Under the tenure of grant RO1-AI062894 our laboratory developed a new concept and vaccine approach to induce protective CD8 T cell responses against viruses using influenza A virus as model system. The new cell-based vaccine is a unique form of immunization best described as transgenic antigen-presenting cells (APCs) vaccine. Using this system we established that central memory CD8 T cells mediate protection against disease caused by influenza virus. In this revised competing renewal application we will capitalize on the body of information generated in past years and ask new questions designed to better understand the requirements for the induction of central memory CD8 T cells in vivo by vaccination.
Three aims are directed at this question.
In AIM 1, Direct vs. cross-priming memory CD8 T cell induction by transgenic APCs, using different vaccination modalities we will investigate and distinguish the role of direct presentation, cross-priming by an APC feeding the APC cross-priming mechanism, and crosspriming by antigen synthesized and secreted by the APC, on the generation of central memory CD8 T cells.
In Aim 2, Reactivation of TCM cells: Correlation with the modality of vaccination, we will analyze the expansion of already established memory T cells to understand which mechanisms is best in the reactivation of resting memory T cells.
In Aim 3, MicroRNAs manipulation to facilitate central memory T cell fate determination, we will investigate a new approach to program from the outset central memory CD8 T cell fate: microRNAs modulation. This revised competing renewal application has been refocused on two main areas with one main common goal: test vaccines and vaccination strategies to selectively generate and expand anti-virus central memory CD8 T cells. It is expected that these studies will broaden our understanding on the principles for optimal generation of protective anti-virus CD8 T cell responses by cell-based vaccination. The experimenst may lead to the development of new safe vaccines against influenza A virus and viruses in general.

Public Health Relevance

In this revised competing renewal we seek to understand and optimize a new cell-based vaccination approach to induce protective central memory CD8 T cells against viruses. This will be done by interrogating modalities of antigen presentation by the cell-based vaccine and manipulate selective micro-RNA to facilitate the central memory T cell fate in response to vaccination.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
High Priority, Short Term Project Award (R56)
Project #
2R56AI062894-04A1
Application #
8337870
Study Section
Vaccines Against Microbial Diseases (VMD)
Program Officer
Lapham, Cheryl K
Project Start
2011-09-30
Project End
2014-09-29
Budget Start
2011-09-30
Budget End
2014-09-29
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$386,250
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Almanza, Gonzalo; Anufreichik, Veronika; Rodvold, Jeffrey J et al. (2013) Synthesis and delivery of short, noncoding RNA by B lymphocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:20182-7