Distinct region-specific neutralization profiles of contemporary HIV-1 clade C against best-in- class broadly neutralizing antibodies
While the development of vaccines to prevent HIV infection remains a global priority, their potential effectiveness is limited by the extraordinarily diversified circulating forms of HIV1. The prospect of best-in-class bnAbs as potential prevention option has been demonstrated in several studies including the Phase 2b Antibody Mediated Prevention trial, however, to be broadly applicable, bnAbs will need to overcome the substantial variability of HIV env. The present study highlights that the contemporary HIV-1 clade C viruses are evolving to be less sensitive to the best-in-class bnAbs and HIV-1 clade C that predominates in India and South Africa vary in their degree of susceptibility to best-in-class clinically relevant bnAbs. This indicates differences in the antigenic properties between globally circulating HIV-1 clade C at a population level. Overall, the outcome of this study highlights the need for periodic assessment of sequence and neutralization profiles of the circulating regionally relevant HIV1 forms towards prioritizing the bnAb combination suitable for effective prevention.