422 karma · joined January 31, 2012
Thanks for the follow up!
No evidence yet that human analogs are immunogenic. Doing new experiment to find out.
Yes! Using human version of the peptide for the new experiment. The NOG mouse model we are using will not infect with HIV - hence the in-vitro arm - I realize that humanized mice do exist that we could infect - we may try that later. Looking to take CD8/CD4 cells from vaccinated mice. Infect the (isolated) CD4 cells, combine and follow p24.
The targets we are trying to immunize with are believed to be beneficial by a statistical analysis similar to what is described here: Mothe B, Anuska L, Ibarrondo J, Daniels M, Miranda C, Zamarreno J, et al. Definition of the viral targets of protective HIV-1-specific T cell responses. Journal of Translational Medicine 2011;9(208):20.
The guys who generated the peptides we are using have specifically asked us not to talk about the sequences because they are trying to publish now. We hope that these targets will be conserved to the point that resistance is limited (as may be the case in some HIV controllers) - won't know without clinical data.
The advantage of using microspheres is that the vaccine is now monumentally safer than previous gene therapy or other vaccine attempts.
The "targetting capability", definitely does have implications for other types of viruses. While this vaccine focuses on giving the power of HIV controllers to everybody, other controllers do exist. For example, there may be controllers for other viruses like Hepatitis, HPV, Herpes, or even things like other viruses that cause cancer.
In terms of independently curing AIDS, although the vaccine has therapeutic potential, it mostly likely applies only to those particular individuals living with HIV who have normal immune systems – i.e. those successfully managed on HAART medications. The vaccine may prevent AIDS, but it will not cure AIDS.