Viral variants that initiate and drive maturation of V1V2-directed HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies.

ABSTRACT: The elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) is likely to be essential for a preventative HIV-1 vaccine, but this has not yet been achieved by immunization. In contrast, some HIV-1-infected individuals naturally mount bNAb responses during chronic infection, suggesting that years of maturation may be required for neutralization breadth. Recent studies have shown that viral diversification precedes the emergence of bNAbs, but the significance of this observation is unknown. Here we delineate the key viral events that drove neutralization breadth within the CAP256-VRC26 family of 33 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) isolated from a superinfected individual. First, we identified minority viral variants, termed bNAb-initiating envelopes, that were distinct from both of the transmitted

SUBMITTER: Bhiman JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4637988 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature