Lab 042: Understanding HIV Part 1

About This Lab

December 1st was World AIDS day and all of December is HIV Awareness month. This week we’re bringing the first half of our two parter on HIV. We talked to Dr. Christine Daniels about HIV and what we’ve learned in the past 40 years.

We started by comparing HIV to another well known virus, SARS-CoV-2. Both are envelope viruses, store their information as RNA, and have a spike protein that is covered in sugars. The HIV spike protein is Env, and its extensive glycosylation (coverage with sugar), makes it hard for our immune system to see it and for vaccine candidates to target it as well. Dr. Daniels explained that even if you can work around glycosylation, you still have so many other considerations for effective vaccine design. While we wait for the vaccine, our hands aren’t completely tied. There have been great medical advances to prevent HIV transmission (PrEP) and to reduce viral load after transmission (antiretroviral therapy).

• Interactive structural biology of HIV particle - This model shows you the RNA, accessory proteins, and more!

• Glycosylation is the process of adding sugars to molecules, usually proteins!

• Coronavirus spike proteins are glycosylated too!

• Just how much of HIV’s Env is shielded by sugar? “A lot.” - 21 Savage

• World Health Organization’s response to HIV epidemic

• PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) can reduce your risk of getting HIV

  • PrEP is expensive! Some sites say it can cost almost $2,000/month if you’re uninsured!

  • Truvada and Descovy are approved PrEP treatments

  • The US government recently required almost all insurers to cover PrEP treatment without cost to patients (this includes the drug, required tests before starting drug, and associated visits).

    • Read the guidance

  • The CDC just made new recommendation that doctors talk to all sexually active adults and adolescents about PrEP

• Antiretroviral therapy is treatment is recommended for everyone who has AIDS, and it can lower the viral load down to an undetectable level.

  • Undetectable viral load means it the amount of HIV in your blood is so low that there is basically no risk of transmitting HIV to others.

  • This low level of viral load is usually achieved after 7-12 months of antiretroviral therapy

• Did you know about the previous HIV vaccine trials?

  • VaxGen in 2004

  • RV144 in 2009

  • HVTN 505

Guest Expert

Dr. Christine Daniels works on developing and testing novel vaccine candidates for HIV.

Transcript

Don’t have time to listen or missed something we said? No worries - read the transcript.