Sector News

DNA-based HIV vaccine produces critical tier-2 neutralizing antibodies in mouse model

February 12, 2022
Life sciences

Previous attempts at making HIV vaccines elicit an important antibody response have often required long experiments in large animal models. Now, researchers say they’ve been able to produce the prized tier-2 neutralizing antibodies in mice.

Tier-2 neutralizing antibodies are the kind needed for the most common strain of the 41-year virus. It had previously taken large animals, including nonhuman primates, to show an HIV vaccine could induce these antibodies, researchers at the Wistar Institute said.

The scientists were able to deliver a DNA vaccine that led to tier-2 neutralization in mice for the first time. The findings, published this month in Nature Communications, could lead to “more advanced HIV vaccine concepts,” said Wister’s Daniel Kulp, Ph.D., corresponding author on the research, in a statement.

The Wistar team encoded a native-like trimer—proteins that mimic the structure of the spike target for antibodies—into DNA that was delivered into mice. The researchers said this delivery method aims to turn host bodies into “antigen factories.” They also tested a standard protein immunization on another set of mice.

While both groups of mice had strong immune responses, only the mice that were given the DNA-encoded trimer were able to form tier-2 neutralizing antibodies, the researchers said.

Researchers then isolated monoclonal antibodies from the mice to look at the atomic blueprint of one of the tier-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. The team found that the antibody binds to a segment of the protein, dubbed C3V5, that prompts the immune response. Previous studies have shown antibodies binding to that region are able to protect animals from a close relative of HIV in nonhuman primates, known as SHIV.

“The structure gives us incredible insight into how this antibody is able to neutralize the virus. For the first time, we can strategize about how to design new vaccines that can generate broadly neutralizing antibody responses to the C3V5 epitope,” Kulp said.

Using DNA vaccines, in which nucleic acids are delivered to help the host produce antigens for an immune response, could also help reduce the cost and time it takes to make and test new HIV vaccines, the researchers said. More than 40 years into the HIV epidemic, there is no approved vaccine, so cost and speed are of increasing interest.

Other recent developments in HIV research include a study showing Merck’s blockbuster cancer med Keytruda helped flush dormant parts of the virus out of immune cells. Those findings could lead to new treatment options as current meds for people with HIV require a daily regimen for the remainder of a patient’s life.

On the vaccine side, Moderna is testing its messenger RNA technology, spotlighted during the pandemic, for a vaccine to stave off HIV.

Excision BioTherapeutics also began testing its CRISPR-based therapy last month after animal studies found it was able to clear the virus from mice.

by Kyle LaHucik

Source: fiercebiotech.com

comments closed

Related News

March 24, 2024

Johnson Matthey to sell its Medical Devices business for $700 million

Life sciences

Johnson Matthey Plc (JM; London) announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell 100% of its Medical Device Components business (MDC) to Montagu Private Equity (Montagu) for cash consideration of US$700 million (£550 million) on a cash free debt free basis.

March 24, 2024

Lonza acquires biologics manufacturing plant in California from Roche

Life sciences

Lonza AG (Basel, Switzerland) announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the Genentech large-scale biologics manufacturing site in Vacaville, Calif. from Roche (Basel, Switzerland) for $1.2 billion. The acquisition will significantly increase Lonza’s large-scale biologics manufacturing capacity.

March 24, 2024

Roquette to acquire IFF Pharma Solutions to boost global excipient presence

Life sciences

Roquette plans to acquire International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) Pharma Solutions for an enterprise value of up to €2.85 billion (US$3.09 billion). With the acquisition set to close in the first half of 2025, the plant-based ingredient and pharmaceutical excipients supplier aims to reinforce its position in the pharmaceutical industry.

How can we help you?

We're easy to reach