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A new hope, for this may be a cure for HIV.

Proteins called broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are thought to be the future of treating and preventing HIV infections. A bNAbs recently characterized by researchers can neutralize the virus in many ways---increasing the antibody’s promise as a therapeutic.
bNAbs have been found in blood samples from some HIV patients whose immune can naturally control the infection. These antibodies may protect a patient’s healthy cells by recognizing a protein called the envelope spike, present on the surface of the HIV virus. And inhibiting, or neutralizing, the effect of the virus. Caltech researchers have found that one particular bNAb may be able to recognize this signature protein, even as it takes on different conformation during infection---making it easier to detect and neutralize the viruses in an infected patient.
The process of HIV infection begins when the virus come in contact with human immune cells called T cells  that carry particular protein, CD4, on their surface. Three part protein called envelope spike on the surface of the virus recognize and bind to the CD4 proteins. The spike can either be closed or open conformation, going from closed to open when the spikes bind with CD4. The open conformation then triggers fusion of the virus with the target cell, allowing the HIV virus to deposit its genetic material inside the host cell, forcing it to become a factory for making new viruses that can go and infect other cells.
The bNAbs recognize the envelope spike on the surface of the HIV, and most known bNAbs only recognize the spike in the closed conformation. Although the only target of neutralizing antibodies is the envelope spike, each bNAbs actually function by recognizing one specific target, or epitope, on this protein.
Some target allow more effective neutralizing of the virus, and therefore bNAbs are more effective against HIV that others.
In 2014, Bjorkamn and her collaborator at Rockefeller University reported initial characterization of a potent bNAb called 8ANC195 in the blood of HIV patient whose immune systems could naturally control their infection.
They also discovered that this antibody could neutralize the HIV virus by targeting a different epitope than any other identified bNAb.


    
Ed Tesla

Ed Tesla

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