Effective Suppression of HIV-1 Replication by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Specific for Pol Epitopes in Conserved Mosaic Vaccine Immunogens

Abstract

It is likely necessary for an effective AIDS vaccine to elicit CD8 + T cells with the ability to recognize circulating HIV-1 and suppress its replication. We recently developed novel bivalent mosaic T-cell vaccine immunogens composed of conserved regions of the Gag and Pol proteins matched to at least 80% globally circulating HIV-1 isolates. Nevertheless, it remains to be proven if vaccination with these immunogens can elicit T cells with the ability to suppress HIV-1 replication. It is well known that Gag-specific T cells can suppress HIV-1 replication more effectively than T cells specific for epitopes in other proteins. We recently identified 5 protective Gag epitopes in the vaccine immunogens. In this study, we identified T cells specific for 6 Pol epitopes present in the immunogens with strong abilities to suppress HIV-1 in vivo and in vitro . This study further encourages clinical testing of the conserved mosaic T-cell vaccine in HIV-1 prevention and cure.