Vaccine development, pathogenesis and mucosal  immunity to HIV.

Pam Kozlowski, PhD

The goal of our research is to identify mucosal adjuvants, immunization strategies, and HIV vaccine antigens that can be used to prevent sexual transmission of HIV. Currently, there are no HIV vaccines that are capable of inducing both strong antiviral antibody and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. For this reason, we are using rhesus macaques to test the immunogenicity of "CTL-inducing" DNA vaccines formulated with HIV "antibody-inducing" reagents. 

There are also no HIV vaccines that induce strong immune responses in the intestinal and genital tract mucosa, which are major reservoirs of HIV.  We have previously shown in humans that the nasal immunization route is optimal to the oral, rectal, or vaginal routes for induction of immune responses at these sites.  However, nasal adjuvants that could be used safely in the nasal cavity of humans have not been identified.  Thus, we are testing potential nasal adjuvants for their ability to enhance mucosal and systemic immune responses to nasally administered "CTL- and antibody-inducing" vaccine formulations.  Our ultimate goal is to simultaneously induce HIV-specific CTL and antibody in both systemic and mucosal compartments by performing simultaneous vaccinations via the nasal and intradermal routes.  Such an approach would be highly practical and could significantly reduce sexual HIV transmission.

Link to Dr. Kozlowski's Faculty page