Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic responses in participants enrolled in a phase I/II ALVAC-HIV/AIDSVAX® B/E prime-boost HIV-1 vaccine trial in Thailand

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) was assessed in volunteers participating in an ALVAC-HIV (vCP1521)/AIDSVAX® B/E gp120 prime-boost vaccine trial in Thailand. ADCC activity was measured using chromium release from gp120 subtype B- and CRF01_AE-coated targets in 95 vaccinees and 28 placebo recipients. There was a significant difference in the magnitude of the ADCC response to both targets between vaccinees and placebo recipients. The frequency of responders to subtype B and to CRF01_AE was 96% and 84% in the vaccine group versus 11% and 7% in the placebo group. The results demonstrate that this HIV vaccine is a potent inducer of ADCC activity and may be an additional protection of this prime-boost vaccine in preventing HIV disease.