CAAPE Meets Monday, January 23, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

First meeting of 2012! Please plan to join us for the next CAAPE meeting at the DC Center, located at 1318 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009.

In the meantime, 'like' our CAAPE facebook page and check out local activities planned for World AIDS Day on December 1, 2011.

Capital Area AIDS Prevention Effort (CAAPE) is a volunteer panel of individuals from the general public and from the diverse communities affected by AIDS.

If this will be your first meeting or you would like more information, please email info@aidsvaccine.org.

CAAPE Meets Monday, November 21, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Last meeting of 2011! Please plan to join us for the next CAAPE meeting at the DC Center, located at 1318 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009.

The October CAAPE meeting is cancelled, and we'll plan to meet one last time before 2012 on Monday, November 21 at 7pm.

Don't forget AIDS Walk on October 29 and that the DC Center has some exciting activities planned for World AIDS Day on December 1 as well.

Capital Area AIDS Prevention Effort (CAAPE) is a volunteer panel of individuals from the general public and from the diverse communities affected by AIDS.

If this will be your first meeting or you would like more information, please email info@aidsvaccine.org.

CAAPE Meets Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Join us on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. for the next CAAPE meeting. This next meeting departs from our usual time since our previous meeting's conversation was so robust that the group decided to continue it sooner rather than later. We will discuss the roles and responsibilities for community advisory boards like CAAPE as well as for the research sites they support.

Capital Area AIDS Prevention Effort (CAAPE) is a volunteer panel of individuals from the general public and from the diverse communities affected by AIDS.

If this will be your first meeting or you would like more information, please email info@aidsvaccine.org.

AIDS Researchers Isolate New Potent and Broadly Effective Antibodies Against HIV

NEW YORK, NY, LA JOLLA and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, SEATTLE, WA, August 17, 2011 -- A team of researchers at and associated with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), The Scripps Research Institute, the biotechnology company Theraclone Sciences and Monogram Biosciences Inc., a LabCorp company, report in the current issue of Nature the isolation of 17 novel antibodies capable of neutralizing a broad spectrum of variants of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The new antibodies, large protein molecules that bind to pathogens and flag them for destruction, were isolated from blood serum samples collected in a continuing global search for broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) launched by IAVI. They should provide researchers with a new set of targets for the design of vaccine candidates that can elicit similar antibodies to protect people from contracting HIV. Some of the bNAbs blocked HIV infection of cells as much as 10 to 100 times as potently as previously discovered bNAbs.

"Most antiviral vaccines depend on stimulating the antibody response to work effectively," said Dennis Burton, a professor of immunology and microbial science and director of the IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif. Professor Burton, one of the senior authors of the study, is also a member of the Ragon Institute, in Cambridge, Mass. "Because of HIV's remarkable variability, an effective HIV vaccine will probably have to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies. This is why we expect that these new antibodies will prove to be valuable assets to the field of AIDS vaccine research."

Only a minority of people who are HIV-positive begin to produce bNAbs after several years of infection. Animal studies suggest that such antibodies could block HIV infection if they were elicited by a preventive vaccine.  Researchers prize bNAbs because their structural and biochemical analysis can reveal how to achieve a preventive vaccine. Specifically, scientists expect that they can use information about how bNAbs bind to HIV to construct immunogens--the active ingredients of vaccines--that elicit similar antibodies. The potency of bNAbs matter because a highly potent antibody could confer such protection at relatively low levels.

"Solving the neutralizing antibody problem is perhaps the greatest challenge facing the field today," said IAVI's chief scientific officer, Wayne Koff. "IAVI concluded many years ago that unlocking the information stored in bNAbs was going to be essential to the fulfillment of our mission--ensuring the design and development of broadly effective AIDS vaccines. This is why we support several laboratories around the world that are designing novel vaccine candidates on the basis of what we're learning from such antibodies. We have no doubt that these new bNAbs will contribute a great deal to our own immunogen design efforts and, we hope, those of other researchers working on AIDS vaccines."

In that regard, the new bNAbs are encouraging. Many of them bind hitherto unknown molecular structures, or epitopes, on the surface of HIV. This means that they could significantly broaden the target options researchers have in designing vaccines to elicit similar antibodies.

How the antibodies were discovered

The 17 new bNAbs described in the current Nature report were isolated from four HIV-positive individuals. The effort, sponsored by IAVI, is unprecedented in scale and distinguished by its emphasis on identifying antibodies that neutralize subtypes of HIV circulating primarily in developing countries. It had previously yielded three potent bNAbs, two of which, PG9 and PG16, were isolated by this research team in 2009 and described in the journal Science. Another bNAb was subsequently isolated from these samples by researchers at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institutes of Health, who have also discovered a set of bNAbs from separate blood samples using an entirely different approach.

Both the previous and current studies used Theraclone Science's highly sensitive I-STAR™ technology to isolate the antibodies. The new crop of bNAbs, like PG9 and PG16, was rescued from cell cultures derived from single antibody-producing B cells used for antibody discovery and development. Theraclone Sciences Executive Chair and Interim CEO, Steven Gillis commented, "We're delighted that I-STAR has provided essential support in identifying bNAbs that will contribute to advancing AIDS vaccine development. In this project, and in our own infectious disease and cancer programs, the I-STAR platform continues to demonstrate a remarkably powerful ability to isolate rare antibodies with unique properties. Theraclone values these collaborative opportunities in which I-STAR can be used to help improve treatment for critical diseases."

Monogram Biosciences, which also participated in the discovery of PG9 and PG16, conducted the neutralization assays essential to isolating the new bNAbs. The serum samples from which they were isolated represent the top 1% of all such samples gathered by IAVI and its partners, in terms of the number of HIV variants they neutralize and the potency with which they do so.

"Monogram has developed a highly skilled scientific team capable of taking on a variety of biomedical challenges," said Chris Petropoulos, Vice President, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Research and Development, Monogram Biosciences. "Their expertise and innovation has been invaluable to the discovery of these new antibodies. This research illustrates the important role different sectors of the research and health care community can play in supporting global health initiatives."

The analysis of the new antibodies also hints at how future vaccines ought to be formulated to maximize their effectiveness. On the basis of their analyses, the authors of the report conclude that AIDS vaccine candidates that seek to effectively harness the antibody response should probably attempt to elicit certain combinations of bNAbs if they are to provide truly comprehensive protection from HIV.

The published study on the 17 new bNAbs is available online at www.nature.com

CAAPE Meets Monday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Join us on Monday,August 15, 2011 7:00-8:30PM for the monthly CAAPE meeting. Capital Area AIDS Prevention Effort (CAAPE) is a volunteer panel of individuals from the general public and from the diverse communities affected by AIDS.

We will be discussing insurance coverage in DC for adult male circumcision and share general updates.

If this will be your first meeting or you would like more information, please email info@aidsvaccine.org.

How Far Would You Go to Prevent HIV? A Community Forum on PrEP- June 29, 2011 at 6:30 PM

Join us for How Far Would You Go to Prevent HIV? A Community Forum on PrEP Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at the DC Center for the LGBT Community, 1318 U Street NW. Reception with light refreshments begins at 6:30 PM. The forum will start promptly at 7:00 PM and will be moderated by CAAPE member Matthew Rose, also with The National Coalition for LGBT Health.

Featured panelists include:

• Justin Goforth, RN, Director, Whitman-Walker's Medical Adherence Unit and STD Services

• Gregorio Millett, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of National AIDS Policy

Recent research results shows promise for a new HIV prevention strategy called pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP. PrEP involves HIV-negative people at risk for HIV using antiretroviral medications (ARVs) to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

The iPrEx trial results released in November 2010 and showed that in gay men, transgender women and other men who have sex with men, daily TDF/FTC (tenofovir disoproxyl fumarate plus emtricitabine also known as Truvada) reduced the risk of acquiring HIV by 44 percent. Additional studies are ongoing in other populations.

This drug combination is not yet approved for the purpose of preventing HIV. Given that the iPrEx trial tested an already licensed drug, there is the potential for immediate, off-label use. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued interim guidance on PrEP as an HIV prevention strategy for men who have sex with men.

Join us for a panel and community forum and discussion on PrEP. There are strong opinions about PrEP and we hope to represent a wide variety of views and have a meaningful conversation that moves this discussion forward. 

CAAPE Meets Monday, June 20, 2011

Come join us on Monday, June 20, 2011 7:00-8:30PM for the monthly CAAPE meeting. Capital Area AIDS Prevention Effort (CAAPE) is a volunteer panel of individuals from the general public and from the diverse communities affected by AIDS.

We will be discussing several issues including planning for the upcoming community forum:
How Far Would You Go to Prevent HIV? A Community Forum on PrEP

If this will be your first meeting or you would like more information, please email info@aidsvaccine.org.

HIV Vaccine Trials Network Meeting in DC June 1-3, 2011

HVTN Full Group Meeting is June 1-3, 2011 in Washington, DC.

The Program includes special breakout sessions for Community Advisory Boards like CAAPE. Online registration is now closed, but there is (free) onsite registration available and the majority of events are open to the public.

*Meeting Venue: *Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20036, Phone: +1.202.347.3000

About HVTN
The HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) is an international collaboration of scientists and educators searching for an effective and safe HIV vaccine. The HVTN's mission is to facilitate the process of testing preventive vaccines against HIV/AIDS. Our organization conducts all phases of clinical trials, from evaluating experimental vaccines for safety and the ability to stimulate immune responses, to testing vaccine efficacy.

The HVTN recognizes the importance of public support in finding a vaccine against AIDS. Our staff and volunteers around the globe work actively to help community members understand the general science of HIV/AIDS vaccines, as well as research methods and clinical trial processes. Through our efforts, we hope to dispel some of the misconceptions that surround HIV/AIDS and human subject studies.

Support for the HVTN comes from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Network and NIAID have a close, cooperative working relationship, with shared attention to the intellectual and scientific issues.

The Network's HIV Vaccine Trial Units are located at leading research institutions in 27 cities on four continents. Internationally renowned HIV vaccine and prevention researchers lead the units. The Network's headquarters are at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington.

HIV Vaccine Outreach & Education Hits the Streets Tonight

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is an annual observance day to recognize and thank the thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, and scientists who are working together to find a safe and effective HIV vaccine. It is also a day to educate our communities about the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research.

Capitol Area AIDS Prevention Effort, The HIV Prevention Working Group's safer sex campaign FUK!T, and Us Helping US have joined forces for HIV Vaccine Awareness Outreach 2011.

All community members are invited to join us at The DC Center on MAY 20th at 6pm for our "HIV Vaccine 101 Training" and pizza & T-shirts. At 7pm everyone who attends the training will board the Tour Bus provided by US Helping US. The tour bus will make stops around The DC Area at which time, volunteers will exit the bus wearing your FUK!T T-shirts and share your newly or not so newly acquired HIV Vaccine toolbox with the community.

Community Involvement Raises HIV Testing Rates

A new study suggests that community-based programs in rural areas can increase HIV testing in young people. Putting this type of strategy into practice might reduce risky behavior and help keep the spread of HIV in check.

When people know their HIV status, they can begin treatment and make better decisions about sexual behaviors, breastfeeding their children and other activities. However, in developing countries, getting people into clinics to get tested is often difficult. Mobile clinics that provide voluntary counseling and testing in combination with community-based support may help address this problem.

To compare the effectiveness of different HIV testing programs, NIH's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is funding a 10-year clinical trial in nearly 50 rural communities in Africa and Southeast Asia. Additional support comes from NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Office of AIDS Research. The current analysis--reported in the May 4, 2011, online edition of Lancet Infectious Diseases--looked at a subset of 32 communities in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Thailand. Study participants ranged in age from 16 to 32.

The researchers paired communities with similar economies, health services and other demographic factors. In each pair, the communities were randomly assigned to receive either standard, clinic-based voluntary counseling and testing or an enhanced community-based intervention. The enhanced community-based program included access to standard clinic-based care as well as activities like dances and discussion forums, mobile clinics to make testing more accessible and psychosocial support after the test.

A much higher proportion of people in the community-based programs got tested for HIV for the first time, and a substantial number went back for repeat testing as well. First-time testing increased from 5% of people in the standard programs to 51% in the enhanced programs in Zimbabwe, from 23% to 69% in Thailand, and from 9% to 37% in Tanzania. The repeat testing rate in Thailand and Zimbabwe was about 28% by the end of the study. Because so many more people were tested in the community-based programs, nearly 4 times more HIV cases (952 vs. 264) were detected than at sites using clinic-based testing alone.

These findings are significant because simply getting tested for HIV and receiving counseling has been shown to reduce risky behaviors--and is also the first step toward getting HIV-infected people into treatment. Community-based strategies like the ones used in this study will likely prove effective in other situations as well.

"This is an important part of HIV prevention and care," says Dr. Thomas Coates of the University of California Los Angeles, chairman of the steering committee for the clinical trial. "Many individuals in the United States with HIV infection do not know if they have it, and strategies like this might be used in cities and neighborhoods with high densities of HIV infection."

--by Allison Bierly, Ph.D.

From http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/may2011/05162011community.htm