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Inhibiting the ability of HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS, to infect cells is one approach to both prevention and treatment of HIV. Scientists at the NIAID Vaccine Research Center have isolated and characterized neutralizing antibodies (VRC01, 02, 03, and 07) that bind to the CD4 binding site of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120. These human monoclonal antibodies can potentially be used as a therapeutic to: (1) treat an HIV infection, (2) decrease and prevent HIV-transmission from mother to infant, and (3) be effectively combined with anti-retroviral drug therapy.

Plasmids encode regulators of G protein signalling (RGS).

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has invented three chlamydial vaccine technologies, which have shown promising preclinical efficacy. Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection. If left untreated, chlamydia infection can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. Chlamydia is also the leading cause of preventable blindness in the world. Despite increased surveillance, prevalence continues to increase, and the need to develop an effective chlamydial vaccine remains.

Technologies:

An H-2Kb/OVA hybridoma cell line producing a monoclonal antibody specific for the H-2Kb/SIINFEKL complex (clone 25-D1.16) as described in Immunity 1997 Jun;6(6):715-26 and developed in the laboratory of Dr. Ronald Germain at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Hybridoma Cell Line B6GE1 as described in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Dec 9;94(25):13856-61 and developed in the laboratory of Dr. Ronald Germain.

Hybridoma Cell Line D8H21, as described in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Dec 9;94(25):13856-61 and developed in the laboratory of Dr. Ronald Germain.

A murine hybridoma expressing mAb BD3 was found to react with a conformationally dependent epitope on the chlamydial Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP), a primary target of neutralizing antibodies and vaccine development. The BD3 neutralized the in vitro infectivity of C. trachomatis serovars B, Ba, D, E, L2. It is useful for verifying the correct conformation of MOMP in vaccines against chlamydia trachomatis, Serovars B, BA, D, E, AND L2.