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Shandong Gallo Institute of Virology Established in China Continued from Page 1 in Human Virology.“ Born in China and Trained in the U.S., Dr DISCOVERY LABORATORY • CLINIC • COMMUNITY • WORLD Fall 2009 Shandong Gallo Institute of DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Virology Established in China Robert C. Gallo, MD On June 22, 2009, It is now approximately six weeks since the the Shandong Academy announcement by the United States Army, of Medical Sciences Sanofi-Pasteur and the Thai Ministry of Health (SAMS) announced the on the results of an efficacy AIDS vaccine establishment of the trial in Thailand. This was to date the biggest, Shandong Gallo Institute efficacy clinical AIDS vaccine trial, and it pro- of Virology (SGIV), duced surprising results from at least two points: first, the majority named after world of scientists would have suspected that a positive result would mean Construction of the new SGIV building is now complete renowned virologist and not protection against infection but a reduction in virus titer in those pioneer in retrovirology infected and a reduction lasting only for a limited period of time and HIV/AIDS, Dr. Robert C. Gallo. Dr. Gallo attended the ceremony as before variants emerged. Indeed that is the goal of all cell mediated an Honorary Guest and Keynote Speaker at the Opening Ceremony. The immune (CMI) vaccine candidates, and it is a CMI type of vaccine announcement was made simultaneously with an MOU Signing Ceremony Continued on page 2 to establish China’s first Molecular Diagnostic Center for Personalized Healthcare (MDCPH), which will be a joint venture among the University of Maryland at Baltimore, Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific and SGIV at the Maryland School of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences. Medicine and the The mission of the SGIV is to promote the basic science of virology Shandong Institute especially in the area of HIV/AIDS and other important and emerging viral of Virology in HIV diseases and to facilitate translational research and clinical trials for related research and other diseases. SGIV also aims to provide molecular-based testing for disease related diseases,” diagnosis, prognosis and treatment in particular in the area of individual- said Dr. Richard ized molecular testing for personalized medicine. Zhao, an IHV- Special guests also included Lieutenant Governor for Education Mr. affiliated faculty Huang Sheng, the former President of the Chinese Academy of Preventive member and the Medicine and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Dr. Zeng Yi and Advisory Director President of the Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences Dr. Han Jinxiang. of SGIV. “With Other special guests included representatives from SGIV’s Shandong strate- its fast progress in Opening of the Shandong Gallo Institute of Virology. Left, Dr. gic alliances including Shandong University, Shandong Center for Disease virology research Robert C. Gallo; Right, Lieutenant Governor of Education Controls and Shandong Blood Center. Numerous guests from other part of and study, and its Mr. Huang Sheng. Photo taken at the Shandong Academy of China, Japan and the United States also attended the Opening Ceremony. vast talent pool, Medical Sciences, Jinan, China on June 22, 2009 Among many congratulation letters received they include letters from Dr. China is very well David J. Ramsay, President of the University of Maryland at Baltimore, Dr. positioned in the world to achieve excellence in the study of virology. Zhong Nanshan, President of the Chinese Medical Association, and the Based in the Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences with access to out- Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America. standing support from the Shandong provincial and central government as “The establishment of the Shandong Gallo Institute of Virology com- well as the medical community, the SGIV will be able to carry on its vision bines the strength of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Continued on page 8 www.ihv.org DISCOVERY A NEWSLETTER OF THE INSTITUTE OF HUMAN VIROLOGY Conspiracy beliefs Director’s Message, Continued from page 1 can affect treatment that most of us believed was the main mecha- It is with this analysis that statistical success nism induced by the vaccine used in the Thai was seen but not when the analysis was done a of people with HIV trial, but this was not the case. Among infected second method by what is called a per-proto- people both placebo and vaccinees had the same col analysis. I am not an expert in these kinds Antiretroviral therapy has dramatically im- levels of HIV. However, it is the second point of statistical approaches, but from everything proved the quality and quantity of life for people that was most unexpected and important. For I have heard, the analysis that used to report living with HIV; yet some patients still view these the first year, and especially the first six months, positive results, namely the MITT method, may medications with suspi- there were significantly more infected persons in be the more appropriate for this kind of study. I cion. “You can have the the placebo group. In other words, there seemed trust my own instincts. When you look at the most effective medicines, to be complete protection against infection curves in those first six months they are clearly but if the person doesn’t that lasted for a while, but in time the vaccine quite different from the latter period and to me take them, they’re not became ineffective. The rate of infection of the reveal that something interesting has happened going to work,” notes Dr. placebo treated groups and the vaccine treated in the early months. In other words, I favor the Lydia Temoshok, Director groups became virtually identical. positive interpretation but with a focus only on of the Behavioral Medi- Protection against infection almost certainly a “short-lived” (six months or so) effect. cine Program at the Insti- Lydia Temoshok, PhD requires a humoral (antibody response) or an What to do with these results? Does this tute of Human Virology innate immune response that quickly produces mean we go forward with still a larger phase (IHV) and Professor of Medicine at the University killer cells that destroy infected cells or a barrage study? That is not the conclusion of the authors of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). In of chemokines that block HIV infection. There of this study nor is it the conclusion of the the course of conducting clinical research over was indeed an antibody response, and the final scientific community. Rather these results the past 10 years with almost 1000 HIV-infected vaccine used in the Thai trials was really not should be regarded as an experiment, and we outpatients and inpatients, she and her colleagues chiefly a CMI-based vaccine as I thought but should focus our attention to the events of this have reached some conclusions about factors that one that included a significant stimulation of early period. What are the things that need to contribute—and don’t contribute--to HIV drug antibody production against the HIV gp120 en- be looked at carefully? Clearly we would like to treatment adherence. So-called ‘common sense’ velope. Nonetheless, we all know that antibod- know everything about the immune response. factors like forgetting to take medications, pill ies to a typical gp120 envelope does not protect For instance, we would like to know the levels burden (taking multiple medications), knowledge except in a type specific manner. So then how of beta chemokines in production. We would of HIV-related information, and understanding could we get a broader affect that would give like to know the type of antibodies produced. the consequences of not taking one’s medicines protection for several months in the vaccinated Did the antibodies block HIV infection in as prescribed did not predict adherence, Temo- group? We have to assume one of two pos- conventional assays, or were they of other types shok explained. The factors that did predict more sibilities. Either the local population had very that simply bound to the virus but didn’t really optimal adherence, she added, were underlying, specific gp 120 envelopes (Thailand has been neutralize in the conventional assays but have chronic attitudes and ways of perceiving, thinking dominated by a clade E HIV and the vaccine other effects that block HIV? CMI also needs about, and dealing with the world. contained a gp 120 envelope of a clade E HIV), to be examined, but I bet we are not going to “What we were finding, again and again, was or the expression system used by Sanofi (canary find answers from that direction. In my view that it wasn’t so much that people forget to take pox viral vector) produced an envelope with a the most important cellular experiments to their medicines, it’s that they don’t want to take modified form that induced antibodies of the be carried out are to examine the memory B their medicines,” says Dr. Rebecca Wald, As- kind we usually do not achieve with conven- cells during the early period in the vaccinees. sistant Professor at the IHV and UMSOM. Wald tional gp120. The results have generated much As my colleagues, George Lewis and Yongjun started to look systematically at the reasons for enthusiasm because as such they are historical Guan, have shown in the last couple of years this. “She decided to focus on conspiracy beliefs, in that they are the first results of any success in the memory B cells are good archival records of Continued on page 6 an AIDS vaccine trial. This does not mean there what antibodies were produced that might not have not been those who argued against the Thai still be found in serum, and the decline in some trial results. Some have argued that the apparent of those antibodies may be why the vaccine effect was short-lived.
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