Usage Information
Abstract
Inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) during acute viral infection generates highly functional memory CD8 T cells. We investigated the effects of inhibiting mTOR by using rapamycin during the effector and contraction phases of the immune response to a DNA prime and Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) boost SIV vaccination in rhesus macaques. Rapamycin administered either during MVA boosts alone (DMR) or during both primes and boosts (DRMR) reduced the contraction of effector CD8 T cells, resulting in higher frequencies of SIV-specific memory CD8 T cells with enhanced quality as indicated by expression of Bcl-2 and CD127. Additionally, rapamycin reduced the frequency of proliferating CCR5+ CD4 T cells in the blood following the MVA boost. Post SIV251 infection, rapamycin-treated macaques demonstrated marked expansion of SIV-specific CD8 T cells (reaching up to 50% in blood and 25% in gut). The heightened expansion of SIV-specific CD8 T cells in the DMR group was associated with markedly lower (2-logs compared to unvaccinated and 1-log compared to DM) peak viral load in the gut and set-point viremia, along with improved survival post infection. Thus, inhibiting the mTOR pathway during MVA boosts of a DNA/MVA vaccine enhances vaccine efficacy by improving memory CD4 and CD8 T cell function.
Authors
Shanmugalakshmi Sadagopal, Kasey Stokdyk, Suefen Kwa, Rahul Basu, Sailaja Gangadhara, Rafi Ahmed, Smita S. Iyer, Koichi Araki, Rama Rao Amara
Usage data is cumulative from April 2026 through May 2026.
| Usage | JCI | PMC |
|---|---|---|
| Text version | 504 | 0 |
| 160 | 0 | |
| Figure | 1 | 0 |
| Supplemental data | 76 | 0 |
| Citation downloads | 154 | 0 |
| Totals | 895 | 0 |
| Total Views | 895 | |
Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.
Various methods are used to distinguish robotic usage. For example, Google automatically scans articles to add to its search index and identifies itself as robotic; other services might not clearly identify themselves as robotic, or they are new or unknown as robotic. Because this activity can be misinterpreted as human readership, data may be re-processed periodically to reflect an improved understanding of robotic activity. Because of these factors, readers should consider usage information illustrative but subject to change.
