Influence of preimmunization with a vaccine encoding HIV CD4+ T cell epitopes on the immune response against Env in the presence of different adjuvant formulations

• Grant number: 11/10154-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2011
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Santoro Rosa
• Grantee: Daniela Santoro Rosa
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Edecio Cunha Neto ; Silvia Beatriz Boscardin

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) epidemic is the most important emerging infection in decades. Despite the advances in understanding the virus pathogenesis and the immune response to infection, there is no effective vaccine against HIV infection. Several lines of evidence indicate that neutralizing antibodies, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells play an important role in immunity against HIV. In previous studies, our group showed that immunization of mice with a DNA vaccine encoding 18 CD4+ T lymphocyte epitopes derived from HIV-1 (HIVBr18) was able to induce specific and broad CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. Advances in understanding the structure and function of virus envelope glycoprotein (Env) have facilitated the development of a new generation of immunogens based on the glycoprotein gp140 trimer. Given the important role of CD4+ T cells in the generation of humoral response in immunizations assisted by different adjuvants, our working hypothesis is that induction of a CD4+ T cell immune response, by pre-immunization with HIVBr18 will be able to provide cognate help and increase the magnitude and/ or quality of specific cellular and humoral response against the gp140 trimer in the presence of adjuvants licensed for human use. To test this hypothesis, we plan to prime mice with the vaccine HIVBr18 and then boost with the gp140 trimer in the presence of different adjuvant formulations. With this approach, we hope to contribute to the development of new immunogens against HIV-1. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

APOSTOLICO, JULIANA DE SOUZA; BOSCARDIN, SILVIA BEATRIZ; YAMAMOTO, MARCIO MASSAO; DE OLIVEIRA-FILHO, JETHE NUNES; KALIL, JORGE; CUNHA-NETO, EDECIO; ROSA, DANIELA SANTORO. HIV Envelope Trimer Specific Immune Response Is Influenced by Different Adjuvant Formulations and Heterologous Prime-Boost. PLoS One, v. 11, n. 1, JAN 4 2016. (11/10154-0)