Nano-vaccines for gene delivery against HIV-1 infection

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Over the last four decades, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection has been a major public health concern. It is acknowledged that an effective vaccine remains the best hope for eliminating the HIV-1 pandemic. The prophylaxis of HIV-1 infection remains a central theme because of the absence of an available HIV-1 vaccine. The inability of conventional delivery strategies to induce potent immunity is a crucial task to overcome and ultimately lead to a major obstacle in HIV-1 vaccine research.

Areas covered

The literature search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. Nano-platforms-based vaccines have proven prophylaxis in various diseases for effectively activating the immune system. Nano-vaccines, including non-viral and viral vectored nano-vaccines, are in a position to improve the effectiveness of HIV-1 antigen delivery and enhance the innate and adaptive immune responses against HIV-1. Compared to traditional vaccination strategies, genetic immunization can elicit a long-term immune response to provide protective immunity for HIV-1 prevention.

Expert opinion

Research progress on nano-vaccines for gene delivery against HIV-1 was discussed. Vaccine strategies based on nano-platforms that are being applied to stimulate effective HIV-1-specific cellular and humoral immune responses were particularly emphasized.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• HIV-1
• Nano-vaccine
• immune response
• gene delivery
• prophylaxis

Article highlights

• Nano-vaccines can improve the effectiveness of HIV-1 antigen delivery and increase the induction of innate and adaptive immune responses that are crucial for the prophylaxis of HIV-1 infection.

• Genetic immunization can elicit not only humoral immune response but also an enduring cellular immune response in vivo to protect animals from HIV-1 infection.

• Nano-vaccines for HIV-1 gene delivery offer a potential strategy to improve HIV-1-specific humoral immunity and cellular immunity.

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

S Li conceived and drafted the manuscript; MY Zhang and J Yuan reviewed the manuscript; YX Zhang revised the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the submitted version.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript was funded by Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program (Grant No. 2019FY100700), Liao Ning Revitalization Talents Program (Grant No. XLYC1902072) and Newly Introduced PhD Start-up Fund of Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (Grant No. 2311520035).