The nature of HIV to mutate as soon as it enters its host has been a major frustration for HIV vaccine researchers. From the start, they have aimed to create a vaccine that enables the recipients to develop antibodies that protect against different versions of the virus, but those attempts failed in pre-clinical and clinical trials. In recent years, however, scientists noticed that a small fraction of people living with HIV-1 naturally develop broadly neutralizing antibodies that are very potent against different variants of the virus.
Now, researchers publishing in Cell and Science on June 18 demonstrate that it's possible to generate these antibodies in mice through a succession of vaccinations. Mice do not get HIV or an equivalent infection, so the researchers next need to test whether this new approach to HIV immunization offers protection in monkeys and humans.
The three papers include:
The Cell paper shows that developing broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies in mammals requires a two-step process. The first immunization formulation is specifically designed to activate the cells that produce antibodies against HIV, and then through a second immunization of primitive envelope proteins - similar to those currently used in HIV vaccine trials - those primary antibodies become broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies.
This Science paper explores another way to activate cells to produce the first wave of HIV antibodies.
This Science paper explores what antibodies are generated in response to primitive envelope protein within the bodies of rabbits and monkeys.