Trimeric gp120 immunogen that induces broadly cross-reactive V1V2-antibodies for HIV-1 vaccine.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically prolonged the lives of patients suffering from HIV. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) can suppress viral replication, it does not eliminate the viral reservoir. A recent study determined a major correlate of protection to be non-neutralizing antibodies directed towards the variable loops 1-2 (V1V2) on the HIV-1 gp120 envelope protein. In addition, antibodies directed toward a “hotspot” region within the V2 loop have been shown to correlate with decreased risk of infection, suggesting that the V2 loop should be preferentially targeted over the V1 loop for a vaccine response. Because of these findings there is now great interest in the development of vaccine immunogens that can promote substantial V1V2-directed antibody responses.
Emory researchers have found a trimeric gp120 immunogen for HIV vaccine. This immunogen is able to promote strong, broadly cross-reactive V1V2 antibody responses in vivo. The ability to generate such cross-reactive antibodies suggests it has great potential as a vaccine antigen. The immunogen was also tested as a boosting immunogen and showed similarly broad, cross-reactive V1V2 response, suggesting it can promote V1V2 antibody responses as both a primary and a boosting immunogen.
In vivo data is available. Pre-clinical studies continue.
Publication
Kesavardhana, S. et. al. (2016). J. Biol. Chem, 292, 278-291. Jones, A. et. al. (2018). J. Virol, 92(5), e01796-17. Jones, A. et. al. (2019). Nat. Comm., 10(1), 798.
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