Publications by authors named "F L Tomaka"

Background: The HVTN 705 Imbokodo trial of 2636 people without HIV and assigned female sex at birth, conducted in southern Africa, evaluated a heterologous HIV-1 vaccine regimen: mosaic adenovirus 26-based vaccine (Ad26.Mos4.HIV) at Months 0, 3, 6, 12 and alum-adjuvanted clade C gp140 at Months 6, 12.

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class I variation has the strongest effect genome-wide on outcome after HIV infection, and as such, an understanding of the impact of polymorphism on response to HIV vaccination may inform vaccine design. We sought associations with HIV-directed immunogenicity in the phase 1/2a APPROACH vaccine trial, which tested vaccine regimens containing mosaic inserts in Ad26 and MVA vectors, with or without a trimeric gp140 protein. While there were no allelic associations with the overall cellular immune response to the vaccine assessed by ELISpot (Gag, Pol, and Env combined), significant associations with differential response to Gag compared to Env antigens were observed.

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Background: HIV type 1 (HIV-1) remains a global health concern, with the greatest burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite 40 years of research, no vaccine candidate has shown durable and protective efficacy against HIV-1 acquisition. Although pre-exposure prophylaxis in groups with high vulnerability can be very effective, barriers to its use, such as perceived low acquisition risk, fear of stigma, and concerns about side-effects, remain.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study examined the effects of a heterologous Ad26/MVA vaccine on immune responses in people living with HIV-1 who interrupted their antiretroviral treatment.
  • - It was found that while the vaccine primarily produced binding antibodies related to the vaccine strain, these did not correlate with the time it took for the virus to rebound after treatment interruption.
  • - Individuals who experienced delayed viral rebound had significantly higher levels of antibodies that promote phagocytosis (ADCP), suggesting that vaccines generating cross-reactive immune responses could help in controlling the virus after treatment stops.
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Mosaic HIV-1 vaccines have been shown to elicit robust humoral and cellular immune responses in people living with HIV-1 (PLWH), that had started antiretroviral therapy (ART) during acute infection. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of 2 mosaic vaccine regimens in virologically suppressed individuals that had initiated ART during the chronic phase of infection, exemplifying the majority of PLWH. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial (IPCAVD013/HTX1002) 25 ART-suppressed PLWH were randomized to receive Ad26.

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