A renewed attack on HIV

The 'A novel non-integrating replication limited lentiviral-based vector for HIV vaccination' (HIVNONILV) project has started work on the development of a novel lentivirus vector that is non-integrating (NONI-LV) and replication-limited. This strategy improves the safety of using DNA vaccines as both features carry inherent risks including mutagenesis after insertion in the host genome.

Project members' previous research revealed that these vectors will induce protective immune responses against challenge viruses. These challenge viruses, based on the monkey equivalent of HIV, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), are notoriously hard to control by vaccination. HIVNONILV researchers are evaluating the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of their novel NONI-LV vector against pathogenic viruses in the macaque model of HIV vaccine.

Results so far demonstrate that a single dose delivery of the DNA vaccine promoted generation of vaccine-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Importantly, these have immediate and recallable immune activity even in the absence of persistent antigen stimulation. So far, this has only been achieved using replication competent and persistent recombinant HIV viral vectors.

The work of the HIVNONILV project has important ramifications. Probably the most significant of these is that the DNA vaccine produces particles limited to a single cycle of infection.