The HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) launched a new clinical trial to study immune responses in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. The trial aims to develop antibody assays for reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which will aid in the development and testing of a safe and effective vaccine.
A recent HVTN study found that antibody-mediated and cellular-mediated immune responses correlate with a decrease in HIV transmission. The study demonstrated that measuring both types of immune responses can predict the transmission of HIV, providing new insights into potential correlates of protection (CoP).
A study by HVTN 105 demonstrated that DNA (DNA-HIV-PT123) and protein (AIDSVAX B/E) combination vaccine regimens induced high magnitude and long-lasting binding antibody responses. The findings showed more rapid potentially protective immune responses when the vaccine regimens were co-administered.
The study found significant cellular and antibody responses in South African participants, with higher CD4+ T cell response rates and stronger cross-clade antibody responses compared to Thai participants. The results suggest that the RV144/Thai vaccine regimen can induce a broader immune response across different HIV clades.