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Dan H. Barouch talks with
ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about
this month's New Hot Paper in the field of Microbiology.
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Article Title: Immune control of an SIV challenge by a
T-cell-based vaccine in rhesus monkeys
Authors: Liu, JY, et al.
Journal: NATURE. Volume: 457, Issue: 7225, Page: 87-9, Year:
JAN 1, 2009
* Harvard Univ, Sch Med, Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr, Div
Viral Pathogenesis, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
* Harvard Univ, Sch Med, Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr, Div
Viral Pathogenesis, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
* Univ Calif Irvine, Sch Med, Irvine, CA 92697 USA.
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Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
This paper showed that heterologous rAd26/rAd5 and rAd35/rAd5 vaccine
regimens expressing SIV Gag afforded a greater degree of protective
efficacy against a high-dose SIV challenge than did the homologous
rAd5/rAd5 vaccine regimen expressing SIV Gag.
With the failure of the Merck rAd5 vaccine for
HIV in the phase 2b STEP study in humans, our data
suggest that T-cell-based vaccines that induce immune responses of
increased magnitude and breadth may perform far better.
Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or
synthesis of knowledge?
This paper describes improved vaccine protection in the SIV/macaque model
and leads to improved HIV vaccine concepts for clinical trials.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman's terms?
The data indicate that the failure of the Merck rAd5 vaccine for HIV is not
the end of the road in terms of T-cell-based vaccines, and that
next-generation vaccine strategies should be further evaluated in both
preclinical and clinical studies.
How did you become involved in this research, and
were there any problems along the way?
We have been involved in HIV vaccine research and developing novel vaccine
strategies for the past 10 years. This paper reflects a three-year study,
and its importance increased after the STEP study results were announced.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
Our research program involves interactive preclinical and clinical studies
with these and other vaccine concepts.
Do you foresee any social or political
implications for your research?
A safe and effective HIV vaccine would have tremendous social, medical, and
political implications.
Dan H. Barouch, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Vaccine Research
Department of Medicine
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA, USA
Web
KEYWORDS: IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS SIVMAC239; SIMIAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY;
ADENOVIRUS VECTORS; REPLICATION; INFECTION; MEMORY; IMMUNOGENICITY;
RESPONSES; HIV; MAMU-A01.
