# Glycan dependent epitopes of HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies

> **NIH NIH R56** · SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE · 2020 · $887,498

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
There is as yet no effective vaccine to HIV despite concerted efforts by numerous groups worldwide to produce
one. The target for vaccines is the envelope spike protein (gp120/gp41), which mediates binding to receptors
on the surface of CD4 T cells. The problem from a vaccine perspective is that the spike protein is heavily
glycosylated, with up to 25 or more N-linked glycans, creating a `glycan shield' that prevents an immune
response to the underlying protein. Yet, many HIV infected individuals develop broadly neutralizing antibodies
(bnAbs) that utilize glycans as part of their binding epitopes or accommodate glycans for binding to conserved
features of the underlying protein. In the past project period, we have developed methods for analyzing site
specific glycosylation of the N-linked glycans of the envelope protein produced recombinantly and isolated from
virus grown in peripheral blood lymphocytes. We have observed that site specific glycan processing of native
virus envelope trimer differs significantly from the corresponding SOSIP trimers being evaluated as vaccine
candidates. In this project we will increase the sensitivity of the methods to analyze glycosylation of native virus
from blood of HIV patients. For representative strains, we will develop soluble trimers that have glycosylation
similar to the envelope of native virus and compare them with SOSIP stabilized trimers for their ability to elicit
neutralizing antibodies in animal models. The results will help assess the importance of establishing native-like
glycosylation for optimally eliciting neutralizing antibodies of HIV.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10141764
- **Project number:** 2R56AI113867-06
- **Recipient organization:** SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES C PAULSON
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $887,498
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2014-07-15 → 2021-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10141764

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10141764, Glycan dependent epitopes of HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies (2R56AI113867-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10141764. Licensed CC0.

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