In this project a nanoparticle-based vaccine that contains T cell epitope peptides and TLR ligands has been developed. Vaccination with this functionalized nanoparticles induced potent virus-specific T cell responses and reduced chronic retroviral loads in the Fried virus (FV) model. This very successful therapeutic vaccination shall now be combined with immune checkpoint blocking therapies to aim for virus elimination in FV infected mice. In addition, the nanoparticle vaccination strategy will be tested in the preclinical model of humanized BLT mice chronically infected with HIV-1. Clinically relevant delivery strategies (supporitories, oral administered capsules) will also be developed.
DFG Programme
CRC/Transregios
