UC Irvine

AIDS vaccine rethinkRecent setbacks have prompted a major re-evaluation of the AIDS vaccine field. One question that has been asked is whether to continue development of T-cell-based HIV-1 vaccines. Now a study of a new vaccine in monkeys challenged with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) suggests that the T-cell-based strategy remains potentially viable. The vaccine was prepared using two adenovirus vectors (rAd26 prime/rAd5 boost) expressing SIV Gag protein. It induced potent T-cell immune responses and some protection from infection. These findings provide pointers to the design of a new generation of T-cell-based vaccine candidates for HIV-1.