Designing HIV vaccines to trigger broadly neutralizing antibody precursors
Investigation into the activation of multiple bnAb precursors using structure-designed immunogens and Ig knock-in mice
This project tests vaccine designs that aim to teach the human immune system to make broadly protective antibodies against many strains of HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11222286 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I'm someone interested in HIV prevention, this project is designing protein pieces to nudge the immune system toward producing special broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). The team engineers immunogens that target a new antibody family (VH1-46 class) and uses human-immunoglobulin knock-in mice carrying those human antibody genes to see if the right antibody precursors are activated. They are also trying vaccine approaches that target two bnAb lineages at once to improve the chance of broad protection. Results in these models will guide whether the designs should move forward toward human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future trials would be people at risk for HIV infection who are willing to join vaccine clinical trials.
Not a fit: People needing immediate treatment for active HIV infection or those expecting an approved vaccine now are unlikely to benefit directly from this early laboratory and animal research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to vaccines that prompt people to make powerful antibodies that protect against many HIV strains.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human work activated one bnAb precursor class without producing neutralizing antibodies, and animal studies have generated bnAbs with sequential immunization, but dual-lineage vaccines are largely untested in people.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Wistar Institute — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Escolano, Amelia — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Escolano, Amelia
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.