DNA component
The DNA vaccine consists of five plasmids, four of which code for the gp120 proteins from viruses belonging to HIV-1 clades A, B, C, and AE, and one codes for the Gag protein from HIV-1 clade C. The plasmids are mixed in equal weights and are administered via intramuscular injection of 2 mg of total DNA in 1 ml volume.
Protein component
The protein vaccine consists of four recombinant gp120 proteins produced from CHO cells that are exactly matched to the proteins in the gp120 DNA component. The recombinant proteins are supplemented with a glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant in a stable emulsion (GLA-SE). The proteins are mixed in equal weights at bedside, combined with GLA-SE and administered via intramuscular injection of 0.4 mg of total protein and 5 mcg of GLA-SE in 1 ml volume.
Adjuvant
Inclusion of adjuvants even further enhances the DNA-primed immune responses to recombinant gp120 proteins. Glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant formulated in a stable emulsion (GLA-SE) is a safe and potent adjuvant with the established history of testing in animals and in people. By stimulating the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), it promotes strong Th1 responses with balanced IgG1/IgG2 ratio (Reed, 2018).
