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Classification of all theoretically possible HIV vaccines

B. M. Tanygina
a
Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University, Radiophysics Faculty, Glushkov av.2, build.5, Kyiv,

Ukraine, MSP 01601

Corresponding author: B.M. Tanygin, 64 Vladimirskaya str., Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National

University, Radiophysics Faculty. MSP 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine.

E-mail: b.m.tanygin@gmail.com

Phone: +380-68-394-05-52

Abstract.

This article is point of view of physicist on the problem to systemize all possible vaccines of the

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The system of this classification is formulated based on

microscopic prerequisites of the HIV replication. Point of view of author is very general, so some of

presented kinds can looks like non-real. Though, building of such classification can give enough complete

system of possible approaches. Even through pure theoretical and non-practical meaning of such work, I

believe, it can help to discover the new vaccines.

The plan of creating of this article is to go via several revisions with strong communication with

experts in the field. The current revision is 1.

Keywords: HIV vaccine, structure, replication cycle, systematization

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Any theoretically possible HIV vaccines must inhibit or stop the HIV virion replication cycle [1].

So, the targets of the vaccine are the following phases of the HIV virion cycle:

• Phase I. Free state

• Phase II. Attachment

• Phase III. Penetration

• Phase IV. Uncoating

• Phase V. Replication

• Phase VI. Assembling

• Phase VII. Releasing

So, the possible approaches for the HIV vaccine are the following (in the bracket specified the Phases

were it is possible to do).

‐ Filtering of the virions from blood (Phase I):

o Biological approach for removing the HIV virions from the blood.

o Chemical approach for removing the HIV virions from the blood.

o Physical approach for removing the HIV virions from the blood.

‐ Different approaches to catch the virion (Phase I-III, VI, VII)

o Phagocytosis of the HIV virions.

o Chemical or organic based capture (creation of any skin or additional membrane around

the virion) of HIV virions

o Chemical or organic attachments to the virion

‐ Different approaches to destroy or damage the virion or its parts (Phase I-VII).

Here, “damage” means inhibiting or stopping the ability of virion to process any of the Phase II-

VII. Here are the different classification of methods:

o By nature of method:
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ƒ Physical methods (Phase I-VII)

ƒ Chemical and biological methods (Phase I-VII)

o By damaging target of the virion structure [2,3]:

ƒ Damaging the Docking Glycoprotein gp120 [4] (Phase I-III, VI, VII)

ƒ Damaging the Transmembrane Glycoprotein gp41 [5] (Phase I-III, VI, VII)

ƒ Damaging the virion matrix (Phase I-III, VI, VII)

ƒ Damaging the virion Capsid (Phase I-III, VI, VII)

ƒ Damaging the Reverse Transcriptase (Phase I-VII)

ƒ Damaging the RNA (Phase I-VII)

‐ Blocking the replication (Phase I).

o Insertion into blood chemical or organic compounds which binds to the gp120.

Hypothetically, it can be pieces of the CD4 cell membranes with receptors. Any chemical

and organic alternative (with ability to bind the gp120) of this receptors also can be used.

o Insertion into blood chemical or organic compounds which binds to the receptors of the

CD4 cells.

‐ Inhibiting process of phases (drugs already used for this part).

o Biological, chemical or physical approach to inhibit the Attachment

o Biological, chemical or physical approach to inhibit the Penetration

o Biological, chemical or physical approach to inhibit the Uncoating including introducing

the mutation into the HIV

o Biological, chemical or physical approach to inhibit the Replication including introducing

the mutation into the HIV

o Biological, chemical or physical approach to inhibit the Assembling including introducing

the mutation into the HIV

o Biological, chemical or physical approach to inhibit (capping) the Releasing

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‐ Methods of the inhibiting of the functionality of the infected cell (Phase VI- VII):

o Inhibiting the life functions of the infected cell:

ƒ Inhibiting the metabolism of the infected cell

ƒ Inhibiting the energy exchange of the infected cell

References

[1] Collier, Leslie; Balows, Albert; Sussman, Max (1998) Topley and Wilson's Microbiology and

Microbial Infections ninth edition, Volume 1, Virology, volume editors: Mahy, Brian and Collier, Leslie.

Arnold. ISBN 0-340-66316-2., 75–91

[2] McGovern SL, Caselli E, Grigorieff N, Shoichet BK (2002). "A common mechanism underlying
promiscuous inhibitors from virtual and high-throughput screening". J Med Chem 45 (8): 1712–22.
doi:10.1021/jm010533y. PMID 11931626.

[3] Compared with overview in: Fisher, Bruce; Harvey, Richard P.; Champe, Pamela C. (2007).
Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Microbiology (Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews Series). Hagerstown,
MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-8215-5. Page 3

[4] Kuiken, C., Leitner, T., Foley, B., et al. (2008). "HIV Sequence Compendium", Los Alamos National

Laboratory.

[5] Kim PS, Malashkevich VN, Chan DC, Chutkowski CT (1998). "Crystal structure of the simian

immunodeficiency virus (SIV) gp41 core: conserved helical interactions underlie the broad inhibitory

activity of gp41 peptides". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95 (16): 9134-9139. PMID 9689046