Conserved immunogens in prime-boost strategies for the next-generation HIV-1 vaccines

Abstract

Introduction: Effective vaccines are the best solution for stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Their development and in-depth understanding of pathogen–host interactions rely on technological advances.

Areas covered: Rational vaccine development can be effectively approached by conceptual separation of, on one hand, design of immunogens from improving their presentation to the immune system and, on the other, induction of antibodies from induction of killer CD8⁺ T cells. The biggest roadblock for many vaccines is the pathogens' variability. This is best tackled by focusing both antibodies and T cells on the functionally most conserved regions of proteins common to many variants, including escape mutants. For vectored vaccines, these ‘universal’ subunit immunogens are most efficiently delivered using heterologous prime-boost regimens, which can be further optimised by adjuvantation and route of delivery.

Expert opinion: Development of vaccines against human diseases has many features in common. Acceleration of vaccine discovery depends on basic research and new technologies. Novel strategies should be safely, but rapidly tested in humans. While out-of-the-box thinking is important, vaccine success largely depends on incremental advances best achieved through small, systematic, iterative clinical studies. Failures are inevitable, but the end rewards are huge. The future will be exciting.

Keywords::

• Conserved antigens
• HIV
• prime-boost
• vaccines

Declaration of interest

T Hanke is supported by grants from the Medical Research Council UK (G1001757, G0701669 and J008605/1) and the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (SP.2011.41304.002) and European Commission (305632). T Hanke is a co-inventor of patents (WO06123256 HIVCON: An HIV immunogen and uses thereof and WO98/056919 Methods and reagents for vaccination, which generate a CD8⁺ T-cell immune response).

Notes

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