HIV therapeutic vaccines: moving towards a functional cure

Abstract

Anti-viral T-cell and B-cell responses play a crucial role in suppressing HIV and SIV replication during chronic infection. However, these infections are rarely controlled by the host immune response, and most infected individuals need lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART). Recent advances in our understanding of how anti-HIV immune responses are elicited and regulated prompted a surge of interest in harnessing these responses to reduce the HIV 'residual disease' that is present in ART-treated HIV-infected individuals. Novel approaches that are currently explored include both conventional therapeutic vaccines (i.e., active immunization strategies using HIV-derived immunogens) as well as the use of checkpoint blockers such as anti-PD-1 antibodies. These approaches appear promising as key components of complex therapeutic strategies aimed at curing HIV infection.