The Question of HIV Vaccine: Why Is a Solution Not Yet Available?

Figure 1

Schematic representation of functional Env and the generation of anti-idiotype antibodies. HIV Env is a trimer of heterodimers consisting of the surface glycoprotein gp120 and the transmembrane glycoprotein gp41 noncovalently associated. Located on gp120, there are major Abs binding sites reported in (a). The CD4bs is a target of the most potent bNAbs (b, c). Anti-CD4bs Abs (blue) can be used as immunogen for animal immunization (d) eliciting the production of anti-Id Abs (yellow) against recombinant and cellular human CD4 due to their capability to mimic CD4bs of the gp120 (e). Created with BioRender.com.