Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research

Merck + Co., Inc.

Medimmune Limited

Istitute Di Ricerche Di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti S.p.a.

Whitehead Insitute of Biomedical Research

Merck Sharp + Dohme Corp.

Istituto Di Ricerche Di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti Spa

Cambridge Antibody Technology Limited

Michael J Root

Peter S Kim

David C Chan

Michael S Kay

Elisabetta Bianchi

Michael D Miller

John W Shiver

Debra Muir Eckert

Daria Hazuda

Romas Geleziunas

Simon N Lennard

Daria J Hazuda

Five-Helix protein, which comprises the three N-helices and at least two, but not three, of the three C-helices of the trimer-of-hairpin structure of HIV gp41, separated by linkers, such as amino acid residue linkers, is disclosed. Six-Helix protein, which includes the three N-helices and the three C-helices of the trimer-of-hairpin structure of HIV gp41, separated by linkers, is also disclosed.

Five-helix protein

Human scFvs are disclosed which interact with a conformational epitope along the pre-hairpin, N-helix coiled coil structure within the heptad repeat 1 (HR1) region of gp41 of HIV. These antibodies, as well as IgG conversions, are shown to neutralize diverse HIV isolates. Isolated nucleic acid molecules are also disclosed which encode relevant portions of these antibodies, as well as the purified forms of the expressed antibodies or relevant antibody fragments, such as Vand Vchains. The antibody compositions disclosed within this specification may provide for a therapeutic treatment against HIV infection by reducing viral load levels within an infected individual, thus prolonging the asymptomatic phase of HIV infection. These antibodies will also be useful in assays to identify HIV antiviral compounds as well as allowing for the identification of candidate HIV vaccines, such as HIV peptide vaccines.

Human antibodies interacting with HIV gp41

Five-Helix protein

Growing community of inventors

Boston, MA, United States of America

Michael J Root