<i>Mamu-B*17</i> ⁺ Rhesus Macaques Vaccinated with <i>env</i> , <i>vif</i> , and <i>nef</i> Manifest Early Control of SIVmac239 Replication

Abstract

Certain major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) alleles are associated with spontaneous control of viral replication in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected people and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques (RMs). These cases of "elite" control of HIV/SIV replication are often immune-mediated, thereby providing a framework for studying anti-lentiviral immunity. In this study, we examined how vaccination impacts SIV replication in RMs expressing the MHC-I allele <i>Mamu-B*17</i> Approximately 21% of <i>Mamu-B*17</i>⁺ and 50% of <i>Mamu-B*08</i>⁺ RMs control chronic-phase viremia after SIVmac239 infection. Because CD8⁺ T cells targeting Mamu-B*08-restricted SIV epitopes have been implicated in virologic suppression in <i>Mamu-B*08</i>⁺ RMs, we investigated whether this might also be true for <i>Mamu-B*17</i>⁺ RMs. Two groups of <i>Mamu-B*17⁺</i> RMs were vaccinated with genes encoding Mamu-B*17-restricted epitopes in Vif and Nef. These genes were delivered by themselves (group 1) or together with <i>env</i> (group 2). Group 3 included MHC-I-matched RMs and served as the control group. Surprisingly, the group 1 vaccine regimen had little effect on viral replication compared to group 3, suggesting that unlike <i>Mamu-B*08⁺</i> RMs, preexisting SIV-specific CD8⁺ T cells alone do not facilitate long-term virologic suppression in <i>Mamu-B*17⁺</i> RMs. Remarkably, however, 5/8 group 2 vaccinees controlled viremia to <15 viral RNA copies/ml soon after infection. No serological neutralizing activity against SIVmac239 was detected in group 2, although vaccine-elicited gp140-binding antibodies correlated inversely with nadir viral loads. Collectively, these data shed new light on the unique mechanism of elite control in <i>Mamu-B*17⁺</i> RMs and implicate vaccine-induced, nonneutralizing anti-Env antibodies in the containment of immunodeficiency virus infection.<b>IMPORTANCE</b> A better understanding of the immune correlates of protection against HIV might facilitate the development of a prophylactic vaccine. Therefore, we investigated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection outcomes in rhesus macaques expressing the major histocompatibility complex class I allele <i>Mamu-B*17</i> Approximately 21% of <i>Mamu-B*17⁺</i> macaques spontaneously controlled chronic phase viremia after SIV infection, an effect that may involve CD8⁺ T cells targeting Mamu-B*17-restricted SIV epitopes. We vaccinated <i>Mamu-B*17⁺</i> macaques with genes encoding immunodominant epitopes in Vif and Nef alone (group 1) or together with <i>env</i> (group 2). Although neither vaccine regimen prevented SIV infection, 5/8 group 2 vaccinees controlled viremia to below detection limits shortly after infection. This outcome, which was not observed in group 1, was associated with vaccine-induced, nonneutralizing Env-binding antibodies. Together, these findings suggest a limited contribution of Vif- and Nef-specific CD8⁺ T cells for virologic control in <i>Mamu-B*17⁺</i> macaques and implicate anti-Env antibodies in containment of SIV infection.