A Replication-Competent Adenovirus-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Ad-Hiv)tatand Ad-HIVenvPriming/Tat and Envelope Protein Boosting Regimen Elicits Enhanced Protective Efficacy Against Simian/Human Immunodeficiency Virus SHIV89.6PChallenge in Rhesus Macaques

ABSTRACT We previously demonstrated that replication-competent adenovirus (Ad)-simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) recombinant prime/protein boost regimens elicit potent immunogenicity and strong, durable protection of rhesus macaques against SIV mac251 . Additionally, native Tat vaccines have conferred strong protection against simian/human immunodeficiency virus SHIV 89.6P challenge of cynomolgus monkeys, while native, inactivated, or vectored Tat vaccines have failed to elicit similar protective efficacy in rhesus macaques. Here we asked if priming rhesus macaques with replicating Ad-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tat and boosting with the Tat protein would elicit protection against SHIV 89.6P . We also evaluated a Tat/Env regimen, adding an Ad-HIV env recombinant and envelope protein boost to test whether envelope antibodies would augment acute-phase protection. Further, expecting cellular immunity to enhance chronic viremia control, we tested a multigenic group: Ad-HIV tat , -HIV env , -SIV gag , and -SIV nef recombinants and Tat, Env, and Nef proteins. All regimens were immunogenic. A hierarchy was observed in enzyme-linked immunospot responses (with the strongest response for Env, followed by Gag, followed by Nef, followed by Tat) and antibody titers (with the highest titer for Env, followed by Tat, followed by Nef, followed by Gag). Following intravenous SHIV 89.6P challenge, all macaques became infected. Compared to controls, no protection was seen in the Tat-only group, confirming previous reports for rhesus macaques. However, the multigenic group blunted acute viremia by approximately 1 log ( P = 0.017), and both the multigenic and Tat/Env groups reduced chronic viremia by 3 and 4 logs, respectively, compared to controls (multigenic, P = 0.0003; Tat/Env, P < 0.0001). The strikingly greater reduction in the Tat/Env group than in the multigenic group ( P = 0.014) was correlated with Tat and Env binding antibodies. Since prechallenge anti-Env antibodies lacked SHIV 89.6P -neutralizing activity, other functional anti-Env and anti-Tat activities are under investigation, as is a possible synergy between the Tat and Env immunogens.