A study by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Duke University helps explain why the candidate vaccine used in the HVTN 505 clinical trial was not protective against HIV infection despite robustly inducing anti-HIV antibodies: the vaccine stimulated antibodies that recognized HIV as well as microbes commonly found in the intestinal tract, part of the body's microbiome. The researchers suggest that these antibodies arose because the vaccine boosted an existing antibody response to the intestinal microbiome, which may explain why the HVTN 505 vaccine candidate did not perform well. Understanding why the candidate vaccine did not protect against HIV infection will inform ongoing vaccine research efforts against HIV and other infectious diseases.
The HVTN 505 study used an investigational vaccine regimen in which volunteers were vaccinated with an initial or "prime" vaccine followed by a second, booster vaccine. In the new study, researchers examined samples from study participants who received the prime-boost vaccine and found that most vaccine-induced antibodies recognized an HIV surface protein called gp41, but these antibodies did not neutralize HIV. Instead, the antibodies were polyreactive, recognizing other proteins common to bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, a naturally occurring part of the body's intestinal microbiome. Polyreactivity may decrease the effectiveness of antibodies against a specific pathogen like HIV, and is one impediment that successful vaccines must overcome to adequately prevent infection in people. The study authors suggest that polyreactivity may have promoted production of ineffective antibodies that target gp41 rather than antibodies capable of neutralizing HIV.
In people with acute HIV infection, the majority of anti-HIV antibodies target gp41 but do not neutralize the virus. Prior research suggests that these naturally occurring antibodies likely originate from immune cells in the intestinal tract previously stimulated by the microbiome, leading to polyreactivity. In the current study, the researchers show that the microbiome may also influence vaccination-induced immunity. In support of this idea, the study team traced the lineage of a specific vaccine-induced antibody to a polyreactive precursor that also recognized the intestinal microbiome. More work is needed to clarify how the microbiome may affect the production and effectiveness of vaccine-induced antibodies that target HIV--an important consideration in HIV vaccine design and development. Further understanding of how the microbiome influences vaccine-induced immunity also may be leveraged to elicit the most beneficial immune response.
Reference: Williams WB, et al. Diversion of HIV-1 vaccine-induced immunity by gp41-microbiota cross-reactive antibodies. Science DOI:10.1126/science.aab1253 (2015).
Source: NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
Broadening the Path: Diverse Educational Routes Into Infection Prevention Careers
July 4th 2025Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.