Chemistry and Biochemstry Department Seminar

We will describe an approach to designing and synthesizing carbohydrate structures which can be tested as HIV vaccine candidates. Some HIV positive individuals mount a protective antibody response against the disease and remain healthy, and their antibodies are a source of clues as to how the virus might be defeated. 2G12 is one such antibody, which neutralizes a broad range of HIV strains and protects against infection. To stimulate production of 2G12-like antibodies in a typical individual, it will be necessary to design and synthesize a molecule which mimics the viral cluster of carbohydrates which is recognized by 2G12. We have developed a strategy for addressing this problem with a combination of carbohydrate synthesis, click chemistry and directed evolution.