Heroin-HIV-1 (H2) vaccine: induction of dual immunologic effects with a heroin hapten-conjugate and an HIV-1 envelope V2 peptide with liposomal lipid A as an adjuvant

• Main Authors: Oscar B. Torres, Gary R. Matyas, Mangala Rao, Kristina K. Peachman, Rashmi Jalah, Zoltan Beck, Nelson L. Michael, Kenner C. Rice, Arthur E. Jacobson, Carl R. Alving
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 2017-05-01
• Series: npj Vaccines
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-017-0013-9
• ISSN: 2059-0105

Drug addiction: Dual-use vaccine shows promise for heroin and HIV A vaccine designed to treat heroin addiction while at the same time preventing HIV infection elicited strong immune responses in mice. Scientists from the US government led by Carl Alving from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Bethesda, Maryland, created a dual vaccine formulated with three main components: a segment of a protein expressed on the surface of HIV; synthetic molecules that resemble heroin and its degradation products; and a potent adjuvant to stimulate the immune system. Mice immunized with this vaccine had high antibody titers against the HIV surface protein as well as heroin and its derivatives. These mice also showed dulled responses to injected heroin. The findings suggest this vaccine strategy could help fight heroin abuse and the high risk of HIV infection among intravenous drug users.