirus vector NYVAC, both expressing a
common immunogen consisting of Env, Gag, Pol, and Nef polypeptide domain from human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 clade C isolate, CN54. 40 volunteers were randomized to
receive DNA C or nothing on day 0 and at week 4, followed by NYVAC C at weeks 20 and
24. The primary immunogenicity endpoints were measured at weeks 26 and 28 by the …
The EuroVacc 02 phase I trial has evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a prime-boost regimen comprising recombinant DNA and the poxvirus vector NYVAC, both expressing a common immunogen consisting of Env, Gag, Pol, and Nef polypeptide domain from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 clade C isolate, CN54. 40 volunteers were randomized to receive DNA C or nothing on day 0 and at week 4, followed by NYVAC C at weeks 20 and 24. The primary immunogenicity endpoints were measured at weeks 26 and 28 by the quantification of T cell responses using the interferon γ enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Our results indicate that the DNA C plus NYVAC C vaccine regimen was highly immunogenic, as indicated by the detection of T cell responses in 90% of vaccinees and was superior to responses induced by NYVAC C alone (33% of responders). The vaccine-induced T cell responses were (a) vigorous in the case of the env response (mean 480 spot-forming units/106 mononuclear cells at weeks 26/28), (b) polyfunctional for both CD4 and CD8 T cell responses, (c) broad (the average number of epitopes was 4.2 per responder), and (d) durable (T cell responses were present in 70% of vaccinees at week 72). The vaccine-induced T cell responses were strongest and most frequently directed against Env (91% of vaccines), but smaller responses against Gag-Pol-Nef were also observed in 48% of vaccinees. These results support the development of the poxvirus platform in the HIV vaccine field and the further clinical development of the DNA C plus NYVAC C vaccine regimen.
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