Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) Molecular Virology Laboratory of the Molecular Biology & Genetics Unit has received an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) funding of Rs 1 crore for the HIV DNA vaccine research project. The lab has proven data on safety of the vaccine which has shown a high magnitude immune response on engineered mouse model.

The Molecular Virology Laboratory has been the first in the country to test the viral regulatory protein 'Tat' using a virus challenge model in mouse to assess the efficacy of the HIV vaccine. The mouse model was sourced from a US research group. Although there have been efforts to develop a Tat vaccine outside India, most of the traditional approaches have not attempted to address the critical limitations of the Tat protein which is known to be toxic, immuno suppressive and non immuno dominant characteristics, Dr Udaykumar Ranga, Professor, Molecular Virology Laboratory of the Molecular Biology Unit, JNCASR told Pharmabiz.

For this research effort, the Molecular Virology Laboratory was largely supported by the JNCASR and a previous grant for a period of three years was granted by the Department of Biotechnology.

As part of doctorate research effort by Dr Anand Kumar titled 'Optimization of DNA vaccine using HIV 'Tat' as a model antigen', extensive studies were carried out.

The researchers at JNCASR genetically engineered the viral Tat antigen to eliminate its toxic property and enhance immuno genicity. Importantly, their work also proved that the Tat DNA vaccination efficiently controlled the virus in immunized mice suggesting protection.

"We function on a working hypothesis but a multi component approach is needed for the development of an efficient HIV vaccine. There is need for additional research to optimize various other viral antigens. This is because HIV cannot be controlled by antibodies targeting the ‘Env’ antigen as the virus is known to integrate and its spread inside the body is mainly from cell-to-cell where antibodies have no role to play,” said Dr Ranga.

The data on virus control in the mouse model is quite encouraging. The efficacy of the vaccine is being tested in a different test called tumour challenge model also in mice. After which the Molecular Virology Laboratory will scout for collaborations to undertake a study on primates. By 2012, the exact status of the vaccine will be known, stated Dr Ranga.