Nehete, P. N. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2020

Preventive efficacy of a tenofovir alafenamide fumarate nanofluidic implant in SHIV-challenged nonhuman primates

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) using antiretroviral oral drugs is effective at preventing HIV transmission when individuals adhere to the dosing regimen. Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is a potent antiretroviral drug, with numerous long-acting (LA) delivery systems under development to improve PrEP adherence. However, none has undergone preventive efficacy assessment. Here we show that LA TAF using a novel subcutaneous nanofluidic implant (nTAF) confers partial protection from HIV transmission. We demonstrate that sustained subcutaneous delivery through nTAF in rhesus macaques maintained tenofovir diphosphate concentration at a median of 390.00 fmol/106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells, 9 times above clinically protective levels. In a non-blinded, placebo-controlled rhesus macaque study with repeated low-dose rectal SHIVSF162P3 challenge, the nTAF cohort had a 62.50% reduction (95% CI: 1.72% to 85.69%; p=0.068) in risk of infection per exposure compared to the control. Our finding mirrors that of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) monotherapy, where 60.00% protective efficacy was observed in macaques, and clinically, 67.00% reduction in risk with 86.00% preventive efficacy in individuals with detectable drug in the plasma. Overall, our nanofluidic technology shows potential as a subcutaneous delivery platform for long-term PrEP and provides insights for clinical implementation of LA TAF for HIV prevention.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2018

Comparative analysis of cellular immune responses in conventional and SPF Baboons (Papio spp.)

Baboons (papio spp.) have served as a successful model of human disease such as cardiac and respiratory, infectious, diabetes, genetics, immunology, aging, and xenotransplantation. The development of an immunologically defined specific-pathogen free (SPF) baboon model has further advanced research, especially with studies involving the immune system and immunosuppression. In this study, we compare normal immunological changes of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) subsets, and their function in age-matched conventional and SPF baboons. Our results demonstrate that both groups have comparable numbers of different lymphocyte subsets, but there are phenotypic differences in central and effector memory T cells subsets that are more pronounced in the CD4+ T cells. Despite equal proportions of CD3+ T cells among the conventional and SPF baboon groups, PBMC show higher proliferative responses to mitogens PHA and PWM and higher IFN-{gamma} producing cells to Con A and PWM in the conventional group. Plasma levels of the inflammatory cytokine TNF- were significantly higher in SPF baboons. Exposure of PBMC from conventional baboons to various Toll like ligands (TLR ligands) TLR-3, TLR-4 and TLR-8 show higher IFN-{gamma} producing cells while PBMC from SPF baboons stimulated with TLR-5 and TLR-6 ligand show higher IFN-{gamma} producing cells. These findings suggest that while the lymphocyte subsets in conventional and SPF baboons share many phenotypic and functional similarities, specific differences exist in immune function of lymphocytes which could impact the quality and quantity of innate and adaptive immune responses. These differences should be considered for better experimental outcomes, specifically in studies measuring immunological endpoints.

immunology↗