Novel Immunization Strategy Protects Humanized Mice Against HIV

The discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that protect against many strains of HIV, which mutates constantly, has reinvigorated the search for effective immunotherapy (NEJM JW Gen Med Nov 7 2013). A team at Cal Tech previously reported success with a technique called “vectored immunoprophylaxis”: Genes for broadly neutralizing antibodies are inserted into an adeno-associated viral vector. This vector can infect both dividing and nondividing cells and imparts little pathogenicity. Once injected intramuscularly, the vector produces antibodies continuously.

The researchers previously reported that vectored immunoprophylaxis protected mice with engineered human immune systems against intravenous transmission of HIV (NEJM JW Gen Med Jan 31…