Dr. Andrés Finzi:
Exploring the role of HIV-1 Env conformations

Without an effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine, the focus of much research has been on finding ways to neutralize or inactivate the virus and block infection before it reaches the cellular level. Dr. Andrés Finzi of the Université de Montréal is trying to better understand the conformational transitions that the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env) undergo during virus entry since they represent attractive targets for intervention.

He and his research team are also exploring antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) as a possible intervention, as ADCC has been shown as a correlate of protection in the RV144 trial. However, it is known that HIV-1 has evolved a sophisticated mechanism to avoid ADCC responses by keeping Env closed (Reviewed in Veillette et. al. Curr HIV Res, 2016. PMID: 26310828). In a study published last May in PNAS (Richard et. al., PNAS 2015. PMID: 25941367), Dr. Finzi’s team looked for ways to open up the envelope to allow anti-Env antibodies present in HIV-1 infected individuals to recognize and mediate the elimination of HIV-1-infected cells through ADCC responses.

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Upcoming Events

WEBINAR

ADCC responses against HIV-1 uninfected and HIV-1-infected cells: role of Env conformation
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 | 2:00 – 3:00 pm EST

Join us for a webinar presented by Dr. Andrés Finzi of the Université de Montréal and the CRCHUM Institute. This webinar will provide Canadian researchers and members of the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative Research and Development Alliance with an increased understanding of the HIV-1 Env conformation changes and the role of Env conformation on ADCC responses.

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New Research

The impact of sex work interruption on blood-derived T cells in sex workers from Nairobi, Kenya.

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2016 Feb 16. [Epub ahead of print]

Omollo K, Boily-Larouche G, Lajoie J, Kimani M, Cheruiyot J, Kimani J, Oyugi J, Fowke KR.

Unprotected sexual intercourses expose the female genital tract (FGT) to semen-derived antigens. Post-coital inflammatory responses can lead to recruitment of activated T cells from the peripheral circulation to the FGT thereby increasing risk of HIV infection. To evaluate the impact of sex work on activation and memory phenotype of peripheral T cells among female sex workers (FSW) from Nairobi, Kenya. Thirty FSW were recruited Pumwani Sex Workers Cohort; 10 in each of the following groups: HIV-Exposed Seronegative (at least 7 years in active sex work), HIV-positive, and New Negative (HIV-negative, less than 3 years in active sex work). READ MORE

HIV immunotherapy comes of age: implications for prevention, treatment and cure.

Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2016 Feb;12(2):91-4. doi: 10.1586/1744666X.2016.1112269. Epub 2015 Dec 2.

Routy JP, Mehraj V, Cao W.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reshaped the lives of millions of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients initiating ART early in the course of infection benefit from a considerable reduction in the risks of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related inflammatory events. However, the absence of cure and lifelong requirements of treatment highlight the need of a vaccine and an immunotherapeutic strategy READ MORE

Selection of HIV vaccine candidates for concurrent testing in an efficacy trial.

Curr Opin Virol. 2016 Jan 29;17:57-65. doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2016.01.007. [Epub ahead of print]

Huang Y, DiazGranados C, Janes H, Huang Y, et al.

Phase IIb or III HIV-1 vaccine efficacy trials are generally large and operationally challenging. To mitigate this challenge, the HIV Vaccine Trials Network is designing a Phase IIb efficacy trial accommodating the evaluation of multiple vaccine regimens concurrently. As this efficacy trial would evaluate a limited number of vaccine regimens, there is a need to develop a framework for optimizing the strategic selection of regimens from the large number of vaccine candidates tested in Phase I/IIa trials. READ MORE

Grants and Opportunities

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Recruitment of College Chairs for the College of Reviewers
Deadline: March 7, 2016

CIHR is seeking applications to fill up to fourteen College Chair positions. These Chairs will be appointed by the CIHR Chief Scientific Officer based on the recommendations of an external nominating committee. The role of the College chair is to ensure that the peer review system supports the selection of the most innovative and cutting-edge proposals for research and knowledge translation, while continuing to be fair, well-managed and transparent.

For more information, please contact college@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

More CIHR Funding Opportunities

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

B Cell Immunology Program for HIV-1 Vaccine Development
Deadline: March 17, 2016 by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization

The objective of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage multidisciplinary teams to explore and exploit emerging knowledge about the complexities and developmental plasticity of B cells - at vaccine priming and at response recall – that are associated with the induction of potent and durable adaptive immune responses against HIV-1. This FOA will support basic and pre-clinical research, and the analysis of clinical samples, to identify and evaluate parameters critical for programming desired B cell function(s). Applications submitted in response to this FOA must propose hypothesis-driven research with the goal of defining biological mechanisms of immune response. Novel approaches based on recently identified molecular markers or pathways of immunological relevance are especially encouraged.

Questions regarding application instructions and process, please contact GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

Integrated Preclinical/Clinical AIDS Vaccine Development Program (IPCAVD) (U19)
Deadline: March 9, 2016; March 9, 2017; March 9, 2018 by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization

The goal of the Integrated Preclinical/Clinical AIDS Vaccine Development Program (IPCAVD) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to facilitate the translation of sufficiently advanced, innovative and promising vaccine candidates into early clinical testing. The IPCAVD program is designed to enable a multi-disciplinary team of investigators to complete all steps necessary from down-selection of a vaccine candidate through CGMP manufacture/testing/product release and into clinical trials.

More NIH Funding Opportunities.

Conferences

February 22 to 25 2016
Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2016
Boston, USA

March 20 to 24, 2016
Keystone Symposia – HIV Persistence: Pathogenesis and Eradication (X7)
California, USA

March 20 to 24, 2016
Keystone Symposia – HIV Vaccines (X8)
California, USA

May 3 to 6, 2016
10th International Workshop on HIV Treatment, Pathogenesis and Prevention Research in Resource-Limited Settings (INTEREST Workshop 2016)
Cameroon, Africa

May 12 to 15 2016
CAHR 2016
Winnipeg, Canada

July 18 to 22, 2016
AIDS 2016
Durban, South Africa

July 25 to 26, 2016
ICHA 2016: International HIV and AIDS Conference
London, United Kingdom

October 17-20, 2016
HIV Research for Prevention
Chicago, USA

White Paper

The ACO has developed a White Paper to foster effective coordination of key players across the Canadian HIV vaccine research landscape.

About Us

The ACO was established by the Government of Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in November 2011 at the International Centre for Infectious Diseases (ICID), a
not-for-profit,
non-governmental organization based in Winnipeg.

Address

ACO at
International Centre for Infectious Diseases
515 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
R3B 2E9
Tel.: 204 946 0908
Fax: 204 946 0927
email:
aco@icid.com

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