A number of antibodies isolated from HIV-positive individuals can broadly neutralize and protect against HIV infection by binding to carbohydrates on the surface of the HIV envelope protein, gp120. Carbohydrate clusters which faithfully imitate this surface have the potential as vaccines to elicit a similar protective antibody response in healthy individuals. To design such carbohydrate clusters, we are using an evolution-based strategy: we synthesize and attach carbohydrates to a random pool of DNA structures. DNAs which support the gp120-like clustering of glycans are selected through binding to antibody and amplified, resulting in the evolution of DNA-supported glycoclusters with gp120-like structure.

Combining organic synthesis with evolution to design HIV vaccine candidates

244th National Meeting (2012)

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