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Chinunga TT, Chahroudi A, Ribeiro SP. Pediatric immunotherapy and HIV control. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:201-211. [PMID: 38841850 PMCID: PMC11155294 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Highlighting opportunities/potential for immunotherapy by understanding dynamics of HIV control during pediatric HIV infection with and without antiretroviral therapy (ART), as modeled in Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and Simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)-infected rhesus macaques and observed in clinical trials. This review outlines mode of transmission, pathogenesis of pediatric HIV, unique aspects of the infant immune system, infant macaque models and immunotherapies. RECENT FINDINGS During the earliest stages of perinatal HIV infection, the infant immune system is characterized by a unique environment defined by immune tolerance and lack of HIV-specific T cell responses which contribute to disease progression. Moreover, primary lymphoid organs such as the thymus appear to play a distinct role in HIV pathogenesis in children living with HIV (CLWH). Key components of the immune system determine the degree of viral control, targets for strategies to induce viral control, and the response to immunotherapy. The pursuit of highly potent broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and T cell vaccines has revolutionized the approach to HIV cure. Administration of HIV-1-specific bNAbs, targeting the highly variable envelope improves humoral immunity, and T cell vaccines induce or improve T cell responses such as the cytotoxic effects of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cells, both of which are promising options towards virologic control and ART-free remission as evidenced by completed and ongoing clinical trials. SUMMARY Understanding early events during HIV infection and disease progression in CLWH serves as a foundation for predicting or targeting later outcomes by harnessing the immune system's natural responses. The developing pediatric immune system offers multiple opportunities for specific long-term immunotherapies capable of improving quality of life during adolescence and adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tehillah T. Chinunga
- Program in Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | - Ann Chahroudi
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
- Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University
| | - Susan P. Ribeiro
- Pathology Advanced Translational Research Unit (PATRU), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
- Emory Vaccine Center
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Petkov S, Kilpeläinen A, Bayurova E, Latanova A, Mezale D, Fridrihsone I, Starodubova E, Jansons J, Dudorova A, Gordeychuk I, Wahren B, Isaguliants M. HIV-1 Protease as DNA Immunogen against Drug Resistance in HIV-1 Infection: DNA Immunization with Drug Resistant HIV-1 Protease Protects Mice from Challenge with Protease-Expressing Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010238. [PMID: 36612231 PMCID: PMC9818955 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA immunization with HIV-1 protease (PR) is advanced for immunotherapy of HIV-1 infection to reduce the number of infected cells producing drug-resistant virus. A consensus PR of the HIV-1 FSU_A strain was designed, expression-optimized, inactivated (D25N), and supplemented with drug resistance (DR) mutations M46I, I54V, and V82A common for FSU_A. PR variants with D25N/M46I/I54V (PR_Ai2mut) and with D25N/M46I/I54V/V82A (PR_Ai3mut) were cloned into the DNA vaccine vector pVAX1, and PR_Ai3mut, into a lentiviral vector for the transduction of murine mammary adenocarcinoma cells expressing luciferase 4T1luc2. BALB/c mice were DNA-immunized by intradermal injections of PR_Ai, PR_Ai2mut, PR_Ai3mut, vector pVAX1, or PBS with electroporation. All PR variants induced specific CD8+ T-cell responses revealed after splenocyte stimulation with PR-derived peptides. Splenocytes of mice DNA-immunized with PR_Ai and PR_Ai2mut were not activated by peptides carrying V82A, whereas splenocytes of PR_Ai3mut-immunized mice recognized both peptides with and without V82A mutation. Mutations M46I and I54V were immunologically silent. In the challenge study, DNA immunization with PR_Ai3mut protected mice from the outgrowth of subcutaneously implanted adenocarcinoma 4T1luc2 cells expressing PR_Ai3mut; a tumor was formed only in 1/10 implantation sites and no metastases were detected. Immunizations with other PR variants were not protective; all mice formed tumors and multiple metastasis in the lungs, liver, and spleen. CD8+ cells of PR_Ai3mut DNA-immunized mice exhibited strong IFN-γ/IL-2 responses against PR peptides, while the splenocytes of mice in other groups were nonresponsive. Thus, immunization with a DNA plasmid encoding inactive HIV-1 protease with DR mutations suppressed the growth and metastatic activity of tumor cells expressing PR identical to the one encoded by the immunogen. This demonstrates the capacity of T-cell response induced by DNA immunization to recognize single DR mutations, and supports the concept of the development of immunotherapies against drug resistance in HIV-1 infection. It also suggests that HIV-1-infected patients developing drug resistance may have a reduced natural immune response against DR HIV-1 mutations causing an immune escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Petkov
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Athina Kilpeläinen
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ekaterina Bayurova
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Research, Riga Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia Latanova
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dzeina Mezale
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Research, Riga Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Ilse Fridrihsone
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Research, Riga Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Elizaveta Starodubova
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Juris Jansons
- Department of Research, Riga Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
- Latvian Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia
| | - Alesja Dudorova
- Department of Research, Riga Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
- Paul Stradins University Hospital, LV-1002 Riga, Latvia
| | - Ilya Gordeychuk
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Research, Riga Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, 108819 Moscow, Russia
| | - Britta Wahren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Isaguliants
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Research, Riga Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
- Correspondence:
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Berendam SJ, Nelson AN, Yagnik B, Goswami R, Styles TM, Neja MA, Phan CT, Dankwa S, Byrd AU, Garrido C, Amara RR, Chahroudi A, Permar SR, Fouda GG. Challenges and Opportunities of Therapies Targeting Early Life Immunity for Pediatric HIV Cure. Front Immunol 2022; 13:885272. [PMID: 35911681 PMCID: PMC9325996 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.885272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly improves clinical outcomes and reduces mortality of infants/children living with HIV. However, the ability of infected cells to establish latent viral reservoirs shortly after infection and to persist during long-term ART remains a major barrier to cure. In addition, while early ART treatment of infants living with HIV can limit the size of the virus reservoir, it can also blunt HIV-specific immune responses and does not mediate clearance of latently infected viral reservoirs. Thus, adjunctive immune-based therapies that are geared towards limiting the establishment of the virus reservoir and/or mediating the clearance of persistent reservoirs are of interest for their potential to achieve viral remission in the setting of pediatric HIV. Because of the differences between the early life and adult immune systems, these interventions may need to be tailored to the pediatric settings. Understanding the attributes and specificities of the early life immune milieu that are likely to impact the virus reservoir is important to guide the development of pediatric-specific immune-based interventions towards viral remission and cure. In this review, we compare the immune profiles of pediatric and adult HIV elite controllers, discuss the characteristics of cellular and anatomic HIV reservoirs in pediatric populations, and highlight the potential values of current cure strategies using immune-based therapies for long-term viral remission in the absence of ART in children living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella J. Berendam
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Stella J. Berendam, ; Genevieve G. Fouda,
| | - Ashley N. Nelson
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Bhrugu Yagnik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ria Goswami
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tiffany M. Styles
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Margaret A. Neja
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Caroline T. Phan
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sedem Dankwa
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alliyah U. Byrd
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Carolina Garrido
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Rama R. Amara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ann Chahroudi
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States,Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sallie R. Permar
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Genevieve G. Fouda
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Stella J. Berendam, ; Genevieve G. Fouda,
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Alves AMB, Costa SM, Pinto PBA. Dengue Virus and Vaccines: How Can DNA Immunization Contribute to This Challenge? FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2021; 3:640964. [PMID: 35047911 PMCID: PMC8757892 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2021.640964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Dengue infections still have a tremendous impact on public health systems in most countries in tropical and subtropical regions. The disease is systemic and dynamic with broad range of manifestations, varying from mild symptoms to severe dengue (Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome). The only licensed tetravalent dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, is a chimeric yellow fever virus with prM and E genes from the different dengue serotypes. However, recent results indicated that seronegative individuals became more susceptible to develop severe dengue when infected after vaccination, and now WHO recommends vaccination only to dengue seropositive people. One possibility to explain these data is the lack of robust T-cell responses and antibody-dependent enhancement of virus replication in vaccinated people. On the other hand, DNA vaccines are excellent inducers of T-cell responses in experimental animals and it can also elicit antibody production. Clinical trials with DNA vaccines have improved and shown promising results regarding the use of this approach for human vaccination. Therefore, in this paper we review preclinical and clinical tests with DNA vaccines against the dengue virus. Most of the studies are based on the E protein since this antigen is the main target for neutralizing antibody production. Yet, there are other reports with DNA vaccines based on non-structural dengue proteins with protective results, as well. Combining structural and non-structural genes may be a solution for inducing immune responses aging in different infection moments. Furthermore, DNA immunizations are also a very good approach in combining strategies for vaccines against dengue, in heterologous prime/boost regimen or even administering different vaccines at the same time, in order to induce efficient humoral and cellular immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada Maria Barcelos Alves
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Physiology of Viral Infections, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Rezaei T, Khalili S, Baradaran B, Mosafer J, Rezaei S, Mokhtarzadeh A, de la Guardia M. Recent advances on HIV DNA vaccines development: Stepwise improvements to clinical trials. J Control Release 2019; 316:116-137. [PMID: 31669566 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
According to WHO (World Health Organization) reports, more than 770,000 people died from HIV and almost 1.7 million people becoming newly infected in the worldwide in 2018. Therefore, many attempts should be done to produce a forceful vaccine to control the AIDS. DNA-based vaccines have been investigated for HIV vaccination by researches during the recent 20 years. The DNA vaccines are novel approach for induction of both type of immune responses (cellular and humoral) in the host cells and have many advantages including high stability, fast and easy of fabrication and absence of severe side effects when compared with other vaccination methods. Recent studies have been focused on vaccine design, immune responses and on the use of adjuvants as a promising strategy for increased level of responses, delivery approaches by viral and non-viral methods and vector design for different antigens of HIV virus. In this review, we outlined the aforementioned advances on HIV DNA vaccines. Then we described the future trends in clinical trials as a strong strategy even in healthy volunteers and the potential developments in control and prevention of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayebeh Rezaei
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Biotechnology, Higher Education Institute of Rab-Rashid, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saeed Khalili
- Department of Biology Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Rajee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Jafar Mosafer
- Research Center of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Sarah Rezaei
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahad Mokhtarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Biotechnology, Higher Education Institute of Rab-Rashid, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Miguel de la Guardia
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
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Abrams EJ, Ananworanich J, Archary M, Ngongondo M, Brouwers P. Propelling the Pediatric HIV Therapeutic Agenda With Science, Innovation, and Collaboration. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2018; 78 Suppl 1:S32-S39. [PMID: 29994918 PMCID: PMC6044456 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A number of well-described obstacles to the pediatric therapeutic agenda have resulted in substantial delays in the introduction of new medications, formulations, strategies, and approaches to treat infants, children, and adolescents living with HIV. SETTING Global landscape. METHODS The authors will provide a summary of current and emerging initiatives to accelerate the pediatric therapeutic agenda including illustrative case studies of innovations and scientific discovery in diagnosis and treatment of very young children with HIV infection. RESULTS The challenges posed by rapid physiologic and developmental changes that characterize the trajectory of childhood as well as the complex regulatory and fiscal milieu of HIV therapeutics have hampered pediatric HIV therapeutic research. Recent efforts to accelerate this agenda include prioritizing agents and formulations, defining dosing by weight bands, applying innovative study designs, synergizing work across research networks to achieve common goals, and the establishment of a global prioritized research agenda. A case study of initiatives to diagnose and effectively treat newborns and infants will illustrate the critical role of basic science research and novel approaches to study design and implementation that are informing global efforts to end AIDS. CONCLUSIONS A pediatric therapeutic agenda informed by basic science and achieved through innovation and global cooperation is essential to achieve an AIDS-free generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine J. Abrams
- ICAP at Columbia, Mailman School of Public Health, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Jintanat Ananworanich
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD
- Department of Global Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Moherndran Archary
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, King Edward VIII Hospital, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Pim Brouwers
- Division of AIDS Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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Slivac I, Guay D, Mangion M, Champeil J, Gaillet B. Non-viral nucleic acid delivery methods. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2016; 17:105-118. [PMID: 27740858 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2017.1248941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Delivery of nucleic acid-based molecules in human cells is a highly studied approach for the treatment of several disorders including monogenic diseases and cancers. Non-viral vectors for DNA and RNA transfer, although in general less efficient than virus-based systems, are particularly well adapted mostly due to the absence of biosafety concerns. Non-viral methods could be classified in two main groups: physical and vector-assisted delivery systems. Both groups comprise several different methods, none of them universally applicable. The choice of the optimal method depends on the predefined objectives and the features of targeted micro-environment. Areas covered: In this review, the authors discuss non-viral techniques and present recent therapeutic achievements in ex vivo and in vivo nucleic acid delivery by most commonly used techniques while emphasizing the role of 'biological particles', namely peptide transduction domains, virus like particles, gesicles and exosomes. Expert opinion: The number of available non-viral transfection techniques used for human therapy increased rapidly, followed by still moderate success in efficacy. The prospects are to be found in design of multifunctional hybrid systems that reflect the viral efficiency. In this respect, biological particles are very promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Slivac
- a Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - David Guay
- b Feldan Therapeutics, Rideau , Quebec , Canada
| | - Mathias Mangion
- c Chemical engineering Department , Université Laval , Québec , Canada
| | - Juliette Champeil
- c Chemical engineering Department , Université Laval , Québec , Canada
| | - Bruno Gaillet
- c Chemical engineering Department , Université Laval , Québec , Canada
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Van Regenmortel MHV. Commentary: Basic Research in HIV Vaccinology Is Hampered by Reductionist Thinking. Front Immunol 2016; 7:266. [PMID: 27458032 PMCID: PMC4932109 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Klein N, Palma P, Luzuriaga K, Pahwa S, Nastouli E, Gibb DM, Rojo P, Borkowsky W, Bernardi S, Zangari P, Calvez V, Compagnucci A, Wahren B, Foster C, Munoz-Fernández MÁ, De Rossi A, Ananworanich J, Pillay D, Giaquinto C, Rossi P. Early antiretroviral therapy in children perinatally infected with HIV: a unique opportunity to implement immunotherapeutic approaches to prolong viral remission. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2015; 15:1108-1114. [PMID: 26187030 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(15)00052-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
From the use of antiretroviral therapy to prevent mother-to-child transmission to the possibility of HIV cure hinted at by the Mississippi baby experience, paediatric HIV infection has been pivotal to our understanding of HIV pathogenesis and management. Daily medication and indefinite antiretroviral therapy is recommended for children infected with HIV. Maintenance of life-long adherence is difficult and the incidence of triple-class virological failure after initiation of antiretroviral therapy increases with time. This challenge shows the urgent need to define novel strategies to provide long-term viral suppression that will allow safe interruption of antiretroviral therapy without viral rebound and any associated complications. HIV-infected babies treated within a few days of birth have a unique combination of a very small pool of integrated viruses, a very high proportion of relatively HIV resistant naive T cells, and an unparalleled capacity to regenerate an immune repertoire. These features make this group the optimum model population to investigate the potential efficacy of immune-based therapies. If successful, these investigations could change the way we manage HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel Klein
- Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Paolo Palma
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Katherine Luzuriaga
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Savita Pahwa
- Miami Center for AIDS Research Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Eleni Nastouli
- Department of Virology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Diane M Gibb
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, London, UK
| | - Pablo Rojo
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Stefania Bernardi
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Zangari
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincent Calvez
- Pierre et Marie Curie University and Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Compagnucci
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale SC10-US019 Clinical Trials and Infectious Diseases, Villejuif, Paris, France
| | - Britta Wahren
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline Foster
- Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Anita De Rossi
- Section of Oncology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology-DiSCOG, University of Padova, and Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy
| | - Jintanat Ananworanich
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Deenan Pillay
- Africa Centre, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Carlo Giaquinto
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, and Penta Foundation, Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Rossi
- University Department of Pediatrics, Unit of Immune and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
This special issue is focused on DNA vaccines, marking the two decades since the first demonstration of pre-clinical protection was published in Science (Ulmer et al.; Heterologous protection against influenza by injection of DNA encoding a viral protein. 1993). This introductory article provides an overview of the field and highlights the observations of the articles in this special issue while placing them in the context of other recent publications.
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