HIV: SANFORD -BURHAM RESEARCHERS DISCOVER PROTEIN THAT COULD IMPROVE HIV VACCINE EFFICACY

Researchers at Sanford-Burham Medical Research Institute have identified a protein that could improve the body's immune response to HIV and prevent transmission of the virus
The study shows that the protein  called Polyglutamine binding protein I (PQBPI) acts as a frontline sensor and is critical to initiating an immune response to HIV.
When PQBPI encounters the virus it starts a program that triggers an overall protective environment against infection and enhances the production of virus-specific antibodies.
The research which identifies PQBPI as a target of improving HIV vaccines was published online on June 4 and will later be printed in the journal cell.
Lead Author, Sunnie Yoh, PHD, a post doctoral fellow in the Lab of Sumit Chanda, director of the Immunity and Pathogenesis Program at Sanford-Burham has said,
"Vaccines work by teaching the immune system to react mimicking a natural infection. Designing a drug that mimics the interface between HIV and PQBPI would allow HIV vaccine to more effectively create an immune environment that mirrors the real infection. Current approaches to HIV vaccine development have thus far yielded little fruit because of the lack of an effective vaccine adjuvant.
Adjuvants promote a robust immune response to vaccines and are critical to eliciting long lasting immunity."
"Our study identifies a promising new target for a vaccine adjuvant that could advance the the development of HIV vaccines and prevent infection".