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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Control of viral rebound through therapeutic immunization with DermaVir
Julianna Lisziewicz1, Jeffrey Trocio, Jianqing Xu
1Research Institute for Genetic and Human Therapy, Washington, DC 20007, USA. lisziewj@geneticimmunity.com
Objective:
To reconstitute immune responses capable of eliminating infected cells and suppressing viral load during chronic retroviral infection.
Design:
: A topical, DNA-based therapeutic immunization (DermaVir) was designed to express most of the regulatory and structural viral genes in dendritic cells.
Methods:
DermaVir alone and in combination with antiretroviral drugs was tested in chronically SIV-infected macaques.
Results:
DermaVir provided virological, immunological and clinical benefit for SIV-infected macaques during chronic infection and AIDS. In combination with antiretroviral drugs, DermaVir augmented SIV-specific T-cell responses and enhanced control of viral load rebound during treatment interruptions.
Conclusions:
The results indicate the feasibility of therapeutic immunization even in immune compromised hosts, and suggest that DermaVir can complement antiretroviral drugs to sustain suppression of HIV-1 replication.
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