First Author Conversations - Miami Monkey- a functional cure of a SHIV-infected monkey, Sebastian P. Fuchs, Ph.D., Jose M. Martinez-Navio, Ph.D., University of Miami

Miami Monkey- a functional cure of a SHIV-infected monkey, Sebastian P. Fuchs, Ph.D., Jose M. Martinez-Navio, Ph.D., University of Miami

04/03/19 • 31 min

More than 40 million people are infected with HIV. While the rate of new infections has decreased, and effective antiretroviral drug therapy is available, resource-poor settings in regions of the developing may limit the access to lifesaving drugs. Hence, in the absence of drug therapy, HIV-infected individuals may die in a matter of 10 years or less.

Despite tremendous efforts to develop a truly effective HIV vaccine and curative therapy, alternative approaches are being investigated.

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Sebastian P. Fuchs and Dr. Jose M. Martinez-Navio from University of Miami who recently published a paper in the journal Immunity reporting a functional cure of a SHIV-infected monkey. Their approach involved adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated delivery of broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV. A one-time injection that leads to the production of antibodies is an alternative immunization approach where the anti-HIV immune response is "transported" to the individual.

The authors also discuss challenges of the approach (a host immune response against the encoded antibodies) and what problems remain to be solved before a clinical trial is realistic.

Despite tremendous efforts to develop a truly effective HIV vaccine and curative therapy, alternative approaches are being investigated.

The authors also discuss challenges of the approach (a host immune response against the encoded antibodies) and what problems remain to be solved before a clinical trial is realistic.

Next Episode

T Cell Stemness, Suman Kumar Vodnala, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute

Cell-based therapies against cancer are becoming more common. Many of those rely on manipulation of T-cells. Is it possible to select a population of T-cells that are more vigorous and better at killing tumor cells?

In this episode, Tracy interviews Suman Vodnala about inducing "stemness" in T-cells to make them perform better in terms of proliferation, persistence and effectiveness. This preserves the potential of the T-cell to do its job. These findings were published in a recent issue of Science.

While this can be done pharmacologically, Suman Kumar Vodnala, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute, describes how manipulating specific ions (potassium) in the growth medium can have a similar effect.

Suman and Tracy also discuss other ways in which T-cells might be kept alive longer.