Cell-based vaccination: rationale for the use of cells co-expressing HIV anv gp120 and HLA class I Cw4 molecules for the induction of neutralizing antibodies

Induction of antibodies capable of neutralizing different clades of HIV has so far proved difficult. The major obstacle in the induction of neutralizing antibodies is the construction of Env molecules expressing conformational determinants which are not expressed on conventional soluble recombinant Env. A possible approach to solve this problem is the use of immunogens which express, together with Env gp120/160, also cell-derived molecules that are associated with Env either during the viral entry process (i.e. CD4 and CCR5) or during the process of budding of HIV from the cells.