Objective
* To create a basis for testing HIV candidate vaccines in clinical phase 1/2 trials
* To develop a novel HIV-candidate vaccine on the basis of regional virus strains
* To assess the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of the proposed candidate vaccine in a relevant primate model
Expected Outcome
It is expected, that this project will lead to a close collaboration between the European and Chinese partners in the area of epidemiology and vaccine development. Furthermore, this study will contribute to the molecular characterization of the prevalent B1- and C-clade HIV strains from South-East Asia, which will be subsequently utilized for the construction of an innovative VLP and DNA based antigen-delivery system. A systematic evaluation of these candidate vaccines with respect to their safety, immunogenicity and efficacy is considered to be an essential prerequisite in order to proceed to further clinical trial phases.
* Careful monitoring of the epidemic situation in a given population is one of the important issues in preparing clinical phase 1/2 trials. Due to the very recent outbreak of the HIV epidemy in the rural population in the Dehong prefecture of Yunnan, the variability of the virus in this area seems to be still restricted to a HIV-1 B1-Thai subtype. However, the antigenic drift will be carefully monitored by the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine (CAPM) and the Health and Epidemic prevention stations (HEPS) assisted by the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene (RIMMH, Germany).
* In order to optimize the chances of a successful vaccine, recombinant virus-like particles and a corresponding DNA vaccine will be constructed based on a careful molecular characterization of prevalent B1-(Thai) and C-clade HIV strains of the endemic areas in China (CAPM).
* The long term safety, immunogenicity and toxicity of the different antigen delivery systems will be analyzed in rhesus macaques in collaboration with the Biomedical Primate Research Center (BPRC, The Netherlands) and the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB, Kunming, China).
* The efficacy of the induced immune responses after heterologous challenge of the immunized monkeys with a pathogenic SHIV chimera will be determined.
* After having demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the antigens in the proposed animal model and in case of a favourable epidemiological situation, clinical phase 1/2 trials will be prepared.
Fields of science
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunisation
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirology
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiology
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesHIV
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsvaccines
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
93053 REGENSBURG
Germany