Synthetic carbohydrate-based HIV-1 vaccines

An effective prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine is essential in order to contain the HIV/AIDS global pandemic. The discovery of different broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) in the last decades has enabled the characterization of several minimal epitopes on the HIV envelope (Env) spike, including glycan-dependent fragments. Herein, we provide a brief overview of the progress made on the development of synthetic carbohydrate-based epitope mimics for the elicitation of bnAbs directed to certain regions on Env gp120 protein: the outer domain high-mannose cluster and the variable loops V1V2 and V3. We focus on the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of minimal immunogens and discuss key aspects towards the development of a successful protective vaccine against HIV-1.