Yale Bulletin and Calendar

September 14, 2001Volume 30, Number 2



John K. Rose



Yale AIDS vaccine shows promise for humans

Yale researchers have developed an AIDS vaccine that has proved effective in animal studies and holds promise for humans.

"Based on our results, we think it is likely that this vaccine could be an effective AIDS vaccine in humans," says principal investigator John K. Rose, professor of pathology and cell biology at the School of Medicine.

For the past six years, Rose and his team have been developing a common livestock virus as a vaccine vector (a vaccine delivery system). This vector system, which is called VSV (vesicular stomatitis virus), was highly effective in animal models for influenza and measles. The results of two new studies, published in the Sept. 7 issue of Cell, show that vaccination with the VSV vector encoding AIDS virus proteins can protect monkeys from AIDS caused by a virus that is a hybrid between a human AIDS virus and a monkey AIDS virus.

The research team first vaccinated seven monkeys with their new vaccine and then infected them with the AIDS virus. Eight control monkeys were also infected with the AIDS virus, but did not receive the vaccine. "We found that seven out of eight unvaccinated monkeys developed AIDS in an average of five months, while vaccinated monkeys have been AIDS-free for up to 14 months," says Rose.

Two other studies using DNA vaccine approaches published in Science in the past year demonstrated similar protection, notes Rose, but those DNA vaccine vectors may not be as practical as VSV.

"An advantage of the VSV vector system over the others is that it does not require multiple injections and instead can be given as nasal drops," says Rose. "In the developing world and areas that have been hit hard with HIV and AIDS, it would be impractical and very expensive to inject millions of people with DNA vaccines. The VSV-based vaccine would be a cost-effective and equally successful alternative to the other vaccines that have been tested. We are truly excited about this advance."

Rose says the next step is to begin preparing for a Phase I safety trial in humans. He presented the current findings at the AIDS Vaccine 2001 Conference in Philadelphia on Sept. 6.

Other authors on the study include first author Nina F. Rose, Linda Buonocore and Anjeanette Roberts of Yale; Preston A. Marx of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center and Tulane University; Amara Luckay of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center; Douglas F. Nixon, Walter J. Moretto and Sean M. Donahoe of the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology; and David Montefiori of Duke University.


T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Final Tercentennial weekend will include convocation, Bowl gala

Entrepreneur-environmentalist Edward Bass named Yale trustee

University announces major enhancements to financial aid

School of Music building now named Leigh Hall

Yale AIDS vaccine shows promise for humans

Faculty honored with Amistad Freedom Awards

Michael Merson named Lauder Professor of Public Health


Two scientists are appointed to Bliss Professorships in Public Health

Zhao named Hiscock Professor of Public Health, Genetics

Peru's growth 'From Village to Empire' is exhibit's theme

Display explores life and work of Colonial-era Jewish silversmith

Yale Rep opens season with 'splendid confection' by Shaw

Foundation's gift aids studies of cancers affecting women

'Gender Matters' conference to explore role of women at Yale

Yale Employee Day at Bowl features free admission, treats

Aboard the BioBus

Symposium will reflect on work of Yale alumni architects

President Richard C. Levin presents Freshman Address

Yale College Dean Richard H. Brodhead presents remarks to Freshman Assembly

Graduate students enter the 'creative milieu' of Yale

Scenes from Moving-In Day 2001

Symposium on the conservation of early Italian paintings . . .

Committee to search for British Art Center director



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