title: Broadly cross-neutralizing antibodies in HIV-1 patients with undetectable viremia.
abstract: Several recent studies have identified HIV-infected patients able to produce a broad neutralizing response, and the detailed analyses of their sera have provided valuable information to improve future vaccine design. All these studies have excluded patients on antiretroviral treatment and with undetectable viral loads, who have an improved B cell profile compared to untreated patients. To better understand the induction of neutralizing antibodies in patients on antiretroviral treatment with undetectable viremia, we have screened 508 serum samples from 364 patients (173 treated and 191 untreated) for a broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) response using a new strategy based on the use of recombinant viruses. Sera able to neutralize a minipanel of 6 recombinant viruses, including envelopes from 5 different subtypes, were found in both groups. After IgG purification, we were able to confirm the presence of IgG-associated broadly neutralizing activity in 3.7% (7 of 191) of untreated patients with detectable viremia and 1.7% (3 of 174) of aviremic patients receiving antiretroviral treatment. We thus confirm the possibility of induction of a broad IgG-associated neutralizing response in patients on antiretroviral treatment, despite having undetectable viremia. This observation is in stark contrast to the data obtained from long-term nonprogressors, whose little neutralizing activity has been attributed to the low levels of viral replication.
authors.affiliation: Retrovirology and Viral Immunopathology Laboratory, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Villarroel 170, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Medina-Ramírez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Merino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Palomino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merino-Mansilla
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alcocer-González
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gatell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alcamí
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yuste
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus