CD40L-Adjuvanted DNA/Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIV239 Vaccine Enhances SIV-Specific Humoral and Cellular Immunity and Improves Protection against a Heterologous SIVE660 Mucosal Challenge

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Suefen Kwa, Emory University; Lilin Lai, Emory University; Sailaja Gangadhara, Emory University; Mariam Siddiqui, Emory University; Vinod B. Pillai, Emory University; Celia Labranche, Duke University; Tianwei Yu, Emory University; Bernard Moss, National Institutes of Health; David C. Montefiori, Duke University; Harriet Robinson, Emory University; Pamela A. Kozlowski, Louisiana State University; Rama Amara, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2014-09-01
• Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2014, American Society for Microbiology.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00975-14
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Virology
• ISSN: 0022-538X
• Volume: 88
• Issue: 17
• Start Page: 9579
• End Page: 9589
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported by NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) grants R01 AI057029, R01 AI071852, R01 AI074417, and P01 AI088575 to R.R.A., NCRR (currently supported by the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs) grant P51OD011132 to Yerkes National Primate Research Center, NIH grant P30 AI050409 to Emory CFAR, an HHSN27201100016C grant to D.C.M., and Division of Intramural Research, NIAID/NIH, support to B.M.
• Keywords: CD154; Virology; Science & Technology; ACQUISITION; CUTTING EDGE; DNA VACCINATION; DNA/MVA VACCINE; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; RHESUS MACAQUES; IN-VIVO; COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR; EXPRESSING CD40 LIGAND; T-LYMPHOCYTES
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, General; Health Sciences, Immunology

Abstract

UNLABELLED: It remains a challenge to develop a successful human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine that is capable of preventing infection. Here, we utilized the benefits of CD40L, a costimulatory molecule that can stimulate both dendritic cells (DCs) and B cells, as an adjuvant for our simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) DNA vaccine in rhesus macaques. We coexpressed the CD40L with our DNA/SIV vaccine such that the CD40L is anchored on the membrane of SIV virus-like particle (VLP). These CD40L containing SIV VLPs showed enhanced activation of DCs in vitro. We then tested the potential of DNA/SIV-CD40L vaccine to adjuvant the DNA prime of a DNA/modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vaccine in rhesus macaques. Our results demonstrated that the CD40L adjuvant enhanced the functional quality of anti-Env antibody response and breadth of anti-SIV CD8 and CD4 T cell responses, significantly delayed the acquisition of heterologous mucosal SIV infection, and improved viral control. Notably, the CD40L adjuvant enhanced the control of viral replication in the gut at the site of challenge that was associated with lower mucosal CD8 immune activation, one of the strong predictors of disease progression. Collectively, our results highlight the benefits of CD40L adjuvant for enhancing antiviral humoral and cellular immunity, leading to enhanced protection against a pathogenic SIV. A single adjuvant that enhances both humoral and cellular immunity is rare and thus underlines the importance and practicality of CD40L as an adjuvant for vaccines against infectious diseases, including HIV-1.