Phase 2 study of an HIV-1 canarypox vaccine (vCP1452) alone and in combination with rgp120: negative results fail to trigger a phase 3 correlates trial. (25/35)

BACKGROUND: A goal of T-cell HIV vaccines is to define the correlation between a vaccine-induced immune response and protection from HIV infection. We conducted a phase 2 trial to determine if a canarypox vaccine candidate (vCP1452) administered with rgp120 subunit protein would "qualify" for a trial to define a correlate of efficacy. METHODS: A total of 330 healthy volunteers were enrolled into 4 groups: 120 received vCP1452 alone (0, 1, 3, and 6 months), 120 received vCP1452 with 2 different regimens of rgp120 coadministration, and 90 received placebo. HIV-specific antibody responses were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and neutralizing activity. T-cell responses were measured by chromium release and interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay. RESULTS: Significant neutralizing antibody responses to the HIV MN strain were detected in all vaccine groups, with net responses ranging from 57% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 40% to 71%) to 94% (95% CI: 85% to 99%). Net cumulative HIV-specific CD8 IFNgamma ELISpot assay responses were 13% (95% CI: -1% to 26%) for recipients of vCP1452 alone and 16% (95% CI: 2% to 29%) for recipients of vCP1452 plus rgp120. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the HIV-specific CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response was not sufficient to qualify the regimen for a subsequent trial designed to detect an immune correlate of protection requiring a minimum CD8 CTL frequency of 30%.  (+info)

Direct comparison of antigen production and induction of apoptosis by canarypox virus- and modified vaccinia virus ankara-human immunodeficiency virus vaccine vectors. (26/35)

Recombinant poxvirus vectors are undergoing intensive evaluation as vaccine candidates for a variety of infectious pathogens. Avipoxviruses, such as canarypox virus, are replication deficient in mammalian cells by virtue of a poorly understood species-specific restriction. Highly attenuated vaccinia virus strains such as modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) are similarly unable to complete replication in most mammalian cells but have an abortive-late phenotype, in that the block to replication occurs post-virus-specific DNA replication. In this study, an identical expression cassette for human immunodeficiency virus gag, pro, and env coding sequences was placed in canarypox virus and MVA vector backbones in order to directly compare vector-borne expression and to analyze differences in vector-host cell interactions. Antigen production by recombinant MVA was shown to be greater than that from recombinant canarypox virus in the mammalian cell lines and in the primary human cells tested. This observation was primarily due to a longer duration of antigen production in recombinant MVA-infected cells. Apoptosis induction was found to be more profound with the empty canarypox virus vector than with MVA. Remarkably, however, the inclusion of a gag/pro/env expression cassette altered the kinetics of apoptosis induction in recombinant MVA-infected cells to levels equal to those found in canarypox virus-infected cells. Antigen production by MVA was noted to be greater in human dendritic cells and resulted in enhanced T-cell stimulation in an in vitro antigen presentation assay. These results reveal differences in poxvirus vector-host cell interactions that should be relevant to their use as immunization vehicles.  (+info)

Comparative prime-boost vaccinations using Semliki Forest virus, adenovirus, and ALVAC vectors demonstrate differences in the generation of a protective central memory CTL response against the P815 tumor. (27/35)

Tumor-specific Ags are potential target molecules in the therapeutic treatment of cancer. One way to elicit potent immune responses against these Ags is to use recombinant viruses, which activate both the innate and the adaptive arms of the immune system. In this study, we have compared Semliki Forest virus (SFV), adenovirus, and ALVAC (poxvirus) vectors for their capacity to induce CD8(+) T cell responses against the P1A tumor Ag and to elicit protection against subsequent challenge injection of P1A-expressing P815 tumor cells in DBA/2 mice. Both homologous and heterologous prime-boost regimens were studied. In most cases, both higher CD8(+) T cell responses and better tumor protections were observed in mice immunized with heterologous prime-boost regimens, suggesting that the combination of different viral vectors is beneficial for the induction of an effective immune response. However, homologous immunization with SFV provided potent tumor protection despite a rather moderate primary CD8(+) T cell response as compared with mice immunized with recombinant adenovirus. SFV-immunized mice showed a rapid and more extensive expansion of P1A-specific CD8(+) T cells in the tumor-draining lymph node after tumor challenge and had a higher frequency of CD62L(+) P1A-specific T cells in the blood, spleen, and lymph nodes as compared with adenoimmunized mice. Our results indicate that not only the magnitude but in particular the quality of the CD8(+) T cell response correlates with tumor protection.  (+info)

Characterization of antigen-specific immune responses induced by canarypox virus vaccines. (28/35)

Avipoxvirus-based vectors, such as recombinant canarypox virus ALVAC, are studied extensively as delivery vehicles for vaccines against cancer and infectious diseases. Effective use of such vaccines is expected to benefit from proper understanding of the interaction between these viral vectors and the host immune system. We performed preclinical vaccination experiments in a murine tumor model to analyze the immunogenic properties of an ALVAC-based vaccine against carcinoembryonic Ag (ALVAC-CEA), a tumor-associated autoantigen commonly overexpressed in colorectal cancers. The protective CEA-specific immunity induced by this vaccine consisted of CD4(+) T cell responses with a mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine profile that were accompanied by potent humoral responses, but not by CEA-specific CD8(+) CTL immunity. In contrast, protective immunity induced by a CEA-specific DNA vaccine (DNA-CEA) consisted of Th1 and CTL responses. Modification of the ALVAC-CEA vaccine through coinjection of DNA-CEA, admixture with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, or supplementation with additional transgenes encoding a triad of costimulatory molecules (TRICOM) did not result in induction of CEA-specific CTL responses. Even though these results suggested that ALVAC does not elicit Ag-specific CTLs, immunization with ALVAC vaccines against other Ags efficiently induced CTL responses. Our data show that the capacity of ALVAC vaccines to elicit CTL immunity against transgene-encoded Ags critically depends on the presence of highly immunogenic CTL epitopes in these Ags. This consideration needs to be taken into account with respect to the design and evaluation of vaccination strategies that use ALVAC-based vaccine.  (+info)

CD40L expressed from the canarypox vector, ALVAC, can boost immunogenicity of HIV-1 canarypox vaccine in mice and enhance the in vitro expansion of viral specific CD8+ T cell memory responses from HIV-1-infected and HIV-1-uninfected individuals. (29/35)

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Role of cell signaling in poxvirus-mediated foreign gene expression in mammalian cells. (30/35)

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A randomized therapeutic vaccine trial of canarypox-HIV-pulsed dendritic cells vs. canarypox-HIV alone in HIV-1-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy. (31/35)

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Regulating mammalian target of rapamycin to tune vaccination-induced CD8(+) T cell responses for tumor immunity. (32/35)

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