Possible vaccine for HIV-1 by effective neutralization by chemically charged (bs)gp120 recognition of CD4 T cells.

Abstract

Advances in microbiology research revealed that the section of HIV-1 has a section of proteins that cannot tolerate mutation without collapsing its structure. This allowed researchers to find a non mutating piece that every HIV-1 has on its protein coat gp120, this region, also called the “Achilles heel”1  of the virus, may lead to an effective covalent vaccine for the virus.

The gp120 region is the binding site for the virus with a healthy T cell. The gp120 region is naturally repelled by the B cell, so no antibodies can be created to fight the infection. New research has lead scientist to produce a chemically activated gp120 region. This chemically activated region will produce a covalent bond with the memory B cells allowing them to produce effective antibodies, instead of tolerance. These antibodies are created to have increased enzymatic activity, called Abzymes. A single Abzyme is used repeatedly to destroy thousands of gp120 molecules. In turn the virus isn’t able to bind with healthy human cells. The new technique makes a covalently charged vaccine. In clinical trials, the (abs) neutralize the infection of isolated human blood cells by various strains of the virus. The study of the gp120 (bs) of the viral envelope, may hold the key to developing a effective immunity to the HIV virus for everyone.