Priming with Recombinant BCG Expressing HTI Enhances the Magnitude and Breadth of the T-Cell Immune Responses Elicited by MVA.HTI in BALB/c Mice

The use of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) as a live vaccine vehicle is a promising approach for HIV-1-specific T-cell induction. In this study, we used recombinant BCG expressing HIVACAT T-cell immunogen (HTI), BCG.HTI(2auxo.int). BALB/c mice immunization with BCG.HTI(2auxo.int) prime and MVA.HTI boost was safe and induced HIV-1-specific T-cell responses. Two weeks after boost, T-cell responses were assessed by IFN-γ ELISpot. The highest total magnitude of IFN-γ spot-forming cells (SFC)/10(6) splenocytes was observed in BCG.HTI(2auxo.int) primed mice compared to mice receiving MVA.HTI alone or mice primed with BCGwt, although the differences between the vaccination regimens only reached trends. In order to evaluate the differences in the breadth of the T-cell immune responses, we examined the number of reactive peptide pools per mouse. Interestingly, both BCG.HTI(2auxo.int) and BCGwt primed mice recognized an average of four peptide pools per mouse. However, the variation was higher in BCG.HTI(2auxo.int) primed mice with one mouse recognizing 11 peptide pools and three mice recognizing few or no peptide pools. The recognition profile appeared to be more spread out for BCG.HTI(2auxo.int) primed mice and mice only receiving MVA.HTI. Here, we describe a useful vaccine platform for priming protective responses against HIV-1/TB and other prevalent infectious diseases.