Researchers Induce HIV-neutralizing Antibodies against envelope protein+ lipids

[J220]

From http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901143319.htm , research conducted by the U.S. Military, no less! Hope this pays out.

Researchers Induce HIV-neutralizing Antibodies That Recognize HIV-1 Envelope Protein, Lipids

ScienceDaily (Sep. 1, 2009) — For the first time, researchers have experimentally induced antibodies that neutralize HIV-1 and simultaneously recognize both HIV-1 envelope protein and lipids. The results were reported by U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) researchers on Aug. 25 in the online version of AIDS, the official journal of the International AIDS Society.

The lead investigators, Dr. Gary Matyas and Dr. Carl Alving, researchers in the Division of Retrovirology, MHRP, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), and their collaborators, conducted the exploratory study using small synthetic HIV-1 peptides encapsulated in liposomes containing lipid A as an adjuvant.

The monoclonal antibodies, produced after immunizing mice, have binding characteristics that look similar to two well-known broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies, known as 2F5 and 4E10, which also bind to HIV-1 protein and lipid. These antibodies, 2F5 and 4E10, are widely viewed as models of the types of neutralizing antibodies that might be useful in an effective HIV-1 vaccine. Until now, the HIV field has been unable to induce neutralizing antibodies that have both protein-binding and lipid-binding characteristics similar to 2F5 or 4E10. This study employed widely used, clinically acceptable, well-tolerated and relatively inexpensive generic antigen-adjuvant constituents that potentially could be used as part of a human formulation.

Dr. Carl Alving, Chief of the Department of Adjuvant and Antigen Research, said, "Some of the strongest naturally occurring antibodies that broadly neutralize HIV have the unique characteristics of recognizing both HIV protein and lipid. It has been believed that it might be difficult to induce such antibodies experimentally, and historically, this has been considered a potential roadblock to creation of an effective HIV vaccine. This study demonstrates that such antibodies might be induced with immuno-stimulating liposomes."

[veritas]

J220,

Nice find! Dr. Alving is part of the CHAVI group. Duke university researchers was the group that found the 2F5 and 4E10 antibodies to use with anti-ps antibodies in their quest for a vaccine and cure. This recent find has to be good!

Here's the study:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19710597?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

The above study was built on the findings of Dr.Haynes et al. at Duke. See this:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19640992?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=1&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed

"The work goes on!"

It's Happening

v

[Inchlingblue]

Nice.

I didn't know that there's a US Military HIV Research Program (MHRP)

LINK:

http://www.hivresearch.org/

[veritas]

Inch,

The military's research is extensive, look at all the partners:

http://www.hivresearch.org/partners/index.html
(from your link).

v

[PozBrian]

There sure is. I use an ID clinic at a Navy medical center, When I started I was told they have about 500 in the program there. Once their infection is under control, the active duty folks fly in every 6 months for a week of check ups and counseling. I'm really glad I'm there. For some reason, the military medical community has been pretty active in research, treatment and countering the social aspects for a long time. The clinic has 5 ID Drs, a full time social worker and an psychologist, plus various research assistants and corpsmen.  They do all sorts of infectious diseases of course and travel medicine, but I think HIV is their largest population.

http://www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/patient/health_care/clinical_support/hiv/index.aspx

Gotta love socialized medicine.

[veritas]

Inch,

I can see where the confusion would come in, however, I wanted to incorporate that link into this thread since the study was done under the CHAVI umbrella. Sorry for the confusion.

v

[Inchlingblue]

Ok, goctha