DNA vaccination by intradermal electroporation induces long-lasting immune responses in rhesus macaques

BACKGROUND: A desirable HIV vaccine should induce protective long-lasting humoral and cellular immune responses. METHODS: Macaques were immunized by env DNA, selected from a panel of recently transmitted SIVmac251 Env using intradermal electroporation as vaccine delivery method and magnitude, breadth and longevity of humoral and cellular immune responses. RESULTS: The macaques developed high, long-lasting humoral immune responses with neutralizing capacity against homologous and heterologous Env. The avidity of the antibody responses was also preserved over 1-year follow-up. Analysis of cellular immune responses demonstrated induction of Env-specific memory T cells harboring granzyme B, albeit their overall levels were low. Similar to the humoral responses, the cellular immunity was persistent over the ∼1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: These data show that vaccination by this intradermal DNA delivery regimen is able to induce potent and durable immune responses in macaques.