Engineered probiotics to help long-term AAV-delivered antibody therapy
Official title: Engineered Probiotics as a Strategy to Induce Oral Tolerance to AAV-Delivered Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11470790 · Data updated 2026-11-12
AIM: test if specially designed probiotics can teach the body’s immune system to tolerate AAV-delivered antibodies to HIV, potentially enabling lasting protection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | July 16, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $457,128 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI203544-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11470790 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates resemble individuals at risk for HIV infection or people living with HIV who could benefit from sustained antibody protection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to AAV-based therapies or those for whom probiotic interventions are unsuitable may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores delivering a combination of HIV-targeting antibodies via AAV vectors and using engineered probiotics to prevent immune rejection of those antibodies. The approach builds on prior findings of long-term antibody expression in macaques and aims to overcome anti-drug antibody responses. In human-relevant terms, researchers will first validate probiotic designs and then examine whether pretreatment with these probiotics supports sustained antibody levels in subjects who may be at risk for HIV or living with HIV. The study will combine molecular design, preclinical work, and translational steps to move toward durable antibody-based protection. If successful, this could reduce the need for repeated therapies and improve long-term control of HIV infection or prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could maintain protective levels of HIV-blocking antibodies with fewer interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed long-term antibody expression and viral suppression in macaques, supporting potential translation to humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Termini, James Mario — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Termini, James Mario
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.