Durham Reporter

Researchers at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute have developed a promising HIV vaccine candidate that initiates crucial immune responses necessary for fighting the virus. This breakthrough, detailed in a study published in Science Translational Medicine, involves an immunogen that stimulates precursors of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) and supports their maturation.

"A successful vaccine will need to induce a lot of antibodies that target key regions of the virus, so these results are just one part of that goal, but a promising step," stated Mihai L. Azoitei, Ph.D., lead author and associate professor at the institute.

The team focused on enhancing an earlier version of the immunogen to increase mutation frequency through computational modeling and structural analysis. The improved immunogen successfully activated diverse bnAb precursors targeting a critical site on the HIV virus's outer envelope. It also promoted essential mutations required for effective antibody function.

Validation was achieved through biochemical tests and trials in three different humanized mouse models specifically designed to assess HIV vaccines. "These results provide a blueprint for rationally designing vaccine candidates that engage different immune cells and guide them on the path to producing protective antibodies against HIV," Azoitei added.

Further evaluations are planned with primates and humans. The research received funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under several grants.