Magnitude and breadth of the neutralizing antibody response in the RV144 and Vax003 HIV-1 vaccine efficacy trials

David C. Montefiori*, Chitraporn Karnasuta, Ying Huang, Hasan Ahmed, Peter Gilbert, Mark S. De Souza, Robert McLinden, Sodsai Tovanabutra, Agnes Laurence-Chenine, Eric Sanders-Buell, M. Anthony Moody, Mattia Bonsignori, Christina Ochsenbauer, John Kappes, Haili Tang, Kelli Greene, Hongmei Gao, Celia C. Labranche, Charla Andrews, Victoria R. PolonisSupachai Rerks-Ngarm, Punnee Pitisuttithum, Sorachai Nitayaphan, Jaranit Kaewkungwal, Steve G. Self, Phillip W. Berman, Donald Francis, Faruk Sinangil, Carter Lee, Jim Tartaglia, Merlin L. Robb, Barton F. Haynes, Nelson L. Michael, Jerome H. Kim

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

244 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. A recombinant canarypox vector expressing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag, Pro, and membrane-linked gp120 (vCP1521), combined with a bivalent gp120 protein boost (AIDSVAX B/E), provided modest protection against HIV-1 infection in a community-based population in Thailand (RV144 trial). No protection was observed in Thai injection drug users who received AIDSVAX B/E alone (Vax003 trial). We compared the neutralizing antibody response in these 2 trials. Methods. Neutralization was assessed with tier 1 and tier 2 strains of virus in TZM-bl and A3R5 cells. Results. Neutralization of several tier 1 viruses was detected in both RV144 and Vax003. Peak titers were higher in Vax003 and waned rapidly in both trials. The response in RV144 was targeted in part to V3 of gp120.vCP1521 priming plus 2 boosts with gp120 protein was superior to 2 gp120 protein inoculations alone, confirming a priming effect for vCP1521. Sporadic weak neutralization of tier 2 viruses was detected only in Vax003 and A3R5 cells.Conclusion.The results suggest either that weak neutralizing antibody responses can be partially protective against HIV-1 in low-risk heterosexual populations or that the modest efficacy seen in RV144 was mediated by other immune responses, either alone or in combination with neutralizing antibodies. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)431-441
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume206
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2012
Externally publishedYes

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