Glycoengineering HIV-1 Env vaccines to boost immune response
Official title: Glycoengineering core a(1,3)-fucose motifs to enhance HIV-1 envelope vaccine immunogenicity
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-11510036 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing a new way to make HIV vaccines more immunogenic by altering sugar molecules on the virus envelope to provoke stronger protective antibodies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | June 10, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $931,385 |
| NIH project number | 1R56AI200473-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11510036 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals at risk for HIV infection or participants in future HIV vaccine trials who would benefit from more immunogenic vaccine formulations.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not eligible for HIV vaccine trials or those with conditions that contraindicate vaccine studies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project builds on existing HIV vaccine approaches that stabilize the envelope protein and display it on nanoparticles to elicit broad neutralizing antibodies. The team will introduce a specific sugar modification, core α(1,3)-fucose, into the envelope produced in engineered cells, aiming to shift the immune response toward more effective targets. The strategy leverages advanced glycoengineering to potentially enhance immunogenicity and reduce undesired responses, with plans to move toward preclinical and potentially clinical testing. The work is conducted at Scripps Research Institute under the leadership of Jiang Zhu and collaborators, with prior vaccine platforms already in early-stage trials. The study involves production and testing of glycoengineered Env immunogens and nanoparticle displays to assess immunogenic outcomes in relevant models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could yield more potent HIV vaccines that elicit stronger and broader neutralizing antibodies, bringing us closer to effective prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Prior improvements in glycan trimming and nanoparticle display have shown enhanced immunogenicity and responder rates in early-phase studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Jiang — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Jiang
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
The Participant Center helps people join and stay in a nationwide health study
A nationwide program to support people in joining, contributing biosamples, and staying connected to a large health study in the United States.
-
Data Sharing and Bioinformatics Core for Viral Systems Biology
A center-led effort to manage, share, and interpret large viral systems biology data using open tools and a community-friendly portal.
-
Germline-targeted HIV vaccines using membrane liposome tech to trigger bnAbs
A new HIV vaccine approach aims to spark broadly neutralizing antibodies by showing MPER on membranes, tested in models and early studies to guide future human trials.
-
Antivirals for hemorrhagic fever viruses like LASV, SFTSV, and EBOV
A multi-institutional effort to find and validate antiviral compounds that block key viral proteins from LASV, SFTSV, and EBOV to help people at risk from serious hemorrhagic fevers.
-
Developing new antivirals for flaviviruses
A research team is working to create oral antiviral drugs targeting flaviviruses to treat infections that affect millions of people.
-
CoV inhibitors targeting non-enzymatic SARS-CoV-2 components
A multicenter research effort seeks antiviral ideas that block SARS-CoV-2 parts that don’t work through traditional enzymes, aiming to help people affected by COVID-19.
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.