Abstract
DNA immunization in conjunction with antiretroviral therapy was evaluated in SIV-infected rhesus macaques treated with [R]-9-[2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl]adenine (PMPA). Macaques were immunized monthly with DNA vaccines expressing either SIV gag/tat or SIV gag/tat and 19 CD8+ T cell epitopes during 7 months of therapy. Half the animals from each group were additionally immunized before infection. Only 60% of the animals (4 controls, 20 vaccinated) responded to PMPA (ART responders). All 4 ART responder controls demonstrated viral rebound or CD4 decline after PMPA was withdrawn. In contrast, 17 of 20 vaccinated ART responders contained viral rebound for over 7 months after PMPA was withdrawn. Viral control correlated with stable CD4 counts, higher lymphoproliferation and an increase in the magnitude and breadth of the CD8+ T cell response. Immunizing before infection or with multi-epitopes enhanced these effects. These results demonstrate that DNA immunization during antiretroviral therapy may be an effective strategy to treat HIV infection.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 200-215 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Virology |
Volume | 348 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 25 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Antiretroviral therapy
- DNA vaccine
- Immunotherapy
- SIV AIDS
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases