Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies against HIV: Back to Blood

Trends Mol Med. 2019 Mar;25(3):228-240. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.01.007. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Abstract

After years of continuous exposure to HIV envelope antigens, a minority of HIV-infected individuals develop a cognate polyclonal humoral response comprising very potent and extremely cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies [broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs)]. Isolated bNAbs derived from memory B cell pools have been the focus of intense studies over the past decade. However, it is not yet known how to translate the features of bNAbs into practical HIV prevention methods. In this review, we attempt to seek insights from emerging information about the human broadly neutralizing plasma response as well as its frequency, clonal composition, specificity, potency, and commonality among infected subjects. We also consider how this information points to selecting and prioritizing certain epitope targets and strategies for HIV vaccine design.

Keywords: HIV; antibody; bNAbs; gp120; neutralization; vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies / blood
  • Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies / immunology*
  • Epitopes
  • HIV Antibodies / blood
  • HIV Antibodies / chemistry
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Viral Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies
  • Epitopes
  • HIV Antibodies
  • Viral Proteins