Immunogenicity using a combination of dna and vaccinia virus vector vaccines

Abstract

This invention relates to improved methods of inducing an immune response for the prevention or treatment of HIV-1 infection by using a nucleic acid vaccine in conjunction with a recombinant viral vaccine, e.g., a poxvirus vaccine, to potentiate and broaden the immune response. The present invention further provides a particularly effective vaccine regimen comprising a DNA vaccine used in combination with a poxvirus virus, especially NYVAC or ALVAC.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of potentiating a CD8+ response to human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) epitopes in a human comprising:
 administering an expression vector encoding HIV-1 Gag, Pol, Pro, Tat, Nef, Rev, Vif, Vpr or Env antigens; and   administering a recombinant Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) encoding the same antigens encoded by the expression vector;   wherein the expression vector and the recombinant MVA enter the cells of the human and intracellularly produce HIV peptides that are presented on the cell's MHC class I molecules in an amount sufficient to stimulate a CD8+ response, and further, wherein administration of the combination of the expression vector and the recombinant MVA potentiates the immune response compared to administration of either the expression vector or the recombinant MVA by itself.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the expression vector is a DNA expression vector. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the HIV peptides are structural viral peptides. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the HIV peptides are non-structural viral peptides. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the expression vector or the recombinant MVA is administered with an adjuvant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising two administrations of the expression vector. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising three administrations of the expression vector. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the expression vector is administered before the recombinant MVA. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the human is infected with HIV-1. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the human has a viral load of less than 10,000 copies per milliliter. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the human is not infected with the HIV-1. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the HIV peptides are HIV-1 envelope, gag or protease peptides. 
     
     
         27 . A method of reducing viral load in a mammal that is infected with an immunodeficiency virus, comprising:
 administering to the mammal an expression vector that expresses encoded immunodeficiency virus Gag, Pol and Env antigens; and   later administering to the mammal a recombinant MVA encoding said antigens;   wherein the expression vector and the recombinant MVA enter the cells of the mammal and intracellularly produce said antigens, and   
       wherein administration of the combination of the expression vector and the recombinant MVA reduces the viral load more than administration of either the expression vector or the recombinant MVA by itself.