Immunization of chimpanzees confers protection against challenge with human immunodeficiency virus

HIV vaccines

In summary, the development of HIV vaccines has progressed from simple first-generation env subunit vaccines to second-generation vaccines containing multiple subunits. Vaccines with epitopes for CMI and Ab responses have broadened the immune response and the potential efficacy of these vaccines. It is hoped that newer technologies including the development of adjuvants, new types of vaccines, such as naked DNA, and new delivery systems, such as liposomes, will evoke stronger immune responses with longer duration. Improved schedules for dosing and combinations of HIV vaccines may result in longer lasting immune responses. A phase III trial is anticipated to begin within the next 2 years. After a temporary lull, the outlook for HIV vaccine development is being met once again with strong enthusiasm and encouragement for the future.

Construction and characterization of recombinant VLPs and Semliki-Forest virus live vectors for comparative evaluation in the SHIV monkey model

For testing of recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) in the SHIV monkey model, SIVmac239 Pr56gag precursor-based pseudovirions were modified by HIV-1 gp160 derived peptides. First, well-characterized epitopes from the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein were inserted into the Pr56gag precursor by replacing defined regions that were shown to be dispensable for virus particle formation. Expression of these chimeric proteins in a baculovirus expression system resulted in efficient assembly and release of non-infectious, hybrid VLPs. In a second approach the HIV-1IIIB external glycoprotein gp120 was covalently linked to an Epstein-Barr virus derived transmembrane domain. Coexpression of the hybrid envelope derivative with the Pr56gag precursor yielded recombinant SIV derived Pr56gag particles with the HIV-1 gp120 firmly anchored on the VLP surface. Immunization of rhesus monkeys with either naked VLPs or VLPs adsorbed to alum induced substantial serum antibody titers and promoted both T helper cell and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Furthermore, priming macaques with the corresponding set of recombinant Semliki-Forest viruses tended to enhance the immunological outcome. Challenge of the immunized monkeys with chimeric SHIV resulted in a clearly accelerated reduction of the plasma viremia as compared to control animals.

Neutralizing antibody directed against the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein can completely block HIV-1/SIV chimeric virus infections of macaque monkeys

Virus-specific antibodies protect individuals against a wide variety of viral infections. To assess whether human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope-specific antibodies confer resistance against primate lentivirus infections, we purified immunoglobulin (IgG) from chimpanzees infected with several different HIV-1 isolates, and used this for passive immunization of pig-tailed macaques. These monkeys were subsequently challenged intravenously with a chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) bearing an envelope glycoprotein derived form HIV-1DH12, a dual-tropic primary virus isolate. Here we show that anti-SHIV neutralizing activity, determined in vitro using an assay measuring loss of infectivity, is the absolute requirement for antibody-mediated protection in vivo. Using an assay that measures 100% neutralization, the titer in plasma for complete protection of the SHIV-challenged macaques was in the range of 1:5-1:8. The HIV-1-specific neutralizing antibodies studied are able to bind to native gp120 present on infectious virus particles. Administration of non-neutralizing anti-HIV IgG neither inhibited nor enhanced a subsequent SHIV infection.

Limited breadth of the protective immunity elicited by simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmne gp160 vaccines in a combination immunization regimen

We previously reported that immunization with recombinant simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmne envelope (gp160) vaccines protected macaques against an intravenous challenge by the cloned homologous virus, E11S. In this study, we confirmed this observation and found that the vaccines were effective not only against virus grown on human T-cell lines but also against virus grown on macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The breadth of protection, however, was limited. In three experiments, 3 of 10 animals challenged with the parental uncloned SIVmne were completely protected. Of the remaining animals, three were transiently virus positive and four were persistently positive after challenge, as were 10 nonimmunized control animals. Protection was not correlated with levels of serum-neutralizing antibodies against the homologous SIVmne or a related virus, SIVmac251. To gain further insight into the protective mechanism, we analyzed nucleotide sequences in the envelope region of the uncloned challenge virus and compared them with those present in the PBMC of infected animals. The majority (85%) of the uncloned challenge virus was homologous to the molecular clone from which the vaccines were made (E11S type). The remaining 15% contained conserved changes in the V1 region (variant types). Control animals infected with this uncloned virus had different proportions of the two genotypes, whereas three of four immunized but persistently infected animals had >99% of the variant types early after infection. These results indicate that the protective immunity elicited by recombinant gp160 vaccines is restricted primarily to the homologous virus and suggest the possibility that immune responses directed to the V1 region of the envelope protein play a role in protection.

Vaccine protection against a heterologous, non-syncytium-inducing, primary human immunodeficiency virus

Vaccine-induced protection of chimpanzees against laboratory-adapted and syncytium-inducing, multiply passaged primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates, but not against non-syncytium-inducing, minimally passaged ones, has been demonstrated. Following challenge with such an isolate, HIV-15016, we obtained complete protection in one of three chimpanzees previously protected against low- and high-dose HIV-1SF2 exposures after immunization with an adenovirus-HIV-1MN gp160 priming-HIV-1SF2 gp120 boosting regimen. At challenge, the protected chimpanzee exhibited broad humoral immunity, including neutralizing antibody activity. These results demonstrate the potential of this combination vaccine strategy and suggest that vaccine protection against an HIV isolate relevant to infection of people is feasible.

Comparative analysis of humoral immune responses to HIV type 1 envelope glycoproteins in mice immunized with a DNA vaccine, recombinant Semliki Forest virus RNA, or recombinant Semliki Forest virus particles

The Semliki Forest virus (SFV) system seems to be a useful new approach for generating effective immune responses against HIV-1 in animal models. We evaluated this system by comparing the humoral immune responses raised in mice immunized against the HIV-1 envelope with the SFV system, a DNA vaccine, and a recombinant Env glycoprotein. gp160 ELISA antibody titers (204,800) were highest in the sera from mice immunized with recombinant Semliki Forest virus particles. These sera contained antibodies to the CD4-binding site and recognized linear epitopes on gp120 and gp41 that were also recognized by a pool of sera from HIV1-infected individuals. This demonstrates that the HIV-1 envelope produced in vivo by the SFV system does not fold aberrantly. A low level of neutralizing antibodies against the HIV-1LAI strain was also detected in the serum of one mouse immunized with recombinant SFV particles, suggesting that booster injections should be given to achieve a more effective immune response. SFV recombinant particles induced the strongest humoral responses to the HIV-1 envelope of all the potential HIV env vaccines tested.

Characterization of simian-human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein epitopes recognized by neutralizing antibodies from infected monkeys

We characterized human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein epitopes recognized by neutralizing antibodies from monkeys recently infected by molecularly cloned simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) variants. The early neutralizing antibody response in each infected animal was directed mainly against a single epitope. This primary neutralizing epitope, however, differed among individual monkeys infected by identical viruses. Two such neutralization epitopes were determined by sequences in the V2 and V3 loops of the gp120 envelope glycoprotein, while a third neutralization epitope, apparently discontinuous, was determined by both V2 and V3 sequences. These results indicate that the early neutralizing antibody response in SHIV-infected monkeys is monospecific and directed against epitopes composed of the gp120 V2 and V3 variable loops.

beta-chemokines and neutralizing antibody titers correlate with sterilizing immunity generated in HIV-1 vaccinated macaques

One of the obstacles to AIDS vaccine development is the variability of HIV-1 within individuals and within infected populations, enabling viral escape from highly specific vaccine induced immune responses. An understanding of the different immune mechanisms capable of inhibiting HIV infection may be of benefit in the eventual design of vaccines effective against HIV-1 variants. To study this we first compared the immune responses induced in Rhesus monkeys by using two different immunization strategies based on the same vaccine strain of HIV-1. We then utilized a chimeric simian/HIV that expressed the envelope of a dual tropic HIV-1 escape variant isolated from a later time point from the same patient from which the vaccine strain was isolated. Upon challenge, one vaccine group was completely protected from infection, whereas all of the other vaccinees and controls became infected. Protected macaques developed highest titers of heterologous neutralizing antibodies, and consistently elevated HIV-1-specific T helper responses. Furthermore, only protected animals had markedly increased concentrations of RANTES, macrophage inflammatory proteins 1alpha and 1beta produced by circulating CD8(+) T cells. These results suggest that vaccine strategies that induce multiple effector mechanisms in concert with beta-chemokines may be desired in the generation of protective immune responses by HIV-1 vaccines.

Fine specificity of anti-V3 antibodies induced in chimpanzees by HIV candidate vaccines

The fine specificity of the anti-V3 antibody responses induced in chimpanzees immunized by various human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) candidate vaccines and challenged by heterologous strains of HIV-1 was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Pepscan epitope mapping. Two chimpanzees immunized with the recombinant canarypox virus ALVAC-HIV (vCP125) expressing gp160MN and boosted with purified gp160MN/LAI alone, then with both immunogens in combination, were not protected against challenge with HIV-1 SF2. Their sera mainly recognized one epitope of the V3 loop, located in the NH2-terminal half. By contrast, immunization of two other chimpanzees with purified gp160MN/LAI and boosting with a synthetic V3MN peptide elicited a strong anti-V3 antibody response with a broader specificity directed against multiple epitopes all along the V3 loop. These chimpanzees were protected against infection by HIV-1 SF2. However, when these two chimpanzees were challenged later with a HIV-1 clade E strain virus, they became infected. We failed to detect any reactivity with the peptide of the ectodomain of gp41 of sera harvested after immunization with the various immunogens or after challenge with HIV-1 SF2 or HIV-1 90CR402. These results demonstrated that anti-V3 antibodies with a restricted fine specificity were induced in chimpanzees immunized with gp160 purified or expressed by recombinant canarypox confirming our previous results obtained in three different species (human, guinea pig and, macaque). In contrast, a boost with the V3 peptide broadened antibody responses, suggesting that the mode of presentation of the V3 loop to the immune system strongly influences the epitope specificity of the resulting antibody response.

Adjuvant is required when using Env lipopeptide construct to induce HIV type 1-specific neutralizing antibody responses in mice in vivo

Extensive immunological studies on HIV-1 infection, the causative agent of AIDS in humans, have led to the conclusion that efficient protection against this infection should require early elicitation of neutralizing antibodies as well as cellular immune and particularly cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. The use of synthetic peptides modified at one end by introduction of a lipidic tail is now well known to be an effective means of eliciting virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in vivo, both in mouse and humans. To ascertain that such a strategy can be used for vaccinal purposes, particularly against HIV-1 infection, it remains to be determined whether these molecules can also act as effective inducers of antibody responses, most of all of the neutralizing type. The present study set out to address this question by using a synthetic HIV-1 ENV lipopeptide construct, previously identified as a potent immunogen for in vivo induction of ENV-specific CTL responses in BALB/c mice. We first showed that V3 peptide-specific antibodies were effectively induced by the lipopeptide construct. However, we provided evidence that the biological activity of these antibodies, i.e., their ability to neutralize HIV-1 infectivity in vitro, was strongly influenced by the immunizing conditions and protocol, in that only those antibodies generated by the use of adjuvanted lipopeptide formulations were effective. Albeit at a slightly lower efficacy than by the intraperitoneal route, neutralizing antibodies could also be induced using the subcutaneous route. With the prospect of a human peptide vaccine in mind, we then studied the properties of different known or possibly clinically relevant adjuvants. We found that alum, the only relevant adjuvant for human use, not only provides inefficient help to the lipopeptide construct in generating neutralizing antibodies, but tends to have deleterious effects on the ability of the construct to induce CTL responses. The only protocol that gave satisfactory results in terms of the magnitude of the neutralizing antibody responses was a mineral oil-based lipopeptide formulation. When induced under those conditions, strong neutralizing activities were still present up to 8 months after the last injection.

The role of type-1 and type-2 T-helper immune responses in HIV-1 vaccine protection

The dichotomy of type-1 and type-2 T-helper (Th) immune responses is thought to be an obstacle to develop Human immunodeficiency virus-type- (HIV-1) vaccines capable of inducing effective cellular as well as humoral immune responses. Macaca mulatta were immunized using two different HIV-1sf2 envelope vaccine strategies, based on either immune-stimulating complexes (ISCOM) or chimeric Fowlpox (FP) vaccines. One month following the third immunization all animals were heterologously challenged with simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIVsf13). Vaccinated monkeys, which were protected had the highest levels of both type-1 and type-2 HIV-1 specific T-helper cell (Th) responses in addition to the highest homologous and heterogenous virus neutralizing antibodies. To determine how long Th responses persisted and if they correlated with protection, animals were rechallenged after waiting for four months without re-boosting. Macaques which maintained the highest gp120-specific type-1 (IFN-gamma) responses were protected, while there was evidence of viral clearance in two others. These findings demonstrate the importance of both or mixed type-1 and type-2 Th responses in HIV-1 vaccine induced immunity while suggesting a possible role of persistent type-1 responses in maintaining protective immunity over time.

Extensive diversification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype B strains during dual infection of a chimpanzee that progressed to AIDS

A chimpanzee (C-499) infected for more than 9 years with two subtype B isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), one (HIV-1(SF2)) that replicates poorly and one (HIV-1(LAV-1b)) that replicates efficiently in chimpanzees, died of AIDS 11 years after initial infection (F. J. Novembre et al., J. Virol. 71:4086-4091, 1997). Nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the C2 to V5 region of env (C2-V5env) in proviral DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained 22 months before death revealed two distinct virus populations. One of these populations appeared to be a recombinant in env, having the V3 loop from HIV-1(SF2) and the V4-V5 region from HIV-1(LAV-1b); the other population had evolved from HIV-1(LAV-1b). In addition to C2-V5env, the entire p17gag and nef genes were sequenced; however, based on nucleotide sequences and phylogeny, whether the progenitor of the p17gag and nef genes was SF2 or LAV-1b could not be determined. Compared to the two original viruses, the divergence of all clones of C2-V5env ranged from 9.37 to 20.2%, that of p17gag ranged from 3.11 to 9.29%, and that of nef ranged from 4.02 to 7.9%. In contrast, compared to the maximum variation of 20.2% in C2-V5env for C-499, the maximum diversities in C2-V5env in proviruses from two chimpanzees infected with HIV-1(LAV-1b) for 9 and 10 years were 9.65 and 2.48%, respectively. These results demonstrate that (i) two distinct HIV-1 populations can coexist and undergo extensive diversification in chimpanzees with progressive HIV-1-induced disease and (ii) recombination between two subtype B strains occurred even though the second strain was inoculated 15 months after the first one. Furthermore, evaluation of env genes from three chimpanzees infected with the same strain suggests that the magnitude of HIV-1 diversification could be related to higher viral burdens, manifestations of disease, and/or dual infection.

A clinically relevant HIV-1 subunit vaccine protects rhesus macaques from in vivo passaged simian-human immunodeficiency virus infection

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether immunization with recombinant HIV-1 envelope protein derived from a clinical isolate could protect macaques from infection with an in vivo passaged chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV).

DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 16 animals were studied from which three groups of four animals were immunized with vaccine formulations of the CC-chemokine receptor-5-binding recombinant gp120 of HIV-1W6.1D. Four weeks after the last immunization, all 16 animals were intravenously challenged with in vivo passaged SHIV derived from the same HIV-1 group B clinical isolate (W6.1D) as the vaccines.

RESULTS

Vaccine protection from infection was demonstrated in 10 out of 12 macaques immunized with recombinant gp120. Complete protection from infection was achieved with all of the animals that received the SBAS2-W6.1D formulation, a potent inducer of both T-cell and humoral immune responses. Partial protection was achieved with SBAS1-W6.1D, a formulation based on immunomodulators known to induce T-cell responses in humans. In vaccinated animals that were infected, virus load was reduced and infection was delayed.

CONCLUSIONS

In a relatively large number of primates, vaccine efficacy was demonstrated with a clinically relevant HIV-1 vaccine. These results reveal that it is possible to induce sterilizing immunity sufficient to protect from infection with SHIV which was passaged multiple times in vivo. Our findings have implications for current HIV-1 clinical vaccine trials and ongoing efforts to develop safe prophylactic AIDS vaccines.

Delayed infection after immunization with a peptide from the transmembrane glycoprotein of the feline immunodeficiency virus

Recent advances in the quantitative assessment of viral burden, by permitting the extension of criteria applied to assess the efficacy of vaccines from all-or-none protection to diminution of the viral burden, may allow the identification of original immunogens of value in combined vaccines. Peptides corresponding to three domains of the envelope glycoproteins of feline immunodeficiency virus that are recognized during natural infection were used to immunize cats. After challenge with a primary isolate of feline immunodeficiency virus, the development of acute infection was monitored by quantitative assessment of the viral burden in plasma and tissues by competitive reverse transcription-PCR, by measurement of the humoral response developed to viral components, and by lymphocyte subset analysis. Whereas immunization with two peptides derived from the surface glycoprotein had no effect on the early course of infection, immunization with a peptide derived from the transmembrane glycoprotein delayed infection, as reflected by a diminished viral burden in the early phase of primary infection and delayed seroconversion. This peptide, located in the membrane-proximal region of the extracellular domain, has homology to an epitope of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 recognized by a broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody. These results suggest that lentivirus transmembrane glycoproteins share a determinant in the juxtamembrane ectodomain which could be of importance in the design of vaccines against AIDS.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/mass spectrometry mapping of human immunodeficiency virus-gp120 epitopes recognized by a limited polyclonal antibody

In this study we have applied epitope excision and epitope extraction strategies, combined with matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, to determine the fine structure of epitopes recognized by a polyclonal antibody to human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein gp120. This is the first application of this approach to epitope mapping on a large, heavily glycosylated protein. In the epitope excision method, gp120 in the native form is first bound to the antibody immobilized on sepharose beads and cleaved with endoproteinase enzymes. In the epitope extraction method, the gp120 was first proteolytically cleaved and then allowed to react with the immobilized antibody. The fragments that remain bound to the antibody, after repeated washing to remove the unbound peptides, contain the antigenic region that is recognized by the antibody, and the bound peptides in both methods can be characterized by direct analysis of the immobilized antibody by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization/mass spectrometry. In this study we have carried out epitope excision and extraction experiments with three different enzymes and have identified residues 472-478 as a major epitope. In addition, antigenic regions containing minor epitopes have also been identified.

Immunological and virological analyses of persons infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 while participating in trials of recombinant gp120 subunit vaccines

We have studied 18 participants in phase I/II clinical trials of recombinant gp120 (rgp120) subunit vaccines (MN and SF-2) who became infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) during the course of the trials. Of the 18 individuals, 2 had received a placebo vaccine, 9 had been immunized with MN rgp120, and seven had been immunized with SF-2 rgp120. Thirteen of the 18 infected vaccinees had received three or four immunizations prior to becoming infected. Of these, two were placebo recipients, six had received MN rgp120, and five had received SF-2 rgp120. Only 1 of the 11 rgp120 recipients who had multiple immunizations failed to develop a strong immunoglobulin G antibody response to the immunogen. However, the antibody response to rgp120 was transient, typically having a half-life of 40 to 60 days. No significant neutralizing activity against the infecting strain was detected in any of the infected individuals at any time prior to infection. Antibody titers in subjects infected despite vaccination and in noninfected subjects were not significantly different. Envelope-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses measured after infection were infrequent and weak in the nine vaccinees who were tested. HIV-1 was isolated successfully from all 18 individuals. Sixteen of these strains had a non-syncytium-inducing (NSI) phenotype, while two had a syncytium-inducing (SI) phenotype. NSI strains used the CCR5 coreceptor to enter CD4+ cells, while an SI strain from one of the vaccinees also used CXCR4. Viruses isolated from the blood of rgp120 vaccinees were indistinguishable from viruses isolated from control individuals in terms of their inherent sensitivity to neutralization by specific monoclonal antibodies and their replication rates in vitro. Furthermore, genetic sequencing of the env genes of strains infecting the vaccinees did not reveal any features that clearly distinguished these viruses from contemporary clade B viruses circulating in the United States. Thus, despite rigorous genetic analyses, using various breakdowns of the data sets, we could find no evidence that rgp120 vaccination exerted selection pressure on the infecting HIV-1 strains. The viral burdens in the infected rgp120 vaccine recipients were also determined, and they were found to be not significantly different from those in cohorts of placebo-vaccinated and nonvaccinated individuals. In summary, we conclude that vaccination with rgp120 has had,to date, no obvious beneficial or adverse effects on the individuals we have studied.

Induction of neutralizing antibodies to T-cell line-adapted and primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates with a prime-boost vaccine regimen in chimpanzees

Five chimpanzees were immunized by administration of one or more intranasal priming doses of one to three recombinant adenoviruses containing a gp160 insert from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) MN (HIV-1MN) followed by one or more boosts of recombinant HIV-1SF2 gp120 delivered intramuscularly with MF59 adjuvant. This regimen resulted in humoral immune responses in three of five animals. Humoral responses included immunochemically active anti-H1V-1 antibodies (Abs) directed to recombinant gp120 and neutralizing Abs reactive with T-cell-line-adapted HIV-1MN and HIV-1SF2. In addition, neutralizing activity was detected to the two homologous primary isolates and to two of three heterologous primary isolates which, like the immunizing strains, can use CXCR4 as a coreceptor for infection. The three animals with detectable neutralizing Abs and a fourth exhibiting the best cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response were protected from a low-dose intravenous challenge with a cell-free HIV-1SF2 primary isolate administered 4 weeks after the last boost. Animals were rested for 46 weeks and then rechallenged, without a boost, with an eightfold-higher challenge dose of HIV-1SF2. The three animals with persistent neutralizing Abs were again protected. These data show that a strong, long-lived protective Ab response can be induced with a prime-boost regimen in chimpanzees. The data suggest that in chimpanzees, the presence of neutralizing Abs correlates with protection for animals challenged intravenously with a high dose of a homologous strain of HIV-1, and they demonstrate for the first time the induction of neutralizing Abs to homologous and heterologous primary isolates.

Human rhinovirus type 14:human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) V3 loop chimeras from a combinatorial library induce potent neutralizing antibody responses against HIV-1

In an effort to develop a useful AIDS vaccine or vaccine component, we have generated a combinatorial library of chimeric viruses in which the sequence IGPGRAFYTTKN from the V3 loop of the MN strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is displayed in many conformations on the surface of human rhinovirus 14 (HRV14). The V3 loop sequence was inserted into a naturally immunogenic site of the cold-causing HRV14, bridged by linkers consisting of zero to three randomized amino acids on each side. The library of chimeric viruses obtained was subjected to a variety of immunoselection schemes to isolate viruses that provided the most useful presentations of the V3 loop sequence for potential use in a vaccine against HIV. The utility of the presentations was assessed by measures of antigenicity and immunogenicity. Most of the immunoselected chimeras examined were potently neutralized by each of the four different monoclonal anti-V3 loop antibodies tested. Seven of eight chimeric viruses were able to elicit neutralizing antibody responses in guinea pigs against the MN and ALA-1 strains of HIV-1. Three of the chimeras elicited HIV neutralization titers that exceeded those of all but a small number of previously described HIV immunogens. These results indicate that HRV14:HIV-1 chimeras may serve as useful immunogens for stimulating immunity against HIV-1. This method can be used to flexibly reconstruct varied immunogens on the surface of a safe and immunogenic vaccine vehicle.

Outcome of immunization of cynomolgus monkeys with recombinant Semliki Forest virus encoding human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope protein and challenge with a high dose of SHIV-4 virus

Infection of macaques with chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs) allows evaluation of HIV-1 envelope vaccines. SHIV-4 is based on SIVmac239 but carries the env, tat, and rev genes of HIV-1IIIB. In this study we used Semliki Forest virus (SFV) RNA vectors to express the envelope protein gp160 of HIV-1IIIB in cynomolgus macaques. Monkeys were immunized four times with recombinant suicide SFV. Whereas two of four monkeys showed T cell-proliferative responses, only one monkey had demonstrable levels of antibodies to HIV-1 gp41 and gp120 as shown by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. The vaccinated monkeys and four control animals were challenged with 10,000 MID100 (100% minimum infectious doses) of cell-free monkey cell-grown SHIV-4 virus. As demonstrated by virus isolation, all macaques became infected after challenge. All vaccinated monkeys showed an HIV-1-specific anamnestic T cell-proliferative response. Three of four vaccines had developed HIV-1-Env-specific antibodies 2 weeks after challenge whereas none of the four controls showed any detectable immune response at this time point. Furthermore, three of four vaccinated monkeys had no demonstrable viral antigenemia and low viral load as opposed to one of the four naive control animals.

Restricted specificity of anti-V3 antibodies induced in humans by HIV candidate vaccines

We analyzed the fine specificity of anti-V3 antibodies elicited in three different species (human, guinea pig, and macaque) by various HIV candidate vaccines. Following immunization with recombinant canarypox virus expressing gp160MN or with recombinant gp160MN/LAI, this antibody response was shown to be directed against the NH2-terminal region of the V3 loop. Although this response was increased by a prime-boost regimen using immunization with canarypox expressing gp160 followed by an rgp160 boost, its specificity remained restricted mainly to the recognition of this region of the V3 loop. Pepscan analysis of sera confirmed the results obtained by ELISA and allowed the definition of an immunodominant common binding site for these sera located within the sequence NKRKRIHIGPGR. In contrast to these results, a boost with the V3 peptide was shown to broaden the antibody response and pepscan analysis showed that sera from individuals boosted with the V3 synthetic peptide recognize determinants all along the V3 loop. Similar fine specificity of anti-V3 antibodies was obtained in human, guinea pig, and macaque following immunization by a prime-boost regimen using canarypox recombinants expressing gp160 or gp120 and purified rgp160. In contrast, a V3 synthetic peptide boost stimulated the production of antibodies that recognize multiple epitopes within the V3 loop. Because the induction of antibodies that recognize multiple sites in the V3 loop could be of major importance to neutralize different HIV isolates, these results may have implications for the design and selection of HIV candidate vaccines.

Live, attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus vaccines elicit potent resistance against a challenge with a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 chimeric virus

Three rhesus macaques, previously immunized with SIVdelta3 or SIVdelta2, each an attenuated derivative of SIVmac239, and two naive monkeys were challenged with 30,000 50% tissue culture infective doses of SHIV, an SIV/human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) chimeric virus bearing the dual-tropic envelope of HIV-1DH12. By several criteria, including virus isolation, serological assays, and PCR (both DNA and reverse transcriptase), SHIV levels were reduced to barely detectable levels in the circulating blood of vaccinated animals. The resistant SIV-vaccinated macaques had no preexisting neutralizing antibodies directed against SHIV, nor did they produce neutralizing antibodies at any time over a 14-month observation period following SHIV challenge. Interestingly, SIV sequences, derived from the vaccine, could be amplified from numerous tissue samples collected at the conclusion of the experiment, 60 weeks postchallenge, but SHIV-specific sequences (viz., HIV-1 env) could not. These results demonstrate that live attenuated SIV vaccines provide strong long-term protection even against challenge strains with highly divergent envelope sequences.

Biodegradable microparticles with an entrapped branched octameric peptide as a controlled-release HIV-1 vaccine

Polyactide-co-glycolide microparticles, with an entrapped branched octameric peptide from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), were prepared by a solvent evaporation method. The microparticles were characterized for size distribution, antigen loading level, and integrity. Mice in one group were each immunized with a single dose of a controlled-release microparticle formulation containing 300 micrograms of peptide and the serum IgG responses to the antigen were compared with those of mice from a second group that were immunized at 0, 4, and 26 weeks with 100-microgram doses of the same peptide immunogen adsorbed to alum. The controlled-release microparticles induced an antibody response comparable to that from the alum-immunized group. The subcutaneous and the intramuscular routes of administration were compared in additional groups of mice for the microparticles, and both routes induced similar responses. A suspending vehicle for the microparticles was also evaluated and did not affect the immunogenicity of the controlled-release formulation containing both small and large microparticles, although the immunogenicity of smaller microparticles immunized alone was affected.

IgA immunity in HIV type 1-infected chimpanzees. I. Systemic immunity

HIV infection in humans causes various aberrancies in both the cellular and humoral immune systems, including functional abnormalities of B lymphocytes. In many instances, dysfunction occurs in the regulation of serum IgA, resulting in elevated concentrations of this immunoglobulin isotype. To determine whether HIV-1-infected chimpanzees develop IgA abnormalities similar to those observed in humans, we quantified total IgA, IgG, and IgM levels in sera collected longitudinally from six HIV-infected chimpanzees and one uninfected control animal. In comparison to immunoglobulin levels in the uninfected animal, two of the six infected chimpanzees exhibited increases in serum immunoglobulins following infection with HIV. Two other infected animals showed a marked decrease in the three isotypes within 10 months of exposure to HIV, followed by a return to baseline levels. The remaining two HIV-infected chimpanzees displayed serum immunoglobulin levels that paralleled the baseline levels and did not show great deviation over a period of 20 to 45 months postinfection. ELISA analyses of the IgA subclasses revealed possible abnormalities of the IgA2 subclass within the two animals that did not display irregular IgA, IgG, or IgM responses to HIV-1. Specific IgG, IgA, IgA1, and IgA2 antibodies to HIV antigens were detected by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit and by Western blot analysis with IgA, IgA1, and IgA2 antibodies directed against the env, gag, and pol gene products. Because IgG can mask the detection of HIV-specific IgA antibodies in infected humans, Western blots and EIAs were also performed on IgG-depleted chimpanzee sera. The results demonstrated that in some instances, IgA reactivity against HIV antigens can be enhanced on removal of IgG. This study indicates that HIV-1 is capable of inducing abnormalities in serum IgA expression in chimpanzees. These results might further understanding of how HIV affects humoral responses in infected humans.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to simian immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoproteins

Twelve monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), TB1 to TB12, were produced against a soluble vaccinia recombinant envelope glycoprotein (gp140) from simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac251. These MAbs recognized SIV gp140 with a relatively high affinity (K0.5 from 6.7 x 10(-8) to 4 x 10(-9) M). All the MAbs except TB9, TB11, and TB12 cross-reacted with HIV-2 envelope glycoproteins, but none of the 12 MAbs recognized those from HIV-1. Using a panel of 87 overlapping synthetic peptides containing 20 amino acid residues, with an overlap of 10 amino acids and spanning the entire primary sequence of gp140, 3 linear epitopes were identified. The first mapped with a neutralizing MAb, TB12, which recognized a linear sequence around amino acids 28-31 within the N-terminal end of the external envelope glycoprotein. The two other new nonneutralizing MAbs recognized linear epitopes around amino acid sequence 380-381 by MAbs TB1, TB2, and TB3, and at the transmembrane glycoprotein amino acids 581-600 by MAb TB6. Seven of the 12 MAbs, TB4, TB5, TB7-9, TB10, and TB11, failed to bind the linear synthetic peptides in ELISA. Moreover, among these seven MAbs only MAbs TB4, TB5, TB9, and TB10 failed to recognize SIV envelope glycoproteins in Western blot (WB) or ELISA after reduction of disulfide bridges by dithiothreitol (DTT), suggesting that they are directed against conformational or discontinuous epitopes. It is of interest to note that MAb TB10 can block the binding of gp140 to the CD4 receptor when the MAb is previously incubated with gp140. Consistent with this result, MAb TB10 cannot bind to gp140 that has been previously complexed with the CD4 receptor. All these results suggest that MAb TB10 recognizes a conformational or discontinuous epitope overlapping or close to the CD4-binding site. These properties are probably implicated in the neutralizing activity observed with this MAb.

Recombinant human immunodeficiency Pr55gag virus-like particles presenting chimeric envelope glycoproteins induce cytotoxic T-cells and neutralizing antibodies

Very recently, we demonstrated that the replacement of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) gp41 transmembrane protein by an Epstein-Barr virus gp220/350-derived membrane anchor resulted in the incorporation of chimeric envelope (Env) oligomers into Pr55gag virus-like particles (VLPs), exceeding that of wild-type gp160 by a factor of 10. In this study, we examined the immunostimulatory properties of Pr55gag VLPs to both (i) chimeric HIV-1 gp120 external envelope proteins and (ii) full-length gp160 presented on the outer surface of the particles. Immunization studies carried out with VLPs presenting different derivatives of the chimeric and wild-type Env proteins elicited a consistent anti-Pr55gag as well as anti-Env antibody response in complete absence of additional adjuvants. In both cases, the immune sera exhibited an in vitro neutralizing activity against homologous HIV-1 infection in MT4 cells. Noteworthy, these VLPs were also capable of inducing a strong CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) response in immunized BALB/c mice that was directed toward a known CTL epitope in the third variable domain V3 of the gp120 external glycoprotein. However, the induction of V3-loop-specific CTLs critically depended on the amounts of Env proteins that were presented by the Pr55gag VLPs. Moreover, the CD8+ CTL response was not significantly altered by adsorbing the VLPs to alum or by repeated booster immunizations. These results illustrate that Pr55gag VLPs provide a safe and effective means of enhancing neutralizing humoral responses to particle-entrapped gp120 proteins and are also capable of delivering these proteins to the MHC class I antigen processing and presentation pathway. Therefore, antigenically expanded Pr55gag VLPs represent an attractive approach in the design of vaccines for which specific stimulation of neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic effector functions to complex glycoproteins is desired.

An investigation of the high-avidity antibody response to glycoprotein 120 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1

The avidity of antibodies for antigens can be measured by determining what remains bound after exposing the antibody-antigen complex to a chaotropic agent such as urea. This method has been gaining popularity for assessing the immune response to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) surface glycoprotein gp120 (or its counterpart from simian immunodeficiency virus), during natural infection or after subunit vaccination. High-avidity antibodies have been considered to be a possible correlate of protection. We have examined the avidity assay to determine what it, in fact, measures. First, we studied the development of the anti-gp120 response in seroconverting individuals. Urea elution reduced the polyclonal anti-gp120 titers by 3- to 10-fold. After allowing for the consequent reduction in assay sensitivity, there was no obvious change in the rate of development of the high-avidity and unfractionated antibody responses. Furthermore, in the one individual who developed a strong autologous, virus-neutralizing response, the appearance of neutralizing antibodies and high-avidity antibodies did not coincide. Antibodies to the V3 loop, when present, comprised a major fraction of the polyclonal response that survives urea elution. We next examined the effect of urea elution on the binding to gp120 of a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Urea treatment preferentially eluted MAbs to discontinuous rather than continuous epitopes, independent of their affinities. Furthermore, these patterns of epitope stability were unaltered by the presence of polyclonal anti-gp120 antibodies. As most broadly neutralizing anti-gp120 antibodies recognize discontinuous epitopes, this skewing effect must be taken into account when interpreting studies using polyclonal sera.

Long-term protection of chimpanzees against high-dose HIV-1 challenge induced by immunization

A combination AIDS vaccine approach consisting of priming with adenovirus-HIV-1MN gp160 recombinants followed by boosting with HIV-1SF2 gp120 was evaluated in chimpanzees. Long-lasting protection, requiring only three immunizations, was achieved against a low-dose challenge with the SF2 strain of HIV-1 and a subsequent high-dose SF2 challenge administered 1 year later without an intervening boost. Notably, neutralizing antibody responses against both clinical and laboratory isolates developed in three chimpanzees and persisted until the time of high-dose challenge. The possibility that cytotoxic T-lymphocytes contribute to low-dose protection of a chimpanzee lacking neutralizing antibodies is suggested. Our results validate the live vector priming/subunit booster approach and should stimulate interest in assessing this combination vaccine approach in humans.

Prophylaxis against HIV-1 infection in chimpanzees by nevirapine, a nonnucleoside inhibitor of reverse transcriptase

Chimpanzees were challenged with HIV-1IIIB while receiving a short regimen of nevirapine (Viramune), a nonnucleoside inhibitor of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. The untreated, control chimpanzee developed an infection characterized by seroconversion, viremia in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and plasma positive for viral RNA. In contrast, the three nevirapine-treated chimpanzees remained negative for all viral markers with the exception of nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of PBMCs for viral DNA. Although PBMCs from the three nevirapine-treated chimpanzees tested intermittently positive for viral DNA, this PCR signal disappeared and remained negative for the final five months of the study. These data indicate that orally administered nevirapine provided protection from HIV-1 infection in the chimpanzee model.

Relevance of the antibody response against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope to vaccine design

Understanding the antibody response in HIV-1 infection is important to vaccine design. We have studied the antibody response to HIV-1 envelope at the molecular level and determined the characteristics of neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies. These antibodies were isolated from phage display libraries prepared from long-term seropositive asymptomatic individuals. The HIV-1 envelope is presented to the immune system in several antigenically distinct configurations: unprocessed gp160, gp120 and gp41 subunits and native envelope, each of which may be important in eliciting an antibody response in HIV-1 infection. The antibodies tested characteristically had poor affinities for native envelope as expressed on the surface of virions or infected cells, but had high affinities against non-native forms of HIV-1 envelope (viral debris). An exceptionally potent neutralizing antibody in contrast, bound native envelope with equivalent or somewhat higher affinity than this. This indicates that the antibody response in HIV-1 infection is principally elicited by viral debris rather than virions, and that these antibodies bind and neutralize viruses sub-optimally. Potential vaccines should be designed to elicit responses against native envelope.

Challenge of chimpanzees immunized with a recombinant canarypox-HIV-1 virus

To evaluate the potential protective efficacy of a live recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) canarypox vaccine candidate, two chimpanzees were immunized five times with ALVAC-HIV-1 vCP250, a recombinant canarypox virus that expresses the HIV-1[IIIB(LAI)] gp120/TM, gag, and protease gene products. One month after the last booster inoculation, the animals were challenged by intravenous injection of cell-associated virus in the form of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from an HIV-1[IIIB(LAI)]-infected chimpanzee. One chimpanzee with a neutralizing antibody titer to HIV-1[IIIB(LAI)] of 128 at the time of challenge was protected, whereas both the second animal, with a neutralizing antibody titer of 32, and a naive control animal became infected. At 5 months after challenge, the protected chimpanzee and a third animal, previously immunized with various HIV-1[MN] antigens, were given a booster inoculation. The two animals were challenged intravenously 5 weeks later with twenty 50% tissue culture infectious doses of cell-free HIV-1[DH12], a heterologous subtype B isolate. Neither chimpanzee had neutralizing antibodies to HIV-1[DH12], and neither one was protected from infection with this isolate. The immune responses elicited by vaccination against HIV-1[IIIB(LAI)] or HIV-1[MN] did not, therefore, protect the animals from challenge with the heterologous cell-free HIV-1[DH12].

Characterization and titration of an HIV type 1 subtype E chimpanzee challenge stock

A subtype E human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolate from the Central African Republic (E/90CR402) was adapted to growth on chimpanzee peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by cocultivation of irradiated, infected human PBMCs with chimpanzee PBMCs. The resulting virus was passaged in chimpanzee PBMCs to generate a stock of chimpanzee-adapted virus. Although its V3 region sequence was identical to that of the parental isolate, the chimpanzee-adapted virus had a syncytium-inducing phenotype as opposed to the non-syncytium-inducing phenotype of the parental virus. After demonstrating in one animal each that the passaged virus could infect chimpanzees following intravenous (i.v.) or cervical inoculation, the i.v. infectious titer of the stock was determined. Exposure of three chimpanzees to different doses of the virus indicated that the titer was between 2 and 5 TCID50. Thus, the HIV-1 E/90CR402 chimpanzee challenge stock established persistent infections in chimpanzees by both the i.v. and genital routes and should be valuable for future HIV-1 vaccine studies to evaluate cross-protection between HIV-1 subtypes.

Recombinant antibodies with conformationally constrained HIV type 1 epitope inserts elicit glycoprotein 160-specific antibody responses in vivo

Although neutralizing epitopes have been identified on the HIV-1 gp120/gp41 envelope complex, efforts to exploit this information through the construction of synthetic peptide vaccines have been largely unsuccessful. Unfortunately, synthetic peptides tend to be poorly immunogenic, and most often lack the conformational characteristics of the corresponding epitope in the native protein. In an effort to circumvent these difficulties, we have utilized an anti-class II MHC antibody as a molecular scaffold for the construction of two conformationally constrained neutralizing HIV-1 epitopes. Previously we demonstrated that anti-class II MHC antibodies can function as vectors for the induction of adjuvant-independent antibody responses to incorporated epitopes. In this instance, one epitope, IHIGPGRAFYT, is the crown of the V3 loop from gp120, and the other, ELDKWAS, is a neutralizing epitope from gp41. The insertion of these epitopes into a specific loop region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain FR3 was found to preserve the anti-class II MHC-binding activity of these recombinant antibodies, and the inserts were recognized by epitope specific monoclonal antibodies. When utilized as immunogens, each of these epitope insertion antibodies was able to induce high-titer anti-HIV-1 gp160 responses in guinea pigs. These responses were conformation specific in that the anti-gp160 binding was not inhibited by the synthetic peptide corresponding to the epitope in question. These data demonstrate the potential to construct conformationally constrained HIV-1 epitope immunogens, and thus establish an alternative approach to the design of an effective HIV-1 subunit vaccine.

Humoral, mucosal, and cellular immunity in response to a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 immunogen expressed by a Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus vaccine vector

A molecularly cloned attenuated strain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) has been genetically configured as a replication-competent vaccine vector for the expression of heterologous viral proteins (N. L. Davis, K. W. Brown, and R. E. Johnston, J. Virol. 70:3781-3787, 1996). The matrix/capsid (MA/CA) coding domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was cloned into the VEE vector to determine the ability of a VEE vector to stimulate an anti-HIV immune response in mice. The VEE-MA/CA vector replicated rapidly in the cytoplasm of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells and expressed large quantities of antigenically identifiable MA/CA protein. When injected subcutaneously into BALB/c mice, the vector invaded and replicated in the draining lymphoid tissues, expressing HIV-1 MA/CA at a site of potent immune activity. Anti-MA/CA immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibodies were present in serum of all immunized mice, and titers increased after a second booster inoculation. IgA antibodies specific for MA/CA were detected in vaginal washes of mice that received two subcutaneous immunizations. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses specific for MA/CA were detected following immunization with the MA/CA-expressing VEE vector. These findings demonstrate the ability of a VEE-based vaccine vector system to stimulate a comprehensive humoral and cellular immune response. The multifaceted nature of this response makes VEE an attractive vaccine for immunization against virus infections such as HIV-1, for which the correlates of protective immunity remain unclear, but may include multiple components of the immune system.

Cell membrane vesicles are a major contaminant of gradient-enriched human immunodeficiency virus type-1 preparations

During preliminary experiments to establish the proportion of virus-coded p24 protein to virus membrane-associated HLA-DR in gradient-enriched HIV-1 preparations, we became aware of a large variability between experiments. In order to determine whether HLA-DR-containing cellular material was contaminating the virus preparations, we carried out enrichment by gradient centrifugation of clarified supernatants from noninfected cells and tested this material for HLA-DR content. We found that, independently of the cell type used, gradient enrichment resulted in the isolation of large quantities of HLA-DR-containing material which banded at a density overlapping that of infectious HIV. Electron microscopy of gradient-enriched preparations from supernatants of virus-infected cells revealed an excess of vesicles with a size range of about 50-500 nm, as opposed to a minor population of virus particles of about 100 nm. Electron micrographs of infected cells showed polarized vesiculation of the cell membrane, and virus budding was frequently colocalized with nonviral membrane vesiculation. Analysis of the cellular molecules present in the fractions containing virus or exclusively cellular material demonstrated that virus and cellular vesicles share several cellular antigens, with the exception of CD43 and CD63, found mainly at the virus surface, and HLA-DQ, which was found only in the cellular vesicles.

A model for the maturation of protective antibody responses to SIV envelope proteins in experimentally immunized monkeys

Studies using live attenuated virus vaccines in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) rhesus macaque model have demonstrated broad protection against experimental challenge. Protection in these studies was found to be critically dependent on the length of time postvaccination, suggesting that protective immunity involves a necessary maturation of immune responses. The current study characterizes the evolution of protective envelope-specific antibody responses from monkeys inoculated with the highly attenuated SIV/17E-Cl virus vaccine. For comparison, the same antibody assays were used to characterize the properties of SIV envelope-specific antibodies elicited by inactivated whole virus and envelope subunit vaccines that failed to provide protection from experimental virus challenge. Results of these studies identify a continuous and complex maturation of envelope-specific antibody responses during the first six to eight months postinfection. Furthermore, the time required for maturation of SIV envelope-specific antibodies parallels the time required for the development of protective immunity against experimental challenge with heterologous strains of SIV. While no single immune correlate of protection has been identified, we suggest that a combination of antibody parameters may serve as prognostic indicators in the development of candidate AIDS vaccines.

Infection of an HIV-1/SIVmac chimeric virus having HIV-1 env to macaque monkeys via the vaginal cavity

We previously reported that an HIV-1/SIVmac chimeric virus (designated as NM-3rN) having HIV-1 env efficiently infected macaque monkeys by intravenous inoculation. In this study, this chimeric virus was atraumatically inoculated into the vaginal cavity of two rhesus and one cynomolgus monkeys. Although antibody response and detection of proviral genome by PCR were observed in both rhesus monkeys, virus recovery was only once from PBMC in one of them. In the cynomolgus monkey, no virus was recovered and proviral DNA detection was rare. Thus, vaginal inoculation with NM-3rN resulted in poor systemic infection, implying the presence of selective pressure while passing through mucosal membranes.

Neutralization of primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates: a study of parameters implicated in neutralization in vitro

Various studies have reported that primary human immunodeficiency viruses seem to be more refractory to neutralization by HIV-positive sera than T cell line-adapted strains. In this study we also show that adaptation of the HIV-1SF-2 strain, produced in PBMCs, to the cell line CEM-SS renders this isolate sensitive to neutralization by almost all the sera tested. Further neutralization studies should thus focus on the development of an assay involving primary isolates in order to detect antibodies having a neutralizing activity in vivo. Neutralization protocols currently use either an antibody end-point dilution assay, which combines a fixed inoculum of virus with serial dilutions of antibody, or an infectivity reduction assay, which uses serial dilutions of virus with a single dilution of antibody. We have developed an assay designed for studying the neutralization of primary isolates that combines these two approaches. Performing the assay on PBMCs allows all primary isolates to be analyzed, not just those multiplying in T cell lines. The neutralizing titer measured on PBMCs for human HIV-positive sera is low, but reproducible and independent of the virus titer in a given experiment. It can be increased about five-fold by changing the temperature and duration of virus-serum interaction (overnight at 4 degrees C instead of 1 hr at 37 degrees C). These results emphasize the need for a relevant neutralization assay involving primary isolates and primary cells for a better understanding of the role of humoral response in HIV infection.

Failure of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype B-derived vaccine to prevent infection of chimpanzees by an HIV-1 subtype E strain

Generation of an effective vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) must overcome problems associated with extensive genetic diversity. Although we previously reported vaccine-induced protection of chimpanzees against infection with an HIV-1 strain different from the one used to make the immunogens, both the HIV-1 vaccine and challenge strains were classified within subtype B. To determine whether the HIV-1-specific immunity elicited might also prevent infection by a strain of HIV-1 from a different clade, the same chimpanzees were given booster inoculations with the rgp160-MN/LAI (recombinant hybrid gp160 molecule) and V3-MN immunogens and then were challenged by intravenous inoculation of a comparable dose of a subtype E HIV-1 from the Central African Republic. Both animals became infected with the subtype E virus, indicating that intraclade vaccine-mediated protection does not predict interclade protection, at least in the context of intravenous challenge and the HIV-1 strains used. This study has important implications for planned phase III efficacy trials of similar vaccine preparations in Thailand where HIV-1 subtype B and E strains cocirculate.

Induction of anti-gp160 cytotoxic T cells cross-reacting with various V3 loop P18 peptides in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope-immunized individuals

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) may be important to prevent cell-to-cell transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the agent responsible for AIDS. In this study, we investigated the epitope specificity of CTLs induced in individuals immunized against the virus envelope glycoprotein gp160. The determinant of HIV-1 gp160 for the stimulation of CTL is located in a region of high sequence variability among HIV-1 isolates, the so-called V3 loop P18. Using a panel of P18 peptides, we compared the CTL specificities of cells from two individuals immunized with vaccinia virus recombinants expressing the envelope glycoproteins from two different strains of HIV-1, IIIB and SIMI. For this purpose, CTLs specific for the IIIB P18 peptide (RIQRGPGRAFVTIGK) were compared with CTLs for the site from the SIMI isolate (TLHMGPKRAFYATGD). The results indicate that in contrast to CD8+ CTLs induced by the glycoprotein from strain IIIB, CD8+ CTLs induced by strain SIMI strongly cross-reacted with targets presenting P18 peptides as well as envelope proteins from the divergent MN and RF isolates but failed to cross-react with targets that presented the IIIB peptide. These data have implications for the design of an HIV vaccine.

The consequence of passive administration of an anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 neutralizing monoclonal antibody before challenge of chimpanzees with a primary virus isolate

The anti-gp41 virus neutralizing monoclonal antibody 2F5 was infused into chimpanzees, which were then given an intravenous challenge with a primary human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) isolate. In two control animals, the infection was established immediately, as evidenced by positive cell-associated DNA PCR and serum RNA PCR tests within 1 week, seroconversion by 4 weeks, and development of lymphadenopathy in this acute phase. Serum RNA PCR tests were negative in one of the two antibody-infused animals until week 8 and in the other antibody-infused animal until week 12; both animals seroconverted at week 14. The peak of measurable virus-specific serum RNA was delayed until week 16 in one antibody-infused animal. Virus-specific RNA in the other animal did not reach levels comparable to those in the other animals through 1 year of follow-up studies. Virus was isolated from the week 16 blood sample from one infused animal. Virus was not isolated from peripheral blood of the second animal but was isolated from lymph node cells taken at week 36. The infection of untreated chimpanzees with this primary isolate appears robust. Use of this isolate should widen the scope of possible experiments in the chimpanzee model. This antibody infusion study indicates that neutralizing antibody, when present at the time of challenge, affects the timing and level of infection and remains influential after it can no longer be detected in the peripheral circulation. It is possible that preexisting, neutralizing antibodies (passively administered or actively elicited) affect the course of acute-phase virus replication in humans. It remains to be established whether these immunologically mediated early effects will influence the course of HIV-1 disease.

Immunopathogenesis of HIV infection

The rate of progression of HIV disease may be substantially different among HIV-infected individuals. Following infection of the host with any virus, the delicate balance between virus replication and the immune response to the virus determines both the outcome of the infection, i.e. the persistence versus elimination of the virus, and the different rates of progression. During primary HIV infection, a burst of viremia occurs that disseminates virus to the lymphoid organs. A potent immune response ensues that substantially, but usually not completely, curtails virus replication. This inability of the immune system to completely eliminate the virus leads to establishment of chronic, persistent infection that over time leads to profound immunosuppression. The potential mechanisms of virus escape from an otherwise effective immune response have been investigated. Clonal deletion of HIV-specific cytotoxic T-cell clones and sequestration of virus-specific cytotoxic cells away from the major site of virus replication represent important mechanisms of virus escape from the immune response that favor persistence of HIV. Qualitative differences in the primary immune response to HIV (i.e. mobilization of a restricted versus broader T-cell receptor repertoire) are associated with different rates of disease progression. Therefore, the initial interaction between the virus and immune system of the host is critical for the subsequent clinical outcome.

Titration of a vaccine stock preparation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1SF2 in cultured lymphocytes and in chimpanzees

A large stock preparation of the HIV-1SF2 isolate has been derived after serial passage in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). This viral stock has a titer of 10(4.9) TCID50 in human PBMCs and 10(4.2) TCID50 in chimpanzee PBMCs. By inoculation into animals the 50% chimpanzee infectious dose titer was found to be about 10(2.3). Virus isolation from animals was achieved on most occasions within 1-4 weeks after inoculation and then became transient. Viral RNA and DNA PCR analyses confirmed the virus infection of the chimpanzees. Anti-HIV antibody levels in the inoculated animals ranged from 1:400 to 1:6400 as measured by ELISA. About 680 vials of this stock preparation, frozen at -190 degrees C, are available for future studies of vaccines and antiviral therapies.

Resistance of previously infected chimpanzees to successive challenges with a heterologous intraclade B strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1

To test whether the protective effects of attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus vaccines in macaques were applicable to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-chimpanzee system, two groups of animals, previously infected with HIV-1(IIIB) or HIV-1(SF2) were each challenged with a heterologous clade B virus, HIV-1(DH12). Following challenge, the parameters measured included virus isolation (from plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and lymph node tissue); quantitative DNA PCR using primers capable of distinguishing HIV-1(IIIB), HIV-1(SF2), and HIV-1(DH12) from one another; and serologic assays to monitor changes in binding and neutralizing antibodies. In contrast to an HIV-1-naive chimpanzee that rapidly became infected following the inoculation of HIV-1(DH12), the two chimpanzees previously infected with HIV-1(IIIB) resisted repeated and escalating inoculations of HIV-1(DH12), as monitored by virus isolation and PCR. The two animals previously infected with HIV-1(SF2) became infected with HIV-1(DH12) but in contrast to the case with the HIV-1-naive chimpanzee, no cell-free viral RNA was detected in the plasma by the branched DNA procedure and levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cell-associated viral DNA were reduced 35- to 50-fold.

In vivo protective anti-HIV immune responses in non-human primates through DNA immunization

An effective immune response involves the specific recognition of and elimination of an infectious organism at multiple levels. In this context DNA immunization can present functional antigenic proteins to the host for recognition by all arms of the immune system, yet provides the opportunity to delete any genes of the infectious organism which code for antigens or pieces of antigens that may have deleterious effects. Our group has developed the use of nucleic acid immunization as a possible method of vaccination against Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) [1,2,3,10,11,12]. Sera from non-human primates immunized with DNA vectors that express the envelope proteins from HIV-1 contain antibodies specific to the HIV-1 envelope. These sera also neutralize HIV-1 infection in vitro and inhibit cell to cell infection in tissue culture. Analysis of cellular responses is equally encouraging. T cell proliferation as well as cytotoxic T cell lysis of relevant env expressing target cells were observed. In addition, evidence that DNA vaccines are capable of inducing a protective response against live virus was demonstrated using a chimeric SIV/HIV (SHIV) challenge in vaccinated cynomologous macaques. We found that nucleic acid vaccination induced protection from challenge in one out of four immunized cynomolgus macaques and viral load was lower in the vaccinated group of animals versus the control group of animals. These data encouraged us to analyze this vaccination technique in chimpanzees, the most closely related animal species to man. We observed the induction of both cellular and humoral immune responses with a DNA vaccine in chimpanzees. These studies demonstrate the utility of this technology to induce relevant immune responses in primates which may ultimately lead to effective vaccines.

Simian immunodeficiency virus DNA vaccine trial in macaques

An experimental vaccine consisting of five DNA plasmids expressing different combinations and forms of simian immunodeficiency virus-macaque (SIVmac) proteins has been evaluated for the ability to protect against a highly pathogenic uncloned SIVmac251 challenge. One vaccine plasmid encoded nonreplicating SIVmac239 virus particles. The other four plasmids encoded secreted forms of the envelope glycoproteins of two T-cell-tropic relatives (SIVmac239 and SIVmac251) and one monocyte/macrophage-tropic relative (SIVmac316) of the uncloned challenge virus. Rhesus macaques were inoculated with DNA at 1 and 3, 11 and 13, and 21 and 23 weeks. Four macaques were inoculated intravenously, intramuscularly, and by gene gun inoculations. Three received only gene gun inoculations. Two control monkeys were inoculated with control plasmids by all three routes of inoculation. Neutralizing antibody titers of 1:216 to 1:768 were present in all of the vaccinated monkeys after the second cluster of inoculations. These titers were transient, were not boosted by the third cluster of inoculations, and had fallen to 1:24 to 1:72 by the time of challenge. Cytotoxic T-cell activity for Env was also raised in all of the vaccinated animals. The temporal appearance of cytotoxic T cells was similar to that of antibody. However, while antibody responses fell with time, cytotoxic T-cell responses persisted. The SIVmac251 challenge was administered intravenously at 2 weeks following the last immunization. The DNA immunizations did not prevent infection or protect against CD4+ cell loss. Long-term chronic levels of infection were similar in the vaccinated and control animals, with 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100,000 peripheral blood cells carrying infectious virus. However, viral loads were reduced to the chronic level over a shorter period of time in the vaccinated groups (6 weeks) than in the control group (12 weeks). Thus, the DNA vaccine raised both neutralizing antibody and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses and provided some attenuation of the acute phase of infection, but it did not prevent the loss of CD4+ cells.

Utility of SHIV for testing HIV-1 vaccine candidates in macaques

SUMMARY

Intravenous injection of SHIV (simian/human immunodeficiency virus, chimeric virus) into rhesus macaques resulted in a viremia in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and the generation of anti-HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus type 1) envelope immune responses. A challenge stock of a SHIV containing HIV-1 HXBc2 envelope glycoproteins was prepared from infected rhesus monkey peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The minimum animal infectious dose of the SHIV stock was determined and used in a challenge experiment to test protection. The vaccination of two rhesus monkeys with whole inactivated HIV-1 plus polydicarboxylatophenoxy phosphazene (PCPP) as the adjuvant protected the animals from becoming infected by a SHIV challenge. This experiment demonstrated for the first time that monkeys immunized with HIV-1 antigens can be protected against an HIV-1 envelope-containing virus. As the challenge virus was prepared from monkey PBMC, human antigens were unlikely to be involved in the protection. Protection of rhesus monkeys from SHIV challenge may help,define protective immune responses stimulated by HIV-1 vaccine candidates.

Progress and challenges toward an AIDS vaccine: Brother, can you spare a paradigm?

The development of a safe and effective vaccine for prevention of AIDS has thus far proven to be exceedingly difficult due to the complexities associated with HIV pathogenesis including but not limited to antigenic hypervariability, multiple routes and modes of transmission, a lack of defined correlates of protective immunity, and a tropism for infection of immunoregulatory cells which are essential for orchestrating an effective host immune response. Recent observations, including the identification of significant differences between primary isolates of HIV circulating in the population and laboratory-adapted isolates, animal model protection studies demonstrating prevention of AIDS-like disease progression in nonhuman primates in the absence of sterilizing immunity, and epidemiologic studies which question the current dogma surrounding HIV variation and control, have led to the development of novel approaches for antigen presentation and adjuvant development targeted at AIDS vaccine development. The goal of developing a safe and effective AIDS vaccine will likely occur when continued advances in understanding the immunopathogenesis of HIV is balanced with a healthy dose of empirical testing of innovative candidate AIDS vaccines.