Neutralization escape variants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 are transmitted from mother to infant.
Maternal passive immunity typically plays a critical role in protecting infants from new infections; however, the specific contribution of neutralizing antibodies in limiting mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is unclear. By examining cloned envelope variants from 12 transmission pairs, we found that vertically transmitted variants were more resistant to neutralization by maternal plasma than were maternal viral variants near the time of transmission. The vertically transmitted envelope variants were poorly neutralized by monoclonal antibodies b12 [corrected] 2G12, 2F5, and 4E10 individually or in combination. Despite the fact that the infant viruses were among the most neutralization resistant in the mother, they had relatively few glycosylation sites. Moreover, the transmitted variants elicited de novo neutralizing antibodies in the infants, indicating that they were not inherently difficult to neutralize. The neutralization resistance of vertically transmitted viruses is in contrast to the relative neutralization sensitivity of viruses sexually transmitted within discordant couples, suggesting that the antigenic properties of viruses that are favored for transmission may differ depending upon mode of transmission.
Wu
Xueling
X
Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA.
Parast
Adam B
AB
Richardson
Barbra A
BA
Nduati
Ruth
R
John-Stewart
Grace
G
Mbori-Ngacha
Dorothy
D
Rainwater
Stephanie M J
SM
Overbaugh
Julie
J
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D013045:Species Specificity; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007106:Immune Sera; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins