Overview
- The Wistar Institute team reports in Nature Immunology that their immunogen, WIN332, was built by deleting the N332 glycan from the V3-glycan epitope of the HIV envelope.
- A single injection generated low but detectable neutralization within three weeks in nonhuman primates, and a related booster substantially increased neutralizing activity.
- The study uncovered two V3-glycan–targeting antibody classes, including a newly identified type that does not require the N332 sugar.
- Researchers say the strategy could cut vaccination regimens to far fewer shots, potentially around three, pending further validation.
- Additional preclinical evaluations and follow-up immunogen designs are underway, and major health organizations are exploring a path to human trials, with no human studies yet started.