Anti-immune complex antibodies are elicited during repeated immunization with HIV Env immunogens.

ABSTRACT: Vaccination strategies against HIV-1 aim to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) using prime-boost regimens with HIV envelope (Env) immunogens. Epitope mapping has shown that early antibody responses are directed to easily accessible nonneutralizing epitopes on Env instead of bnAb epitopes. Autologously neutralizing antibody responses appear upon boosting, once immunodominant epitopes are saturated. Here, we use electron microscopy-based polyclonal epitope mapping (EMPEM) to elucidate how repeated immunization with HIV Env SOSIP immunogens results in the generation of Ab2α anti-idiotypic antibodies in rabbits and rhesus macaques. We present the structures of six anti-immune complex antibodies and find that they target idiotopes composed of framework regions of antibodies bound to

SUBMITTER: Brown S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12057571 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature