Effective Suppression of HIV-1 Replication by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Specific for Pol Epitopes in Conserved Mosaic Vaccine Immunogens
Zou C., Murakoshi H., Kuse N., Akahoshi T., Chikata T., Gatanaga H., Oka S., Hanke T., Takiguchi M.
It is likely necessary for an effective AIDS vaccine to elicit CD8 + T cells with the ability to recognize circulating HIV-1 and suppress its replication. We recently developed novel bivalent mosaic T-cell vaccine immunogens composed of conserved regions of the Gag and Pol proteins matched to at least 80% globally circulating HIV-1 isolates. Nevertheless, it remains to be proven if vaccination with these immunogens can elicit T cells with the ability to suppress HIV-1 replication. It is well known that Gag-specific T cells can suppress HIV-1 replication more effectively than T cells specific for epitopes in other proteins. We recently identified 5 protective Gag epitopes in the vaccine immunogens. In this study, we identified T cells specific for 6 Pol epitopes present in the immunogens with strong abilities to suppress HIV-1 in vivo and in vitro . This study further encourages clinical testing of the conserved mosaic T-cell vaccine in HIV-1 prevention and cure.