Bispecific antibodies: Potential immunotherapies for HIV treatment

Giulia Fabozzi; Amarendra Pegu; Richard A Koup; Constantinos Petrovas

doi:10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.10.010

Bispecific antibodies: Potential immunotherapies for HIV treatment

Methods. 2019 Feb 1:154:118-124. doi: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.10.010. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Authors

Giulia Fabozzi¹, Amarendra Pegu¹, Richard A Koup¹, Constantinos Petrovas²

Affiliations

¹ Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, USA.
² Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, USA. Electronic address: petrovasc@mail.nih.gov.

Abstract

Bispecific (bs) antibodies (Abs, bsAbs) are engineered immunoglobulins that contain two different antigen-binding sites in one molecule. bsAbs can be divided in two molecular formats; the IgG-like and non-IgG like. The structural elements of each format have implications for engaging the immune system. Elimination of HIV will need sophisticated approaches with immunotherapies being one of the strategies under investigation. Furthermore, HIV genetic variability and functional compromise of the adaptive CTL response complicate the potential usefulness of some immunotherapeutic strategies. Inclusion of novel HIV neutralizing Abs with high potency and breadth as components of bsAbs could represent alternative strategies for virus elimination by harnessing the adaptive immune response in vivo.

Keywords: Bispecific; Cure; HIV; Lymph nodes.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Bispecific / therapeutic use*
HIV Infections / drug therapy*
HIV Infections / therapy
Humans
Immunotherapy*

Substances

Antibodies, Bispecific

Grants and funding

Z99 AI999999/Intramural NIH HHS/United States