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Host genetics played a role in vaccine efficacy in the RV144 HIV vaccine trial

Date:
July 15, 2015
Source:
The U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP)
Summary:
Host genetics played a role in protection against HIV infection in the landmark RV144 vaccine trial conducted in Thailand, research shows.
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New findings published in the journal Science Translational Medicine show that host genetics played a role in protection against HIV infection in the landmark RV144 vaccine trial conducted in Thailand.

Researchers at the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) tested whether specific variants of immune response genes called HLA were associated with greater protection against the virus.

"We found that antibody responses correlated with increased or decreased risk of acquiring HIV only in the presence of specific host HLA alleles," said senior author Dr. Rasmi Thomas. By identifying this specific allele, or gene variation, researchers hope to more clearly determine the mechanism of protection.

Led by the US Army, the RV144 trial is the only HIV vaccine trial to show efficacy in preventing HIV-1 infection over the course of 42 months. Since researchers can compare data from those protected against HIV to those who were not, RV144 follow-on studies have advanced the understanding of HIV vaccine-induced protective immune responses. Two immune correlates of risk were identified previously, and subsequent studies have analyzed both viral and host genetics for further insights into how the vaccine worked.

HLA class II molecules play an important role in antibody response, so MHRP researchers tested variation in these genes for interactions with the two vaccine-induced correlates of risk identified in RV144. This study showed that particular HLA class II genes modulated the quantity and quality of vaccine-induced antibody responses to affect HIV acquisition and vaccine efficacy.

According to MHRP Director COL Nelson Michael, "This study confirms the importance of host genetics to the interpretation of correlates of protection of HIV vaccines and informs approaches to develop more effective next generation products."

Story Source:

Materials provided by The U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP). Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal References:

  1. Supachai Rerks-Ngarm, Punnee Pitisuttithum, Sorachai Nitayaphan, Jaranit Kaewkungwal, Joseph Chiu, Robert Paris, Nakorn Premsri, Chawetsan Namwat, Mark de Souza, Elizabeth Adams, Michael Benenson, Sanjay Gurunathan, Jim Tartaglia, John G. McNeil, Donald P. Francis, Donald Stablein, Deborah L. Birx, Supamit Chunsuttiwat, Chirasak Khamboonruang, Prasert Thongcharoen, Merlin L. Robb, Nelson L. Michael, Prayura Kunasol, Jerome H. Kim. Vaccination with ALVAC and AIDSVAX to Prevent HIV-1 Infection in Thailand. New England Journal of Medicine, 2009; 361 (23): 2209 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa0908492
  2. Barton F. Haynes, Peter B. Gilbert, M. Juliana McElrath, Susan Zolla-Pazner, Georgia D. Tomaras, S. Munir Alam, David T. Evans, David C. Montefiori, Chitraporn Karnasuta, Ruengpueng Sutthent, Hua-Xin Liao, Anthony L. DeVico, George K. Lewis, Constance Williams, Abraham Pinter, Youyi Fong, Holly Janes, Allan DeCamp, Yunda Huang, Mangala Rao, Erik Billings, Nicos Karasavvas, Merlin L. Robb, Viseth Ngauy, Mark S. de Souza, Robert Paris, Guido Ferrari, Robert T. Bailer, Kelly A. Soderberg, Charla Andrews, Phillip W. Berman, Nicole Frahm, Stephen C. De Rosa, Michael D. Alpert, Nicole L. Yates, Xiaoying Shen, Richard A. Koup, Punnee Pitisuttithum, Jaranit Kaewkungwal, Sorachai Nitayaphan, Supachai Rerks-Ngarm, Nelson L. Michael, Jerome H. Kim. Immune-Correlates Analysis of an HIV-1 Vaccine Efficacy Trial. New England Journal of Medicine, 2012; 366 (14): 1275 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1113425
  3. H. A. Prentice, G. D. Tomaras, D. E. Geraghty, R. Apps, Y. Fong, P. K. Ehrenberg, M. Rolland, G. H. Kijak, S. J. Krebs, W. Nelson, A. DeCamp, X. Shen, N. L. Yates, S. Zolla-Pazner, S. Nitayaphan, S. Rerks-Ngarm, J. Kaewkungwal, P. Pitisuttithum, G. Ferrari, M. J. McElrath, D. C. Montefiori, R. T. Bailer, R. A. Koup, R. J. O'Connell, M. L. Robb, N. L. Michael, P. B. Gilbert, J. H. Kim, R. Thomas. HLA class II genes modulate vaccine-induced antibody responses to affect HIV-1 acquisition. Science Translational Medicine, 2015; 7 (296): 296ra112 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aab4005

Cite This Page:

The U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP). "Host genetics played a role in vaccine efficacy in the RV144 HIV vaccine trial." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 July 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150715155327.htm>.
The U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP). (2015, July 15). Host genetics played a role in vaccine efficacy in the RV144 HIV vaccine trial. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 25, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150715155327.htm
The U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP). "Host genetics played a role in vaccine efficacy in the RV144 HIV vaccine trial." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150715155327.htm (accessed April 25, 2024).

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