Non-neutralizing antibody functions for protection and control HIV in humans and SIV and SHIV in non-human primates—Zolla-Pazner 2016

HIV was isolated, starting the search for a vaccine [1,2]. Since the RV144 clinical trial found a correlation between reduced infection and specific antibody levels in noninfected vaccinees, HIV vaccine research has shifted from T-cell immunity to antibody responses [3–5]. Parallel to the RV144 results, a technical breakthrough in human monoclonal antibody (mAb) manufacturing led to the isolation and characterization of many potent and broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) [6–9]. Most HIV vaccine researchers want to induce these exceptional antibodies with vaccine candidates, but these bnAbs are rare and have extensive somatic hypermutation [10,11]. No vaccination has caused bnAbs in humans or animals, and RV144 provided modest but considerable protection without bnAbs. Neutralizing antibodies did not diminish RV144 infection rates [3].

Zolla-Pazner S. (2016). Non-neutralizing antibody functions for protection and control HIV in humans and SIV and SHIV in non-human primates. AIDS (London, England), 30(16), 2551–2553. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000001200