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Replication-incompetent adenovirus (Ad) vector and mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) constructs represent two modular vaccine platforms that have attracted substantial interest over the past two decades. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid development of multiple successful vaccines based on these technologies, there is now clear real-world evidence of the utility and efficacy of these platforms. Considerable optimization and refinement efforts underpin the successful application of these technologies. Despite this, our understanding of the specific pathways and processes engaged by these vaccines to stimulate the immune response remains incomplete. This review will synthesize our current knowledge of the specific mechanisms by which CD8

Pathogens and vaccines that produce persisting antigens can generate expanded pools of effector memory CD8+ T cells, described as memory inflation. While properties of inflating memory CD8+ T cells have been characterized, the specific cell types and tissue factors responsible for their maintenance remain elusive. Here, we show that clinically applied adenovirus vectors preferentially target fibroblastic stromal cells in cultured human tissues. Moreover, we used cell-type-specific antigen targeting to define critical cells and molecules that sustain long-term antigen presentation and T cell activity after adenovirus vector immunization in mice. While antigen targeting to myeloid cells was insufficient to activate antigen-specific CD8+ T cells, genetic activation of antigen expression in Ccl19-cre-expressing fibroblastic stromal cells induced inflating CD8+ T cells. Local ablation of vector-targeted cells revealed that lung fibroblasts support the protective function and metabolic fitness of inflating memory CD8+ T cells in an interleukin (IL)-33-dependent manner. Collectively, these data define a critical fibroblastic niche that underpins robust protective immunity operating in a clinically important vaccine platform.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are considered to have limited clonal diversity. In contrast, recent studies suggest the presence of functionally distinct subsets. We investigated this model through single-cell analysis of the MAIT cell TCR repertoire and transcriptional profile in human blood and liver. Further, we developed functional RNA-sequencing (fRNA-seq), an approach to integrate cellular function and TCR clonotype at a single-cell level following differential stimulation. MAIT cells showed surprising clonal diversity, with TCR repertoires shared across tissues but unique to individuals. Functional diversity within resting MAIT cells was low and largely related to tissue site. MAIT cells displayed distinct transcriptional responses to in vitro TCR and cytokine stimulation, with cells positioned along gradients of activation. Clonal origin influenced both resting and activated transcriptional profiles. Overall, MAIT cells exhibit diverse donor-specific TCR repertoires which, along with tissue and activation context, influence their phenotype and function.

Vδ2+ γδT cells are unconventional T cells that can be activated by cytokines without TCR signaling. Adenovirus vaccine vectors activated Vδ2+ γδT cells in an interleukin 18-, TNF-, and type I interferon-dependent manner. This stimulatory capacity was associated with adenovirus vectors of non-species C origin, including the ChAdOx1 vaccine platform.

Vδ2

Prior studies have demonstrated that immunologic dysfunction underpins severe illness in COVID-19 patients, but have lacked an in-depth analysis of the immunologic drivers of death in the most critically ill patients. We performed immunophenotyping of viral antigen-specific and unconventional T cell responses, neutralizing antibodies, and serum proteins in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, using influenza infection, SARS-CoV-2-convalescent health care workers, and healthy adults as controls. We identify mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell activation as an independent and significant predictor of death in COVID-19 (HR = 5.92, 95% CI = 2.49–14.1). MAIT cell activation correlates with several other mortality-associated immunologic measures including broad activation of CD8+ T cells and non-Vδ2 γδT cells, and elevated levels of cytokines and chemokines, including GM-CSF, CXCL10, CCL2, and IL-6. MAIT cell activation is also a predictor of disease severity in influenza (ECMO/death HR = 4.43, 95% CI = 1.08–18.2). Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals a shift from focused IFNα-driven signals in COVID-19 ICU patients who survive to broad pro-inflammatory responses in fatal COVID-19 –a feature not observed in severe influenza. We conclude that fatal COVID-19 infection is driven by uncoordinated inflammatory responses that drive a hierarchy of T cell activation, elements of which can serve as prognostic indicators and potential targets for immune intervention., Author summary We examined the immune abnormalities linked to critical illness and death in COVID-19 patients on ICU, performing immunophenotyping of viral antigen-specific and unconventional T cell responses, together with studies of neutralizing antibodies, and serum proteins. We compared these findings to a parallel set of patients with severe influenza. From this screen we identified mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell activation as an independent and significant predictor of death in COVID-19. MAIT cell activation correlated with several other mortality-associated immunologic measures including elevated levels of cytokines and chemokines, such as GM-CSF and CXCL10. MAIT cell activation is also a predictor of disease severity in influenza. Single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed a shift from focused IFNα-driven signals in COVID-19 ICU patients who survive to broad pro-inflammatory responses in fatal COVID-19 –a feature not observed in severe influenza. Overall we observed key potential biomarkers and targetable pathways in critical viral illness, many shared between influenza and COVID-19 and some unique to each infection.

It is unclear whether prior endemic coronavirus infections affect COVID-19 severity. Here, we show that in cases of fatal COVID-19, antibody responses to the SARS-COV-2 spike are directed against epitopes shared with endemic beta-coronaviruses in the S2 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This immune response is associated with the compromised production of a de novo SARS-CoV-2 spike response among individuals with fatal COVID-19 outcomes. Funding: This work was supported by the Georg and Emily von Opel Foundation, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) [award CO-­‐CIN-­‐01], the Medical Research Council [grant MC_PC_19059], ME was supported by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust on May 31, 2021 for the project titled, "ICARUS –IBD: International study of COVID-­‐19 Antibody Response Under Sustained immune suppression in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. RP also supported by funds provided under Professor RW Snow’s Wellcome Trust Principal Fellowship (# 212176). Meso Scale Diagnostics (USA) provided loan of equipment, reagents and technical support. JSB was supported by funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) [grant number BB/M011224/1]. CPT was funded by an ERC research grant UNIFLUVAC’ and two MRC CiC grants (Ref: BR00140). ALM is funded by a NIHR Research Capability Funding grant. HJK is supported by The Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford DPhil Scholarship program. DE is funded by the Robertson Foundation. The funders played no role in the design, execution or reporting of the study. Declaration of Interest: DE declares lecture fees from Gilead. CPT and SG hold funding from Blue Water Vaccines. All others have nothing to disclose. Ethical Approval: Ethical approval was obtained for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) anonymous archive -­‐ IRAS project number 18005. SNBTS blood donors gave fully informed consent to virological testing, donation was made under the SNBTS Blood Establishment Authorisation and the study was approved by the SNBTS Research and Sample Governance Committee.

Introduction Coeliac disease (CD) is a common immune-mediated condition driven by aberrant adaptive CD4+ T cell responses to gluten. The cytotoxic CD8+ and γδ+ T cell response in the epithelium is thought to be predominantly cytokine-driven and T cell receptor (TCR)-independent, however recent work has challenged this. We investigated the wider role of intestinal CD8+ and γδ+ T cells in CD using RNA sequencing (RNAseq), single-cell RNAseq, and TCR repertoire sequencing (TCRseq). Methods Intestinal CD8+ and γδ+ T cells were isolated from duodenal biopsies from paediatric and adult patients collected at endoscopy. RNAseq, TCRseq, and single-cell RNAseq were performed on FACS-sorted T cells using the Smartseq2, iRepertoire, and 10x genomics protocols respectively. Flow cytometry was performed on intestinal T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from subjects with and without CD. Results Bulk RNAseq of intestinal CD8+ and γδ+ T cells from 12 subjects with and without CD were analysed. There were 236 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between health and active CD in the CD8+ T cells, and 451 DEGs in the γδ+ T cells. Common pathways upregulated in coeliac disease included those involved in the regulation of cell activation and adhesion, and T cell costimulation. Expression of key immune checkpoint molecules differed between CD8+ and γδ+ T cells. TCRseq of sorted intestinal CD8+ T cells from 20 subjects showed perturbations in the TCR repertoire between health and CD, with particular V-region genes used more frequently in CD. These changes were also seen in the RNAseq dataset, providing validation in a second cohort. The proportion of CD8+ T cells expressing these TCRs was increased in peripheral memory and gut-homing populations in subjects with CD. Single-cell RNAseq of intestinal CD8+ and γδ+ T cells revealed two transcriptionally distinct clusters of CD8+ T cells that were increased in coeliac disease. These had an activated, cytotoxic transcriptional profile, with high expression of immune checkpoint molecules and associated transcription factors, consistent with a highly regulated phenotype. Similar TCR V-region genes were enriched and clonally expanded in these clusters, suggesting a pathogenic, potentially antigen-driven, role for these cells in coeliac disease. Conclusions This multimodal analysis of cytotoxic T cells in coeliac disease has revealed a population of activated, cytotoxic, and highly regulated CD8+ T cells with clonally-expanded and biased TCR repertoires in the intestinal mucosa in CD. These populations may have a previously unappreciated role in CD pathogenesis.

Vaccines get a help-MAIT Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a T cell subset important for mucosal homeostasis. These cells recognize derivatives of microbiota-derived vitamin B2 precursors but can also be activated by certain cytokines in the context of viral infections. Provine et al. report that a leading adenoviral vector vaccine, ChAdOx1, activated MAIT cells in immunized mice (see the Perspective by Juno and O'Connor). This activation required interferon-α produced by plasmacytoid dendritic cells as well as monocyte-derived interleukin-18 and tumor necrosis factor. MAIT cell activation positively correlated with vaccine-mediated T cell responses in human subjects, and mice deficient in MAIT cells showed impaired CD8 + T cell immunity to target antigens after vaccination. This work suggests an additional pathway that could be exploited to enhance the efficacy of vaccines. Science , this issue p. 521 ; see also p. 460

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused a global pandemic, and safe, effective vaccines are urgently needed

Pathogens and vaccines that produce persisting antigens can generate expanded pools of effector memory CD8

The response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been hampered by lack of an effective severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antiviral therapy. Here we report the successful use of remdesivir in a patient with COVID-19 and the prototypic genetic antibody deficiency X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA). Despite evidence of complement activation and a robust T cell response, the patient developed persistent SARS-CoV-2 pneumonitis, without progressing to multi-organ involvement. His unusual clinical course identifies a key role for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in both viral clearance and progression to severe disease. In the absence of these confounders, we took an experimental medicine approach to examine the in vivoutility of remdesivir. Over two independent courses of treatment, we observed a dramatic, temporally correlated clinical and virological response, leading to clinical resolution and viral clearance, with no evidence of acquired drug resistance. We therefore provide unambiguous evidence for the antiviral efficacy of remdesivir in vivo, and its potential benefit in selected patients.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have been attracting increasing attention over the last few years as a potent unconventional T cell subset. Three factors largely account for this emerging interest. Firstly, these cells are abundant in humans, both in circulation and especially in some tissues such as the liver. Secondly is the discovery of a ligand that has uncovered their microbial targets, and also allowed for the development of tools to accurately track the cells in both humans and mice. Finally, it appears that the cells not only have a diverse range of functions but also are sensitive to a range of inflammatory triggers that can enhance or even bypass T cell receptor–mediated signals—substantially broadening their likely impact in health and disease. In this review we discuss how MAIT cells display antimicrobial, homeostatic, and amplifier roles in vivo, and how this may lead to protection and potentially pathology.

Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells provide key adaptive immune responses in infection, cancer, and autoimmunity. However transcriptional heterogeneity of human intestinal TRM cells remains undefined, and definitive markers of CD103-TRM cells are lacking. Here, we investigated transcriptional and functional heterogeneity of human TRM cells through the study of donor-derived intestinal TRM cells from intestinal transplant recipients. Single-cell transcriptional profiling identified four conventional TRM populations, with two distinct transcriptional states of CD8+ TRM cells, delineated by ITGAE and ITGB2 expression. We defined a transcriptional signature discriminating the two CD8+ populations, including differential expression of key residency-associated genes and cytotoxic molecules. Flow cytometry of recipient-derived cells infiltrating the graft and intestinal lymphocytes from healthy gut confirmed the two CD8+ TRM phenotypes, with β2-integrin acting as a CD103-CD8+ TRM marker. CD103+ CD8+ TRM cells produced IL-2, and demonstrated greater polyfunctional cytokine production, while β2-integrin+ CD69+ CD103-TRM cells had higher granzyme expression. Phenotypic and functional analysis of intestinal CD4+ T cells identified many parallels, including a distinct β2-integrin+ population. Together, these results describe the transcriptional, phenotypic, and functional heterogeneity of human intestinal TRM cells, and suggest a role for β2-integrin in TRM development.SummaryHeterogeneity within human tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells is poorly understood. We show that transcriptionally, phenotypically, and functionally distinct CD4+ and CD8+ TRM subsets exist in the human intestine, and that β2-integrin expression identifies a distinct population of CD8+ TRM cells.

Item description: Chapter 7 in book 'MAIT Cells' (2020), ed H Kaipe and I Magalhaes. Methods in Molecular Biology, volume 2098. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an abundant innate-like T cell subset in humans, enriched in mucosal tissues and the liver. MAIT cells express a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) and recognize microbial-derived riboflavin metabolites presented on the MHC Class I-like molecule MR1. In addition to activation via the TCR, MAIT cells can also be activated in response to cytokines such as IL-12 and IL-18, in contrast to conventional T cells. Here we describe TCR-dependent and -independent methods for MAIT cell activation. The TCR-dependent approaches include stimulation with microbead- or plate-bound anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies, and with 5-OP-RU or paraformaldehyde (PFA)-fixed E. coli in the presence of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The latter method includes a combination of TCR- and cytokine-mediated stimulation. The TCR-independent methods include direct stimulation with the recombinant cytokines IL-12 and IL-18, and indirect stimulation with TLR-4/TLR-8 agonists or influenza A virus in the presence of APCs. Finally, we outline a protocol to analyze activated MAIT cells using flow cytometry.

The combined inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDAC) and the proteins of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family have recently shown therapeutic efficacy against melanoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, testicular, and lymphoma cancers in murine studies. However, in such studies, the role of the immune system in therapeutically controlling these cancers has not been explored. We sought to investigate the effect of the HDAC inhibitor romidepsin (RMD) and the BET inhibitor IBET151, both singly and in combination, on vaccine-elicited immune responses. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with differing vaccine systems (adenoviral, protein) in prime-boost regimens under treatment with RMD, IBET151, or RMD+IBET151. The combined administration of RMD+IBET151 during vaccination resulted in a significant increase in the frequency and number of Ag-specific CD8+ T cells. RMD+IBET151 treatment significantly increased the frequency of vaccine-elicited IFN-γ+ splenic CD8+ T cells and conferred superior therapeutic and prophylactic protection against B16-OVA melanoma. RNA sequencing analyses revealed strong transcriptional similarity between RMD+IBET151 and untreated Ag-specific CD8+ T cells except in apoptosis and IL-6 signaling–related genes that were differentially expressed. Serum IL-6 was significantly increased in vivo following RMD+IBET151 treatment, with recombinant IL-6 administration replicating the effect of RMD+IBET151 treatment on vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cell responses. IL-6 sufficiency for protection was not assessed. Combined HDAC and BET inhibition resulted in greater vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cell responses and enhanced therapeutic and prophylactic protection against B16-OVA melanoma. Increased IL-6 production and the differential expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes following RMD+IBET151 treatment are likely contributors to the enhanced cancer vaccine responses.

We have recently demonstrated that CD4 + T cell help is required at the time of adenovirus (Ad) vector immunization for the development of functional CD8 + T cell responses, but the temporal requirement for CD4 + T cell help for the induction of antibody responses remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that induction of antibody responses in C57BL/6 mice can occur at a time displaced from the time of Ad vector immunization by depletion of CD4 + T cells. Transient depletion of CD4 + T cells at the time of immunization delays the development of antigen-specific antibody responses but does not permanently impair their development or induce tolerance against the transgene. Upon CD4 + T cell recovery, transgene-specific serum IgG antibody titers develop and reach a concentration equivalent to that in undepleted control animals. These delayed antibody responses exhibit no functional defects with regard to isotype, functional avidity, expansion after boosting immunization, or the capacity to neutralize a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Env-expressing pseudovirus. The development of this delayed transgene-specific antibody response is temporally linked to the expansion of de novo antigen-specific CD4 + T cell responses, which develop after transient depletion of CD4 + T cells. These data demonstrate that functional vaccine-elicited antibody responses can be induced even if CD4 + T cell help is provided at a time markedly separated from the time of vaccination. IMPORTANCE CD4 + T cells have a critical role in providing positive help signals to B cells, which promote robust antibody responses. The paradigm is that helper signals must be provided immediately upon antigen exposure, and their absence results in tolerance against the antigen. Here we demonstrate that, in contrast to the current model that the absence of CD4 + T cell help at priming results in long-term antibody nonresponsiveness, antibody responses can be induced by adenovirus vector immunization or alum-adjuvanted protein immunization even if CD4 + T cell help is not provided until >1 month after immunization. These data demonstrate that the time when CD4 + T cell help signals must be provided is more dynamic and flexible than previously appreciated. These data suggest that augmentation of CD4 + T cell helper function even after the time of vaccination can enhance vaccine-elicited antibody responses and thereby potentially enhance the immunogenicity of vaccines in immunocompromised individuals.

Adenovirus (Ad) vectors are being investigated as vaccine candidates, but baseline antivector immunity exists in human populations to both human Ad (HuAd) and chimpanzee Ad (ChAd) vectors. In this study, we investigated the immunogenicity and cross-reactivity of a panel of recently described rhesus adenoviral (RhAd) vectors. RhAd vectors elicited T cells with low exhaustion markers and robust anamnestic potential. Moreover, RhAd vector immunogenicity was unaffected by high levels of preexisting anti-HuAd immunity. Both HuAd/RhAd and RhAd/RhAd prime-boost vaccine regimens were highly immunogenic, despite a degree of cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) between phylogenetically related RhAd vectors. We observed extensive vector-specific cross-reactive CD4 T cell responses and more limited CD8 T cell responses between RhAd and HuAd vectors, but the impact of vector-specific cellular responses was far less than that of vector-specific NAbs. These data suggest the potential utility of RhAd vectors and define novel heterologous prime-boost strategies for vaccine development. IMPORTANCE To date, most adenoviral vectors developed for vaccination have been HuAds from species B, C, D, and E, and human populations display moderate to high levels of preexisting immunity. There is a clinical need for new adenoviral vectors that are not hindered by preexisting immunity. Moreover, the development of RhAd vector vaccines expands our ability to vaccinate against multiple pathogens in a population that may have received other HuAd or ChAd vectors. We evaluated the immunogenicity and cross-reactivity of RhAd vectors, which belong to the poorly described adenovirus species G. These vectors induced robust cellular and humoral immune responses and were not hampered by preexisting anti-HuAd vector immunity. Such properties make RhAd vectors attractive as potential vaccine vectors.

In various models of chronic infections and cancers, blockade of the inhibitory programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) pathway has been shown to be promising at restoring immune function. However, there is not a complete understanding of the factors that influence responsiveness to programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade. In particular, it is currently unclear whether the efficacy of PD-L1 blockade is dependent on the stage of disease. In a model of chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in mice, we show that exhausted CD8 T cells during the late stage of infection are refractory to rescue by PD-L1 blockade. Interestingly, PD-L1 blockade during the late stage of infection resulted in a biased expansion of PD-1+ CTLA-4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) over antiviral CD8 T cells. Although previous studies have shown that Treg ablation can enhance the immune rescue by PD-L1 blockade, this regimen may induce lethal autoimmunity. In this report, we show that PD-L1 blockade together with CD4 T cell depletion effectively rescued deeply exhausted CD8 T cells and enhanced antiviral control during the late stage of chronic infection without any associated mortality. These data demonstrate the pleiotropic effects of anti–PD-L1 therapy on both virus-specific CD8 T cells and Tregs, and suggest a novel strategy for effectively rescuing deeply exhausted CD8 T cells.

For vaccines, CD4 + T cells can spell trouble The ideal vaccine elicits immune memory—either antibodies or memory T cells—to protect the host from subsequent infections. T cell–mediated immunity requires both helper CD4 + T cells and cytotoxic CD8 + T cells to kill virus-infected cells. But what happens when a vaccine only elicits CD4 + memory T cells? Penaloza-MacMaster et al. probed this question by giving mice a vaccine that generated only memory CD4 + T cells against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Instead of protecting mice against chronic LCMV, vaccinated mice developed massive inflammation and died. Virus-specific CD8 + T cells or antibodies protected mice from the pathology. These results may have implications for vaccines against chronic viruses such as HIV. Science , this issue p. 278

A human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine that induces potent immune responses in the gastrointestinal mucosa would be highly desirable. Here we show that attenuated recombinant Listeria monocytogenes , administered orally utilizing its natural route of infection, induces potent mucosal as well as systemic immune responses in mice. Moreover, these responses can be boosted efficiently with replication-incompetent adenoviral vectors. L. monocytogenes elicited more potent simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag-specific CD8 + T lymphocyte responses in mucosal compartments than DNA vaccines.

The failure of the adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vector-based human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine in the STEP study has led to the development of adenovirus vectors derived from alternative serotypes, such as Ad26, Ad35, and Ad48. We have recently demonstrated that vaccines using alternative-serotype Ad vectors confer partial protection against stringent simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) challenges in rhesus monkeys. However, phenotypic differences between the T cell responses elicited by Ad5 and those of alternative-serotype Ad vectors remain unexplored. Here, we report the magnitude, phenotype, functionality, and recall capacity of memory T cell responses elicited in mice by Ad5, Ad26, Ad35, and Ad48 vectors expressing lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) glycoprotein (GP). Our data demonstrate that memory T cells elicited by Ad5 vectors were high in magnitude but exhibited functional exhaustion and decreased anamnestic potential following secondary antigen challenge compared to Ad26, Ad35, and Ad48 vectors. These data suggest that vaccination with alternative-serotype Ad vectors offers substantial immunological advantages over Ad5 vectors, in addition to circumventing high baseline Ad5-specific neutralizing antibody titers.

An important focus in vaccine research is the design of vaccine vectors with low seroprevalence and high immunogenicity. Replication-incompetent lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (rLCMV) vectors do not elicit vector-neutralizing antibody responses, and homologous prime-boost regimens with rLCMV vectors induce boostable and protective T cell responses to model antigens in mice. However, cellular and humoral immune responses following homologous rLCMV vaccine regimens have not been rigorously evaluated in non-human primates (NHPs). To test whether rLCMV vectors constitute an effective vaccine platform in NHPs, we developed rLCMV vectors expressing SIVmac239 Env and Gag antigens and assessed their immunogenicity in mice and cynomolgus macaques. Immunization with rLCMV vaccine vectors expressing SIV Env and Gag was effective at generating SIV-specific T cell and antibody responses in both mice and NHPs. Epitope mapping using SIV Env in C57BL/6 mice demonstrated that rLCMV vectors induced sustained poly-functional responses to both dominant and subdominant epitopes. Our results suggest the potential of rLCMV vectors as vaccine candidates. Future SIV challenge experiments in rhesus macaques will be needed to assess immune protection by these vaccine vectors.

e14632 Background: The combined inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDAC) and the proteins of the bromo and extra terminal (BET) family have recently shown therapeutic efficacy against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, melanoma and lymphoma cancers in murine studies. However, in these studies the role of the immune system in therapeutically controlling these cancers was not explored. Methods: We sought to investigate the effect of the HDAC inhibitor romidepsin (RMD) and the BET inhibitor I-BET151, both singly and in combination, on vaccine elicited immune responses. C57Bl/6 mice were immunized with differing vaccines (Adenoviral, protein) in prime-boost regimens, under treatment with RMD, I-BET151, or RMD+I-BET151. Results: The combination RMD+I-BET151, administered during Adenoviral prime-boost vaccination, resulted in the significant increase in the frequency and number of antigen-specific CD8 T cells. RMD+I-BET151 treatment affected vaccine-elicited secondary T cell responses, significantly increasing the frequency of IFN-γ+ splenic CD8 T cells and maintaining their dual IFN-γ+TNFa+ polyfunctionality. These CD8 T cells maintained their protective ability against Listeria monocytogenes, and protected against B16-OVA challenge. The significant augmentation of vaccine elicited CD8 T cell responses under RMD+I-BET151 treatment was additionally observed following protein (OVA+CpG) prime-boost vaccination, resulting in greater protection against B16-OVA challenge and enhanced survival. T-regulatory cell (FoxP3+CD4+) frequency and total CD4 and CD8 cell numbers remained unaltered following RMD+I-BET151 treatment. Conclusions: Combined HDAC and BET inhibition resulted in greater vaccine-elicited CD8 T cell responses following immunization by multiple vaccine platforms, and enhanced protection against B16-OVA challenges. We are currently assessing immunological mechanisms of action for this combined HDAC and BET inhibition.

Hexon modification of adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) vectors with the hypervariable regions (HVRs) of Ad48 has been shown to allow Ad5HVR48 vectors to circumvent the majority of the preexisting Ad5-neutralizing antibodies. However, it remains unclear whether modifying hexon HVRs impacts innate or adaptive immune responses elicited by this vector. In this study, we investigated the influence of the HVR substitution of Ad5 on innate and adaptive immune responses following vaccination. Ad5HVR48 displayed an intermediate level of innate immune cytokines and chemokines relative to those of Ad5 and Ad48, consistent with its chimeric nature. Hepatotoxicity was observed after Ad5 immunization but not after Ad5HVR48 or Ad48 immunization. However, the CD8 + T-cell responses elicited by Ad5HVR48 vectors displayed a partially exhausted phenotype, as evidenced by the sustained expression of programmed death 1 (PD-1), decreased effector-to-central memory conversion, and reduced memory recall responses, similar to those elicited by Ad5 vectors and in contrast to those induced by Ad48 vectors. Taken together, these results indicate that although Ad5HVR48 largely bypasses preexisting Ad5 neutralizing antibodies and shows reduced hepatotoxicity compared to that of Ad5, it induces adaptive immune phenotypes that are functionally exhausted similar to those elicited by Ad5.

Despite the widespread use of replication-incompetent recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vectors as candidate vaccine platforms, the mechanism by which these vectors elicit CD8+ T cell responses remains poorly understood. Our data demonstrate that induction and maintenance of CD8+ T cell responses by Ad vector immunization is longitudinally dependent on CD4+ T cell help for a prolonged period. Depletion of CD4+ T cells in wild type mice within the first 8 d following Ad immunization resulted in dramatically reduced induction of Ag-specific CD8+ T cells, decreased T-bet and eomesodermin expression, impaired KLRG1+ effector differentiation, and atypical expression of the memory markers CD127, CD27, and CD62L. Moreover, these CD8+ T cells failed to protect against a lethal recombinant Listeria monocytogenes challenge. Depletion of CD4+ T cells between weeks 1 and 4 following immunization resulted in increased contraction of memory CD8+ T cells. These data demonstrate a prolonged temporal requirement for CD4+ T cell help for vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cell responses in mice. These findings have important implications in the design of vaccines aimed at eliciting CD8+ T cell responses and may provide insight into the impaired immunogenicity of vaccines in the context of AIDS and other CD4+ T cell immune deficiencies.

Prime-boost immunization regimens have proven efficacious at generating robust immune responses. However, whether the level of replication of the boosting antigen impacts the magnitude and protective efficacy of vaccine-elicited immune responses remains unclear. To evaluate this, we primed mice with replication-defective adenovirus vectors expressing the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) glycoprotein (GP), followed by boosting with either LCMV Armstrong, which is rapidly controlled, or LCMV CL-13, which leads to a more prolonged exposure to the boosting antigen. Although priming of naive mice with LCMV CL-13 normally results in T cell exhaustion and establishment of chronic infection, boosting with CL-13 resulted in potent recall CD8 T cell responses that were greater than those following boosting with LCMV Armstrong. Furthermore, following the CL-13 boost, a greater number of anamnestic CD8 T cells localized to the lymph nodes, exhibited granzyme B expression, and conferred improved protection against Listeria and vaccinia virus challenges compared with the Armstrong boost. Overall, our findings suggest that the replicative capacity of the boosting antigen influences the protective efficacy afforded by prime-boost vaccine regimens. These findings are relevant for optimizing vaccine candidates and suggest a benefit of robustly replicating vaccine vectors. IMPORTANCE The development of optimal prime-boost vaccine regimens is a high priority for the vaccine development field. In this study, we compared two boosting antigens with different replicative capacities. Boosting with a more highly replicative vector resulted in augmented immune responses and improved protective efficacy.

Viral vectors are attractive vaccine platforms that elicit robust innate and adaptive immune responses, but they vary greatly in their ability to induce protective immunity. Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vectors elicit robust CD8+ T cell responses but are typically characterized by an exhausted phenotype. The mechanisms by which Ad5 vectors induce dysfunctional CD8+ T cells have not been fully elucidated. Here we demonstrate that Ad5 vectors, but not Ad26 vectors, elicit exhausted antigen-specific IL-10+PD1+ CD4+ T cells with a dysfunctional transcriptional profile, and these cells effectively suppress CD8+ T cell responses in vivo. The blockade of IL-10 increased the frequency of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells with enhanced cytokine polyfunctionality and protective capacity against a Listeria monocytogenes challenge. Induction of inhibitory CD4+ T cells by Ad5 vectors is associated with increased IL-27 expression, and IL-27 blockade improves CD4+ T cell cytokine polyfunctionality. Together our data highlight a novel role for IL-27 induced inhibitory CD4+ T cells in regulating responses to viral vector vaccines.

Two frequently employed methods for generating well-characterized, genetically defined infectious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in vitro include the use of infectious molecular clones (IMCs) and pseudoviruses (PVs) competent for single-round infection. We compared six matched pairs of IMCs and PVs. The relative amounts of Env incorporated and efficiency of cleavage differed substantially between the two systems. Altering the ratio of proviral genome and env expression plasmids can produce pseudovirions that are structurally more similar to the matched IMCs. Differences in Env incorporation and cleavage translated into moderate differences in assays infectivity and sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies and entry inhibitors.

Neutralization properties of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) are often defined using pseudoviruses grown in transformed cells, which are not biologically relevant HIV-1 producer cells. Little information exists on how these viruses compare to viruses produced in primary lymphocytes, particularly for globally relevant HIV-1 strains. Therefore, replication-competent chimeras encoding envelope variants from the dominant HIV-1 subtypes (A, C, and D) obtained early after infection were generated and the neutralization properties explored. Pseudoviruses generated in 293T cells were the most sensitive to antibody neutralization. Replicating viruses generated in primary lymphocytes were most resistant to neutralization by plasma antibodies and most monoclonal antibodies (b12, 4E10, 2F5, VRC01). These differences were not associated with differences in envelope content. Surprisingly, the virus source did not impact neutralization sensitivity of most viruses to PG9. These findings suggest that producer cell type has a major effect on neutralization sensitivity, but in an antibody dependent manner.

CD4+ T cell help is critical for optimal CD8+ T cell memory differentiation and maintenance in many experimental systems. In addition, many reports have identified reduced primary CD8+ T cell responses in the absence of CD4+ T cell help, which often coincides with reduced Ag or pathogen clearance. In this study, we demonstrate that absence of CD4+ T cells at the time of adenovirus vector immunization of mice led to immediate impairments in early CD8+ T cell functionality and differentiation. Unhelped CD8+ T cells exhibited a reduced effector phenotype, decreased ex vivo cytotoxicity, and decreased capacity to produce cytokines. This dysfunctional state was imprinted within 3 d of immunization. Unhelped CD8+ T cells expressed elevated levels of inhibitory receptors and exhibited transcriptomic exhaustion and anergy profiles by gene set enrichment analysis. Dysfunctional, impaired effector differentiation also occurred following immunization of CD4+ T cell–deficient mice with a poxvirus vector. This study demonstrates that following priming with viral vectors, CD4+ T cell help is required to promote both the expansion and acquisition of effector functions by CD8+ T cells, which is accomplished by preventing immediate dysfunction.

Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vaccine vectors elicit robust CD8(+) T cell responses, but these responses typically exhibit a partially exhausted phenotype. However, the immunologic mechanism by which Ad5 vectors induce dysfunctional CD8(+) T cells has not previously been elucidated. Here we demonstrate that, following immunization of B6 mice, Ad5 vectors elicit antigen-specific IL-10(+)CD4(+) T cells with a distinct transcriptional profile in a dose-dependent fashion. In rhesus monkeys, we similarly observed upregulated expression of IL-10 and PD-1 by CD4(+) T cells following Ad5 vaccination. These cells markedly suppressed vaccine-elicited CD8(+) T cell responses in vivo and IL-10 blockade increased the frequency and functionality of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells as well as improved protective efficacy against challenge with recombinant Listeria monocytogenes. Moreover, induction of these inhibitory IL-10(+)CD4(+) T cells correlated with IL-27 expression and IL-27 blockade substantially improved CD4(+) T cell functionality. These data highlight a role for IL-27 in the induction of inhibitory IL-10(+)CD4(+) T cells, which suppress CD8(+) T cell magnitude and function following Ad5 vector immunization. A deeper understanding of the cytokine networks and transcriptional profiles induced by vaccine vectors should lead to strategies to improve the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of viral vector-based vaccines.

Background The anamnestic potential of memory T cells are pivotal components of the adaptive immune response. Analyzing memory T cells elicited by different vaccine vectors is crucial for the identification of novel vaccine modalities against HIV. Methods