How to Break B Tolerance and Induce HIV-Protective Antibodies to CCR5

HIV uses the CCR5 co-receptor protein found in mammals as a major pathway to enter target cells. Because some patients who are exposed, yet resistant, to the virus, or have HIV but do not ever progress to AIDS can exhibit the presence of CCR5 internalizing antibodies, Lucia Lopalco of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Italy will attempt to generate "anti-self" antibodies against CCR5 to knock out protein's co-receptor and effectively block HIV entry.