HIV envelope gp120 x CD3

Class

Bispecific T-cell-engaging DART molecule

This mechanism targets cells infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using a bispecific molecule that simultaneously binds two different proteins: gp120, a glycoprotein displayed on the surface of infected cells, and CD3, a signaling component of the T-cell receptor complex found on essentially all T lymphocytes. By physically bridging these two proteins, the molecule forces a nearby T cell into close contact with an infected cell and triggers the T cell's built-in killing program, regardless of whether that T cell was originally specific for HIV. This approach, known as T-cell engagement, is well established in oncology and is being adapted here for viral disease. The biological rationale is that natural antiviral immunity against HIV often becomes exhausted or fails to recognize the full diversity of viral variants, so redirecting the broader T-cell pool toward infected cells offers a way around that limitation. This class of molecule is particularly relevant to strategies aiming to eliminate the reservoir of latently infected cells that persist despite antiretroviral therapy, since these cells periodically reactivate and display gp120 on their surface, creating a window for targeted elimination.