Nilu Goonetilleke, PhD, a member of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and associate professor of medicine, was interviewed by Contagion Infectious Diseases Today during CROI, the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. She discussed two studies that she led with first author Cindy Gay, MD, MPH. The interviews were posted on March 10.
The M&M Study: Age-Related T Cell Response in People with HIV on ART in MVA.HIVconsvX Vaccine Trial
This study showed a 50% reduction in T cell response with age, while 85% of participants demonstrated strong immune responses.
The M&M Study, a Phase I trial investigating the MVA.HIVconsvX vaccine. The vaccine uses a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector to express HIVconsvX immunogens and aims to induce HIV-specific T-cell responses. The study examined the impact of age on immune responses to the vaccine in people with HIV (PWH) on ART, which suppresses but does not cure the infection. The results showed that while age was associated with a reduced T-cell response, the vaccine was safe and induced T-cell responses across all age groups.
UNC corresponding authors include: Cindy Gay, Sofia Mariano, Caroline Baker, Susan Pedersen, Joseph Eron, David Margolis and Michael Hudgens
Watch HereThe CM Study: Bivalent HIV Vaccine Induces Stronger T Cell Responses in People with HIV on ART
This study showed that the bivalent HIVconsvX vaccine targets both Mosaic-1 and Mosaic-2, resulting in broader immune responses.
The CM Study, a Phase 1 trial investigating the ChAdOx1 and MVA-based HIVconsvX vaccine. The vaccine uses viral vectors to express the HIVconsvX immunogens, Mosaic-1 and Mosaic-2, and aims to induce HIV-specific T-cell responses in people with HIV (PWH) on ART. The study hypothesized that the bivalent regimen, including both immunogens, would elicit a stronger and broader T-cell response than the monovalent regimen. The findings showed that the bivalent vaccine induced a significantly greater T-cell response targeting both immunogens, supporting the hypothesis that a broader immune response could be achieved.
UNC corresponding authors include Cindy Gay, Sofia Mariano, Caroline Baker, Susan Pedersen, Joseph Eron, David Margolis and Michael Hudgens
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