|
|
Preparation and Characterization of Protein Binders Mimicking Epitopes of HIV-1 Neutralizing Antibodies
Šulc, Josef ; Malý, Petr (advisor) ; Novotný, Marian (referee)
For three decades, the ongoing HIV pandemic has taken the lives of tens of millions of people. Still, more tens of millions are fighting this incurable disease today. Current failures in combating this global problem are caused mainly by the virus's extreme ability of mutation, its very effective molecular shield which repels the immune system's attacks, and its immense variability. A breakthrough, achieved relatively recently, is the discovery of the so-called broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1, which carry a very efficient and broad neutralizing response. So far, it's not known how to elucidate the production of these antibodies in the infected hosts to quell or altogether eliminate the virus. This work deals with experimental results, which led to both in vivo and in vitro proof-of-concept of the so-called protein mimetics, the ability to imitate viral surface epitopes, and therefore stimulate an efficient immune response carried by targeted broadly neutralizing antibodies. This effect is mediated by recombinant binding proteins, based on the Myomedin scaffold. This work describes the selection and characterization of these binding proteins mimicking the epitopes of one of the most effective broadly neutralizing antibodies, 10E8. It shows that the binding affinities of selected...
|
guest ::
