WEBVTT

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HIV infects our bodies by targeting one

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specific white blood cell type called

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the CD4 T cell , which is a cell that

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is part of our immune system to fight

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infections . The virus binds to a

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receptor on the surface of the CD4

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cells , allowing HIV to enter the cell

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and begin replicating itself . In this

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process , it also kills the CD4 T cell ,

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depleting the number of these cells

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available to fight off new infections .

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Most HIV treatments work by

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neutralizing or attacking the virus

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itself . Doctor David Ho and his

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research team at the Aaron Diamond AIDS

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Research Center , now at Columbia

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University , asked , instead of

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attacking the virus , what if we lock

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the door ? They developed a monoclonal

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antibody that binds to CD4 cells ,

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preventing HIV from attaching to these

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cells and entering it . This became the

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first monoclonal antibody approved for

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HIV treatment called ibilizumab or the

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brand name Trigazo . Building on this

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breakthrough , these scientists began

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advancing a new class of antibody

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called bi-specific antibodies . An

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antibody is a molecule shaped like the

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letter Y . With bi-specific antibodies ,

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each upraised arm of the molecule has a

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different job . One side still binds to

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the human CD4 cells to block viral

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entry , and the other side attaches to

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the HIV virus to neutralize it .

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Typically , antibodies targeting HIV

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must circulate in the blood in high

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concentrations , relying on sheer

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numbers and random chance to find and

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bind free floating HIV . But with this

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strategy , you need a lot less because

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the by specific antibody is already at

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the place where the virus enters our

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cells . This bi-specific antibody

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called 0E8 IMA for short , is not only

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potent , but is also broad as it

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neutralizes many different subtypes of

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HIV from around the world .

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That's why we here at MHRP seek to

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refine and develop these unique

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antibodies which could provide a

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critical tool to both prevent HIV

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infection and treat and cure HIV .

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This could be of particular importance

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to the US military to improve the

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safety of the emergency blood supply .