Designing HIV vaccines to teach the immune system to target the V3-glycan site
SHIV Env-antibody coevolution as a molecular guide to HIV-1 V3 glycan targeted vaccine design
This project develops vaccine approaches to help people at risk of HIV make powerful antibodies that can block many different HIV strains.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294149 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a primate model (SHIV-infected monkeys) that mimics human HIV to watch how virus envelope proteins and antibodies evolve together. They design engineered HIV envelope proteins to prime rare B cells, then give carefully timed booster shots to steer antibody maturation toward the V3-glycan broadly neutralizing responses. By analyzing antibody sequences and functional activity after each immunization, the team iteratively refines vaccine designs to increase breadth and potency. Most work is done in animals now with the goal of moving successful vaccine candidates into human trials later.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at risk of HIV infection or volunteers in future preventive vaccine trials would be the likely candidates for these vaccine approaches.
Not a fit: People already living with chronic HIV infection are unlikely to directly benefit from a preventive vaccine approach, and positive results in animals may not always translate to people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce vaccines that reliably trigger broadly neutralizing antibodies and offer broad, long-lasting protection against diverse HIV strains.
How similar studies have performed: Related programs using engineered envelope immunogens and sequential boosting have produced promising antibody responses in animals but have not yet delivered consistently protective broadly neutralizing antibodies in humans.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaw, George M — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Shaw, George M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.