Sculpted immunogens; B-cell epitope optimization using constrained secondary structure libraries Original Research Article

A library of conformationally constrained reverse turn mimetics of the HIV V3 loop was screened against the mAb 50.1. Addition of a Th-cell epitope to the reverse turn template provided an immunogen which, when immunized (either in alum or IFA), generated a high titer, highly specific response to HIV gp120.