Improving HIV vaccine components to better target the V2-apex and trigger strong antibodies
Optimizing glycan shield coverage, germline B cell receptor binding and epitope diversity of V2-apex targeted HIV-1 Env immunogens
This project builds improved HIV vaccine pieces designed to help people make broadly neutralizing antibodies that can block many strains of HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11103244 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is redesigning the HIV envelope protein (Env) so it hides distracting sugar-free spots and better engages the right early B cells that can mature into broadly neutralizing antibody producers. They use computer-based mapping to find and mask unwanted epitopes, engineer Env proteins to bind specific B cell receptors, and create a series of vaccine boosts to expose diverse versions of the target. Most testing so far is done in lab studies and rhesus macaque models to find the best Env designs. The work also uses B cell lineage strategies to guide antibody development toward broadly neutralizing types.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at risk for HIV infection or volunteers interested in future HIV vaccine trials would be the most likely candidates for related human testing.
Not a fit: This preclinical research may not directly help people with advanced or uncontrolled HIV disease and will not immediately offer clinical treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to vaccines that reliably induce broadly neutralizing antibodies and provide stronger prevention against many HIV strains.
How similar studies have performed: Related germline-targeting and Env-design approaches have shown promise in animal studies and early human trials but have not yet produced broadly neutralizing antibodies consistently, so this work builds on promising but still unproven methods.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hahn, Beatrice H — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Hahn, Beatrice H
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.