Using the virus's natural sugar coating to make better HIV vaccine proteins
Harnessing native glycosylation to improve immunogenicity of HIV-1 Env immunogens
This work aims to make HIV vaccine proteins more likely to trigger broadly protective antibodies by recreating the virus's natural sugar coat for people at risk of HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322675 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are mapping the exact sugar (glycan) patterns on the HIV envelope protein from real virus samples and designing vaccine proteins that match those patterns. They will produce these modified proteins and test them in the lab and in animal models to see which forms best expose the right parts of the virus to the immune system. The team aims to steer the immune response toward broadly neutralizing antibodies that can block many HIV strains. Promising vaccine candidates would then be moved toward early human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults at risk of HIV exposure and volunteers willing to join future vaccine trials would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People with stable, treated HIV infection are unlikely to gain direct benefits from this preclinical vaccine development work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to HIV vaccines that more reliably induce broadly neutralizing antibodies and help prevent infection.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory and animal studies modifying Env glycosylation have shown promising immune responses, but inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies by vaccination in humans remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Upadhyay, Chitra — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Upadhyay, Chitra
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.