# Tracking the evolutionary trajectory of neutralizing antibodies following BG505 SOSIP immunization

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $795,027

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Stabilized HIV-1 envelope gp140 trimers such as BG505 SOSIP provide a viable platform to elicit protective
neutralizing antibodies that can be improved upon through various approaches to induce heterologous
neutralizing breadth. BG505 SOSIP trimer immunization elicits protective neutralizing antibodies in rhesus
macaques and is now being tested in several phase I clinical trials, including HVTN 137. Here we will perform
in-depth studies to determine how antibodies that neutralize only the autologous virus and those that also have
activity against heterologous viral variants developed in parallel during BG505 SOSIP immunization of rhesus
macaques using cryopreserved samples. We will then track the antibody germline precursors for these
neutralizing antibodies in other immunized rhesus macaques that share the allele to understand why they
sometimes failed to develop these activities. We will also compare the targets of the neutralizing antibody
responses in BG505 SOSIP immunized human subjects to those recognized in the rhesus macaque model. The
HVTN 137 trial is also administering BG505 SOSIP with different adjuvants and we will investigate how these
impact neutralizing antibody specificities in the human volunteers. Finally, we will isolate neutralizing monoclonal
antibodies from selected BG505 SOSIP immunized rhesus macaques and human subjects to compare the
structural and biophysical properties of antigen recognition. These extensive pre-clinical and clinical resources
combined with our multidisciplinary expertise provides a novel setting in which to address barriers that impede
the development of effective HIV vaccination strategies. If successful, these studies will illuminate new strategies
to improve upon HIV-1 trimer envelope immunogens and adjuvants.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10868543
- **Project number:** 5R01AI174979-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Cynthia Ann Derdeyn
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $795,027
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-16 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10868543

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10868543, Tracking the evolutionary trajectory of neutralizing antibodies following BG505 SOSIP immunization (5R01AI174979-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10868543. Licensed CC0.

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