Chinese Researchers Isolate Anti-HIV Antibody from Alpacas

Nanjing — A team of Chinese researchers has isolated an antibody from alpacas that can effectively combat the HIV virus, offering a promising approach for the development of new AIDS treatments.

Professor Wu Zhiwei from the Nanjing University Medical School stated that antiretroviral therapy is currently the main method for suppressing HIV replication. While this method has been effective in extending the lifespan of patients, it may lead to significant drug resistance, necessitating urgent research into new therapies.

The primary clinical strategy for developing new AIDS drugs focuses on the process by which the virus enters host cells. During this process, a receptor known as CD4 acts as a "doorknob" that the virus uses to "open" the cell door.

The research team isolated several thousand CD4 nanobodies from alpacas, among which Nb457 showed potential for inhibiting HIV. Nanobodies are a type of antibody that is smaller and more stable than conventional antibodies.

The report noted that the researchers created several HIV-like pseudoviruses to simulate 117 HIV strains and tested these pseudoviruses with Nb457. The experiment revealed that Nb457 effectively inhibited 116 strains, demonstrating broad-spectrum antiviral activity.

Researcher Wu Silin from the Nanjing University Medical School mentioned that in tests with real viruses, three modified subunits of Nb457 demonstrated effective HIV inhibition. In mouse experiments, the virus was nearly undetectable in the treated mice, and no drug-resistant mutations were observed.

Wu Zhiwei added that since the HIV virus mutates rapidly and tends to develop drug resistance, the effectiveness of treatments can diminish. However, this newly discovered antibody does not target the virus directly but focuses on CD4, the "doorknob," reducing the likelihood of drug resistance. This discovery holds significant potential for the development of new AIDS treatments and clinical therapies.

The research findings were recently published in the international journal Nature Communications.

Source: Xinhua Thai
Source: https://www.arokago.com/health-library/hivaids/symptoms