Preclinical Study Offers Hope for New Approach to Controlling HIV LA JOLLA, CA October 30, 2013 A team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and other institutions demonstrated that a group of recently discovered monoclonal antibodies could be a new tool that can control HIV.
The new study, published online ahead of print on October 30, 2013 by the journal Nature, showed the antibodies typically stay active for several weeks in rhesus monkeys affected by an HIV-like virus, the simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV), limiting the virus to low levels.
The antibodies brought down the virus very quickly and dramatically and it stayed there, in most cases, until the antibodies went away. In some cases, the virus stayed undetectable, said Dennis Burton, professor and director of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) Neutralizing Antibody Center at TSRI and the Scripps Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery and member of the Steering Committee of the Ragon Institute. Its surprising and encouraging that antibodies can be so effective against established infection.
The study which was led by Dan H. Barouch of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Ragon Institute, jointly with Burton and Michel C. Nussenzweig of The Rockefeller University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute breaks new ground, especially as previous research in mouse models had found only a short-lived effect from single antibodies, with the virus rebounding quickly. It should be pointed out that the mouse model doesn't have its own immune system, but the monkey does and it's a much closer to human infection.
The promising results open up possibilities for using antibodies in combination with antiretroviral drugs now used to treat HIV. These drugs tackle the replicating virus, whereas antibodies target the free virus as well as the virally infected cell. Combining current antiretroviral drugs, which are limited by resistance and toxicity, with monoclonal antibodies could lead to more effective treatment regimes and possibly contribute to HIV cure strategies.
One Powerhouse
Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. Monoclonal antibodies (clones of a unique parent or ancestral cell) can be used therapeutically by stimulating the patient's immune system to attack certain cells. Dozens of drugs on the market are based on monoclonal antibody technology, including therapies for rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, breast cancer and lupus, among other conditions.
In a previous study in Nature (477: 466 470 (September 22, 2011)) led by Burton and his colleagues at TSRI and IAVI, the researchers had described a number of antibodies that broadly neutralized HIV. One of these was called PGT121.
At the beginning of the new study, the scientists thought they would need a cocktail of antibodies to suppress the virus, so they started with three, which worked well. They then experimented with only two, which also worked; so they tried it with just PGT121, which also proved to be effective. Everything we've seen could have been because of that one antibody, Burton said.
Going forward, the researchers plan to gain a better understanding of why PGT121 is effective against the virus, as well as exploring the effect of combining antibodies with existing drugs.
We hope we learn the right lessons from this so we can do the right kind of clinical trials in humans, Burton said. That will be the next big step, probably in one or two years.
In addition to Burton, Barouch and Nussenzweig, authors of the study, Therapeutic efficacy of potent neutralizing HIV 1 specific monoclonal antibodies in SHIV-infected rhesus monkeys were: James B. Whitney Jinyan Liu, Kathryn E. Stephenson, Hui-Wen Chang, Joseph P. Nkolola, Michael S. Seaman, Kaitlin M. Smith, Erica N. Borducchi, Crystal Cabral, Jeffrey Y. Smith, Stephen Blackmore, Srisowmya Sanisetty and James R. Perry of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; Brian Moldt and Pascal Poignard of TSRI; Florian Klein and Thiago Y. Oliveira of The Rockefeller University; Karthik Shekhar and Sanjana Gupta of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Matthew Beck of New England Primate Research Center; Mark G. Lewis of Bioqual, Inc.; William Rinaldi of Alpha Genesis, Inc.; Arup K. Chakraborty of Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard and MIT.
The research was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AI055332; AI060364; AI078526; AI084794; AI095985; AI096040; AI10063; AI100148, AI100663), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, the Lundbeck Foundation and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
About The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) is one of the worlds largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. TSRI is internationally recognized for its contributions to science and health, including its role in laying the foundation for new treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and other diseases. An institution that evolved from the Scripps Metabolic Clinic founded by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps in 1924, the institute now employs about 3,000 people on its campuses in La Jolla, CA, and Jupiter, FL, where its renowned scientists including three Nobel laureates work toward their next discoveries. The institutes graduate program, which awards PhD degrees in biology and chemistry, ranks among the top ten of its kind in the nation. For more information, see www.scripps.edu.
# # #
For information:
Office of Communications
Tel: 858-784-2666
Fax: 858-784-8136
press@scripps.edu
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
Preclinical Study Offers Hope for New Approach to Controlling HIV LA JOLLA, CA October 30, 2013 A team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and other institutions demonstrated that a group of recently discovered monoclonal antibodies could be a new tool that can control HIV.
