Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ94Fy6NTak/The new vaccine goal: trigger a special type of antibody called broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that capably target the lipid membrane surrounding the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.  In so doing, they are able to bind to a hidden part of the virus called MPER, which stands for Membrane-Proximal External Region.  This zone plays a critical role by permitting the virus to attach, fuse, and inject its genetic material into human cells.Computational biologists at San Diego’s La Jolla Scripps Research Institute now publish their vaccine blueprint in the journal eLife.  Using computer modeling, they demonstrate that certain structural features in the antibodies help them safely recognize viral lipids without endangering normal cells. Their models also predict that maturation of this type of antibody over time leads to better viral binding without creating autoimmunity.This research data is slated to help design vaccines to harness human immunity for effective