Safety and immunogenicity of an HIV vaccine trial with DNA prime and replicating vaccinia boost

Abstract Developing a safe and effective vaccine remains a global priority for ending the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. All HIV vaccine trials with protein, DNA, non-replication vector or their combinations failed in the past. We constructed the HIV-1 CN54 env, gag, and pol genes into...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ying Liu, Wei Lv, Pu Shan, Dan Li, Ying-Qi Wu, You-Chun Wang, Yuan-Yuan Li, Qiang Liu, Jian-Sheng Wang, Yan-Ling Hao, Yong Liu, Wei-Jin Huang, Li Ren, Shu-Hui Wang, Tai-Sheng Li, Jing Xu, Yi-Ming Shao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-07-01
Series:Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02259-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849334049963769856
author Ying Liu
Wei Lv
Pu Shan
Dan Li
Ying-Qi Wu
You-Chun Wang
Yuan-Yuan Li
Qiang Liu
Jian-Sheng Wang
Yan-Ling Hao
Yong Liu
Wei-Jin Huang
Li Ren
Shu-Hui Wang
Tai-Sheng Li
Jing Xu
Yi-Ming Shao
author_facet Ying Liu
Wei Lv
Pu Shan
Dan Li
Ying-Qi Wu
You-Chun Wang
Yuan-Yuan Li
Qiang Liu
Jian-Sheng Wang
Yan-Ling Hao
Yong Liu
Wei-Jin Huang
Li Ren
Shu-Hui Wang
Tai-Sheng Li
Jing Xu
Yi-Ming Shao
author_sort Ying Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Developing a safe and effective vaccine remains a global priority for ending the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. All HIV vaccine trials with protein, DNA, non-replication vector or their combinations failed in the past. We constructed the HIV-1 CN54 env, gag, and pol genes into both DNA and replicating vaccinia virus Tiantan vectors. In phase Ia, 12 healthy adults were given high (n = 6) or low (n = 6) doses of recombinant vaccinia virus Tiantan vaccine (rTV), to test its safety dose. In phase Ib, 36 healthy adults were assigned to the DNA (n = 6), DNA-L/rTV (n = 12), DNA-H/rTV (n = 12), and placebo (n = 6) groups. The DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly at weeks 0, 4, and 8 and rTV with a bifurcated needle at week 12. All vaccines tested were safe and well-tolerated; most of the adverse events (AEs) were mild to moderate. The most commonly observed AEs were redness and papule at rTV vaccination sites and axillary enlarged lymph nodes at the same rTV vaccination arm. Smaller cutaneous lesions and shorter healing time were observed in smallpox vaccine experienced subjects. The DNA prime-rTV boost regimen induced anti-gp120 IgG and polyfunctional CD4+ T cells. No significant differences of anti-HIV IgG and T cell responses were found between the two prime-boost groups with high and low DNA doses. Moreover, smallpox vaccine naïve subjects elicited higher T cell responses and anti-gp120 antibodies. The result of this trial supports further development of HIV vaccine with DNA and replicating vaccinia vector for advanced clinical trials.
format Article
id doaj-art-e0811cfffed6466fa3fd564990edf6e0
institution Kabale University
issn 2059-3635
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
spelling doaj-art-e0811cfffed6466fa3fd564990edf6e02025-08-20T03:45:41ZengNature Publishing GroupSignal Transduction and Targeted Therapy2059-36352025-07-0110111010.1038/s41392-025-02259-ySafety and immunogenicity of an HIV vaccine trial with DNA prime and replicating vaccinia boostYing Liu0Wei Lv1Pu Shan2Dan Li3Ying-Qi Wu4You-Chun Wang5Yuan-Yuan Li6Qiang Liu7Jian-Sheng Wang8Yan-Ling Hao9Yong Liu10Wei-Jin Huang11Li Ren12Shu-Hui Wang13Tai-Sheng Li14Jing Xu15Yi-Ming Shao16National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesNational Vaccine & Serum InstituteNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionNational Institutes for Food and Drug ControlNational Vaccine & Serum InstituteNational Institutes for Food and Drug ControlDivision of Health Statistics, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionNational Institutes for Food and Drug ControlNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesNational Vaccine & Serum InstituteNational Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and PreventionAbstract Developing a safe and effective vaccine remains a global priority for ending the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. All HIV vaccine trials with protein, DNA, non-replication vector or their combinations failed in the past. We constructed the HIV-1 CN54 env, gag, and pol genes into both DNA and replicating vaccinia virus Tiantan vectors. In phase Ia, 12 healthy adults were given high (n = 6) or low (n = 6) doses of recombinant vaccinia virus Tiantan vaccine (rTV), to test its safety dose. In phase Ib, 36 healthy adults were assigned to the DNA (n = 6), DNA-L/rTV (n = 12), DNA-H/rTV (n = 12), and placebo (n = 6) groups. The DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly at weeks 0, 4, and 8 and rTV with a bifurcated needle at week 12. All vaccines tested were safe and well-tolerated; most of the adverse events (AEs) were mild to moderate. The most commonly observed AEs were redness and papule at rTV vaccination sites and axillary enlarged lymph nodes at the same rTV vaccination arm. Smaller cutaneous lesions and shorter healing time were observed in smallpox vaccine experienced subjects. The DNA prime-rTV boost regimen induced anti-gp120 IgG and polyfunctional CD4+ T cells. No significant differences of anti-HIV IgG and T cell responses were found between the two prime-boost groups with high and low DNA doses. Moreover, smallpox vaccine naïve subjects elicited higher T cell responses and anti-gp120 antibodies. The result of this trial supports further development of HIV vaccine with DNA and replicating vaccinia vector for advanced clinical trials.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02259-y
spellingShingle Ying Liu
Wei Lv
Pu Shan
Dan Li
Ying-Qi Wu
You-Chun Wang
Yuan-Yuan Li
Qiang Liu
Jian-Sheng Wang
Yan-Ling Hao
Yong Liu
Wei-Jin Huang
Li Ren
Shu-Hui Wang
Tai-Sheng Li
Jing Xu
Yi-Ming Shao
Safety and immunogenicity of an HIV vaccine trial with DNA prime and replicating vaccinia boost
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
title Safety and immunogenicity of an HIV vaccine trial with DNA prime and replicating vaccinia boost
title_full Safety and immunogenicity of an HIV vaccine trial with DNA prime and replicating vaccinia boost
title_fullStr Safety and immunogenicity of an HIV vaccine trial with DNA prime and replicating vaccinia boost
title_full_unstemmed Safety and immunogenicity of an HIV vaccine trial with DNA prime and replicating vaccinia boost
title_short Safety and immunogenicity of an HIV vaccine trial with DNA prime and replicating vaccinia boost
title_sort safety and immunogenicity of an hiv vaccine trial with dna prime and replicating vaccinia boost
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02259-y
work_keys_str_mv AT yingliu safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT weilv safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT pushan safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT danli safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT yingqiwu safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT youchunwang safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT yuanyuanli safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT qiangliu safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT jianshengwang safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT yanlinghao safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT yongliu safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT weijinhuang safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT liren safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT shuhuiwang safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT taishengli safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT jingxu safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost
AT yimingshao safetyandimmunogenicityofanhivvaccinetrialwithdnaprimeandreplicatingvacciniaboost