Non-Replicating Viral Vector-Based AIDS Vaccines: Interplay Between Viral Vectors and the Immune System

Abstract

During the past 20 years, the development of HIV vaccines has come a long way. The focus has progressively changed from the traditional protein-based HIV vaccines that induce humoral immunity to the live recombinant viral vector-based HIV vaccines capable of eliciting both cellular and humoral immune responses. These new viral vector-based vaccines encoding multiple HIV antigens, delivered either alone or in heterologous prime-boost modalities elicited antigen-specific CTL responses in immunized hosts and protected animals from disease. The viral vector-based vaccines have proven to be potent vaccines in pre-clinical studies and foster the hope to put an end to the ever-increasing threat of the AIDS epidemic. Several unique features of viral vector-based HIV vaccines have contributed to their success, including their intrinsic immune-modulating properties, high transduction efficiency, and in vivo production of immunogens within the cell mimicking a natural infection without the associated health risks. In this review, we will discuss the characteristics of non-replicating viral vectors most commonly used for HIV vaccines with a particular focus on immune responses elicited by the vector particles alone and their effect on the potency of viral vector-based HIV vaccines.

Mutations in SARS-CoV-2: Insights on structure, variants, vaccines, and biomedical interventions

“…Therefore, they are harmless. Besides, they elicit an immune response higher than viral protein-based vaccines [201] , [202] , [203] .…”

COVID‐19: Clinical status of vaccine development to date

“…They can potentially produce strong immunogenic responses. 64,65,228 COV2.S (Janssen [Johnson & Johnson]), AZD1222 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) and Sputnik Light (Gamaleya) are approved for use, but trials of AdCOVID (Altimmune Inc.) are no longer in progress due to its lower effectiveness. 47 Still, some of these vaccines are in the developmental stages.…”

Developmental Landscape of Potential Vaccine Candidates Based on Viral Vector for Prophylaxis of COVID-19

“…Additionally, prime-boost strategies of viral vectors had shown promising results. Many viral vector-based HIV vaccine candidates are under clinical and preclinical investigation, including adenovirus, poxvirus, alpha virus, and adenoassociated virus, in addition to combination of viral vectors encoding HIV gene (Sauter et al, 2005). For the first time, RV-144 in a phase III efficacy clinical trial in Thailand had shown that HIV infection can be prevented by vaccination.…”