Broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting the HIV-1 envelope V2 apex confer protection against a clade C SHIV challenge

B Julg, LJ Tartaglia, BF Keele, K Wagh… - Science translational …, 2017 - science.org
B Julg, LJ Tartaglia, BF Keele, K Wagh, A Pegu, D Sok, P Abbink, SD Schmidt, K Wang…
Science translational medicine, 2017science.org
Neutralizing antibodies to the V2 apex antigenic region of the HIV-1 envelope (Env) trimer
are among the most prevalent cross-reactive antibodies elicited by natural infection. Two
recently described V2-specific antibodies, PGDM1400 and CAP256-VRC26. 25, have
demonstrated exquisite potency and neutralization breadth against HIV-1. However, little
data exist on the protective efficacy of V2-specific neutralizing antibodies. We created a
novel SHIV-325c viral stock that included a clade C HIV-1 envelope and was susceptible to …
Neutralizing antibodies to the V2 apex antigenic region of the HIV-1 envelope (Env) trimer are among the most prevalent cross-reactive antibodies elicited by natural infection. Two recently described V2-specific antibodies, PGDM1400 and CAP256-VRC26.25, have demonstrated exquisite potency and neutralization breadth against HIV-1. However, little data exist on the protective efficacy of V2-specific neutralizing antibodies. We created a novel SHIV-325c viral stock that included a clade C HIV-1 envelope and was susceptible to neutralization by both of these antibodies. Rhesus macaques received a single infusion of either antibody at three different concentrations (2, 0.4, and 0.08 mg/kg) before challenge with SHIV-325c. PGDM1400 was fully protective at the 0.4 mg/kg dose, whereas CAP256-VRC26.25-LS was fully protective even at the 0.08 mg/kg dose, which correlated with its greater in vitro neutralization potency against the challenge virus. Serum antibody concentrations required for protection were <0.75 μg/ml for CAP256-VRC26.25-LS. These data demonstrate unprecedented potency and protective efficacy of V2-specific neutralizing antibodies in nonhuman primates and validate V2 as a potential target for the prevention of HIV-1 infection in passive immunization strategies in humans.
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