Broadly-neutralizing antibodies defend cells in the body from attackers like HIV. The discovery of how they can control the virus has opened up a new way of thinking.

DR. GARY NABEL: “And so there’s a whole parallel approach now where we can begin to engineer these antibodies so that we can give them as infusions into people who may be at high risk to block the infection.”

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: The Vaccine Research Center has begun testing different antibodies in monkeys. The antibody is given to uninfected monkeys. Then, the animals are left exposed to a level of virus that would normally infect them.

DR. GARY NABEL: “Several of them look very, very promising. They’re inhibiting, they’re blocking infection. They’re blocking them at relatively low doses.”

Dr. Nabel and his team are preparing to launch human tests early next year.

DR. GARY NABEL: “If we can do these trials and show that the antibodies block infection in people, it essentially validates the target of those antibodies for vaccines. It also gives us information about -- quantitative information -- if we’re able to block, what levels of antibodies do we need to achieve in order to prevent it (HIV)?”

Dr. Nabel says even if the tests are successful, there is still more work to be done before a vaccine can be developed.

(MUSIC)

BOB DOUGHTY: This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by Christopher Cruise and Jerilyn Watson. Our producer was June Simms. I’m Bob Doughty.

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