HIV vaccine trial capacity building in Tanzania and Mozambique by continued exploration of optimal DNA priming and MVA boosting strategies

Abstract

This programme aimed at consolidating and sustaining the capacity building that European partners have invested in HIV vaccine trial preparations in Tanzania, and at the same time to expand a South-South capacity building effort in Mozambique. This has been achieved, and three centres in these countries have been prepared to take part in future phase II/III HIV vaccine studies. The successful completion of a DNA prime modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) boost vaccine trial that enrolled 120 participants, and the successful administration of a further adjuvanted protein (rgp 140/GLA) boost, in 40 participants in Dar es Salaam and Mbeya, is testimony to the capacity in Tanzania. In Mozambique, investigators have now completed a DNA prime/MVA boost trial in 24 youths. All three centres are ready to embark on the next multi-centre trial. The results from the main Tanzanian trial (TMV-01) have been presented at the AIDS Vaccine Conference 2012 in Boston, and are being summarised in a series of manuscripts. Evaluation of cellular and humoral responses following the protein boost in Tanzania, and the Mozambique immune responses are ongoing.