Identification of broadly neutralizing antibody epitopes in the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein using evolutionary models.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Identification of the epitopes targeted by antibodies that can neutralize diverse HIV-1 strains can provide important clues for the design of a preventative vaccine.

Methods

We have developed a computational approach that can identify key amino acids within the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein that influence sensitivity to broadly cross-neutralizing antibodies. Given a sequence alignment and neutralization titers for a panel of viruses, the method works by fitting a phylogenetic model that allows the amino acid frequencies at each site to depend on neutralization sensitivities. Sites at which viral evolution influences neutralization sensitivity were identified using Bayes factors (BFs) to compare the fit of this model to that of a null model in which sequences evolved

SUBMITTER: Lacerda M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4220805 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature