HIV therapeutic vaccines aimed at intensifying combination antiretroviral therapy. (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moretti, Sonia; Cafaro, Aurelio; Tripiciano, Antonella; Picconi, Orietta; Buttò, Stefano; Ensoli, Fabrizio; Sgadari, Cecilia; Monini, Paolo; Ensoli, Barbara
• Is Part Of: Expert review of vaccines. Volume 19:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 71
• Page End: 84
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: HIV-1 therapeutic vaccine -- immunotherapy -- cART intensification -- HIV-1 Tat -- clinical trials -- proviral DNA -- immune system restoration -- anti-Tat antibodies -- functional cure -- HIV reservoir; Vaccines -- Periodicals; Vaccination -- Periodicals; 615.37205
• DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2020.1712199
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-0584

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction : Although successful at suppressing HIV replication, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) only partially restores immune functions and fails to reduce the latent HIV reservoir, thus requiring novel interventions for its intensification. Areas covered : Here are reviewed therapeutic vaccine candidates that are being developed to this goal. Among them, the Tat vaccine has been shown to promote immune restoration, including CD4+ T-cell recovery in low immunological responders, and to reduce the virus reservoirs well beyond what achieved with long-term suppressive cART. Expert opinion : The authors propose the Tat vaccine as a promising vaccine candidate for cART intensification toward HIV reservoirs depletion, functional cure, and eradication strategies, suggesting that targeting a key protein in the virus life cycle is pivotal to success.