Effective, low-titer antibody protection against low-dose repeated mucosal SHIV challenge in macaques.

ABSTRACT: Neutralizing antibodies are thought to be crucial for HIV vaccine protection, but studies in animal models suggest that high antibody concentrations are required. This is a major potential hurdle for vaccine design. However, these studies typically apply a large virus inoculum to ensure infection in control animals in single-challenge experiments. In contrast, most human infection via sexual encounter probably involves repeated exposures to much lower doses of virus. Therefore, animal studies may have provided an overestimate of the levels of antibodies required for protection in humans. We investigated whether plasma concentrations of antibody corresponding to relatively modest neutralization titers in vitro could protect macaques from repeated intravaginal exposure to low doses of a simi

SUBMITTER: Hessell AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4334439 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature