HIV vaccine tested on monkeys
Experimental HIV vaccine protects monkeys from infection
Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+
Unlike most existing vaccines, the experimental drug activates not only antibodies, but also lymphocytes. The authors of the development believe that a similar principle can be used in the development of vaccines against other diseases, including influenza, hepatitis, malaria and even the new coronavirus.
Experts from Stanford University have demonstrated the effectiveness of an experimental HIV vaccine. Unlike most traditional vaccines, it not only stimulates the production of antibodies to the virus, but also activates T-lymphocytes, which destroy infected cells. Without this, it is impossible to provide reliable protection against HIV.
Article by Arunachalam et al. T cell-inducing vaccine durably prevents mucosal SHIV infection even with lower neutralizing antibody titers published in the journal Nature Medicine – VM.
The efficiency of the new drug was tested on rhesus monkeys. The first group of monkeys received several injections of the Env viral envelope protein, which stimulates the production of antibodies, as well as an adjuvant – a combination of substances to enhance the overall immune response. The second group was additionally injected with non-dangerous versions of three different viruses, each of which was modified by introducing the Gag gene that activates cellular immunity. Finally, animals from the third group received only an adjuvant.
The duration of the course was 40 weeks. After another 40 weeks after its completion, individuals from all groups received injections of the Env protein. 4 weeks after that, they were injected with a monkey immunodeficiency virus related to HIV for a week.
Individuals who were injected with only an adjuvant became infected, while monkeys from the other two groups received protection from the virus. However, among the animals that did not develop enough antibodies, only a few individuals from the group that received the Env protein, adjuvant and viruses with the Gag gene managed to completely avoid infection.
When, after a 20-week break, six monkeys from the Env and Env+Gag groups were additionally exposed to the virus, four monkeys from the second group and only one from the first group were not infected.
The results obtained demonstrate that the combined vaccine, acting on both antibodies and lymphocytes, provides more powerful and long-lasting protection. The authors believe that a similar approach should be applied when developing vaccines against other infections, including tuberculosis, malaria, influenza and even the new coronavirus.
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