Hypothesis of design of biological cell robot as human immunodeficiency virus vaccine

Abstract

High genetic variability of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been a major intractable challenge to the practical design of vaccines. But a recent pioneer study published in PNAS Xenobots, is likely to revolutionize HIV prevention as it presented the world's first living robot made of cells. In the advent of this discovery, we herein discuss the possibility of using living biological cell robots to target HIV-infected T lymphocytes, and the prospects of this approach being a new HIV vaccine. We capture the current research status and trend of advances in biological cell robots' design as a new HIV vaccine. The key differences between this novel vaccine and other HIV vaccines are highlighted.

Keywords: Biologically inspired microrobots; CD4; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus target cell surrogate; New vaccine.

Figure 1

The mechanism by which human immunodeficiency virus attacks a target cell. HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus.

Figure 2

Human immunodeficiency virus recognizes and binds a CD4 lymphocyte. HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus.

Figure 3

Functions of a living biological cell robot. After entering the body, the living cell robot mediates human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection by the high-affinity receptor expressed on the cell surface, and HIV is killed by drugs or RNase carried by the cell. HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus.

Figure 4

A simulation of human immunodeficiency virus infecting a surrogate target cell by the alternative infection. By blocking the receptor on the T cell surface with the blocking antibody, the probability of human immunodeficiency virus infection surrogate target cell will increase. HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus.