Work

Chimpanzee Adenovirus Antibodies in Humans, Sub-Saharan Africa

Year: 2006

Type: article

Abstract: Human sera from the United States, Thailand, and sub-Saharan Africa and chimpanzee sera were tested for neutralizing antibodies to 3 chimpanzee adenoviruses.Antibodies were more common in humans residing in sub-Saharan Africa than in humans living in the United States or Thailand.This finding suggests cross-species transmission of chimpanzee adenoviruses.V accines to HIV-1 are needed to stem further spread of the HIV pandemic.One vaccine modality that has shown promise is based on adenovirus vectors of human serotype 5 (AdHu5) (1-3).However, immune responses induced by AdHu5 vectors are reduced by preexisting AdHu5-neutralizing antibodies found in humans in the United States (4-7). The StudyTo circumvent the negative effect of preexisting immunity to common human serotypes of adenoviruses on the efficacy of adenovirus vaccine carriers, we developed vectors based on chimpanzee-derived adenoviruses C68, C6, and C1 (8).We previously showed that neutralizing antibodies to chimpanzee adenoviruses are rarely found in US residents (6).Because vaccines to HIV-1 are most urgently needed in sub-Saharan Africa, we evaluated the prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to chimpanzee adenoviruses in sera from humans residing in 3 sub-Saharan countries with natural habitats for chimpanzees: Nigeria, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire.Sera from captive chimpanzees in the United States and human sera from Thailand and the United States, including samples from persons with known exposures to chimpanzees, were tested for comparison.

Source: Emerging infectious diseases

DOI: 10.3201/eid1210.060078