Abstract
Understanding the antibody response in HIV-1 infection is important to vaccine design. We have studied the antibody response to HIV-1 envelope at the molecular level and determined the characteristics of neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies. These antibodies were isolated from phage display libraries prepared from long-term seropositive asymptomatic individuals. The HIV-1 envelope is presented to the immune system in several antigenically distinct configurations: unprocessed gp160, gp120 and gp41 subunits and native envelope, each of which may be important in eliciting an antibody response in HIV-1 infection. The antibodies tested characteristically had poor affinities for native envelope as expressed on the surface of virions or infected cells, but had high affinities against non-native forms of HIV-1 envelope (viral debris). An exceptionally potent neutralizing antibody in contrast, bound native envelope with equivalent or somewhat higher affinity than this. This indicates that the antibody response in HIV-1 infection is principally elicited by viral debris rather than virions, and that these antibodies bind and neutralize viruses sub-optimally. Potential vaccines should be designed to elicit responses against native envelope.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 105-112 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Immunology Letters |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 1-3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1997 |
Keywords
- Antibody response
- Human immunodeficiency virus type 1
- Vaccine design
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology