The diversity of HIV-1 fights against vaccine efficacy: how self-assembling protein nanoparticle technology may fight back.

Abstract

An efficacious HIV-1 vaccine has remained an elusive target for almost 40years. The sheer diversity of the virus is one of the major roadblocks for vaccine development. HIV-1 frequently mutatesand various strains predominate in different geographic regions, making the development of a globally applicable vaccine extremely difficult. Multiple approaches have been taken to overcome the issue of viral diversity, including sequence optimization, development of consensus and mosaic sequencesand the use of different prime-boost approaches. To develop an efficacious vaccine, these approaches may need to be combined. One way to potentially synergize these approaches is to use a rationally designed protein nanoparticle that allows for the native-like presentation of antigens, such as the self-assembling protein nanoparticle.