HIV fusion peptide vaccine

The HIV fusion peptide vaccine is an experimental peptide-conjugate vaccine developed by the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). It targets the fusion peptide (FP) of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp41, a highly conserved site critical for viral entry into host cells. The vaccine typically consists of the amino-terminal eight residues of the HIV-1 fusion peptide (FP8) conjugated to carrier proteins such as recombinant tetanus toxoid heavy chain fragment (rTTHC) or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), often utilizing a SIAB linker. Its mechanism of action involves eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that recognize the fusion peptide and prevent the virus from entering host cells. Preclinical studies in animal models, including mice, guinea pigs, and rhesus macaques, have demonstrated its ability to induce cross-clade neutralizing responses against diverse HIV-1 strains.

Other names

HIV-1 fusion peptide vaccineHIV1 fusion peptide vaccineHIV 1 fusion peptide vaccineFP8 vaccineFP-8 vaccineFP 8 vaccine