Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG prime-recombinant adenovirus boost vaccination in rhesus monkeys elicits robust polyfunctional simian immunodeficiency virus-specific T-cell responses

J Virol. 2009 Jun;83(11):5505-13. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02544-08. Epub 2009 Mar 18.

Abstract

While mycobacteria have been proposed as vaccine vectors because of their persistence and safety, little has been done systematically to optimize their immunogenicity in nonhuman primates. We successfully generated recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG (rBCG) expressing simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag and Pol as multigenic, nonintegrating vectors, but rBCG-expressing SIV Env was unstable. A dose and route determination study in rhesus monkeys revealed that intramuscular administration of rBCG was associated with local reactogenicity, whereas intravenous and intradermal administration of 10(6) to 10(8) CFU of rBCG was well tolerated. After single or repeat rBCG inoculations, monkeys developed high-frequency gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot responses against BCG purified protein derivative. However, the same animals developed only modest SIV-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses. Nevertheless, high-frequency SIV-specific cellular responses were observed in the rBCG-primed monkeys after boosting with recombinant adenovirus 5 (rAd5) expressing the SIV antigens. These cellular responses were of greater magnitude and more persistent than those generated after vaccination with rAd5 alone. The vaccine-elicited cellular responses were predominantly polyfunctional CD8(+) T cells. These findings support the further exploration of mycobacteria as priming vaccine vectors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics*
  • Animals
  • BCG Vaccine / genetics
  • BCG Vaccine / immunology*
  • BCG Vaccine / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Products, env / genetics
  • Gene Products, env / immunology
  • Gene Products, env / metabolism
  • Gene Products, gag / genetics
  • Gene Products, gag / immunology
  • Gene Products, gag / metabolism
  • Gene Products, pol / genetics
  • Gene Products, pol / immunology
  • Gene Products, pol / metabolism
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Immunization, Secondary / methods*
  • Macaca mulatta / immunology*
  • Mycobacterium bovis / genetics
  • Mycobacterium bovis / immunology*
  • Mycobacterium bovis / metabolism
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology*
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Titrimetry
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / metabolism

Substances

  • BCG Vaccine
  • Gene Products, env
  • Gene Products, gag
  • Gene Products, pol
  • Vaccines, Synthetic