Antibodies to the envelope protein protect macaques from SIVmac251 acquisition in an immunization regimen that mimics the RV-144 Thai trial

Background The canarypox vector ALVAC-HIV, together with the HIV gp120 envelope, has protected 31.2% of Thai heterosexual individuals from HIV acquisition in the RV144 HIV vaccine trial. This outcome was unexpected, given the limited ability of the ALVAC-HIV vaccine component to induce CD8+T-cell responses, and of the HIVgp120 envelope to elicit broad neutralizing antibodies. Methods We vaccinated macaques with an immunization regimen that mimics the RV144 trial and exposed them to a mucosal dose of SIVmac251 that transmits few virus variants, similar to HIV transmission to humans. Results