South Africa: What Are Broadly Neutralising Antibodies and What Do They Mean for the Fight Against HIV?
[spotlight] HIV is known for its ability to outsmart our immune system's normal defences. A small number of people living with the virus are however able to generate unusually effective immune responses. In this special briefing, we zoom in on broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs), the secret sauce in these immune responses, and their potential role in the future of HIV treatment and prevention.
Broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs) hold promise for improving HIV treatment and prevention. These special antibodies are more effective in neutralising HIV compared to regular antibodies because they target parts of the virus that change very little, known as conserved regions. About 20% of people living with HIV naturally develop bNAbs after many years, but these defenders are outpaced by the rapidly mutating virus and may not work for everyone.
Researchers have identified and replicated bNAbs in the lab, and early-stage trials suggest they can be safely administered to prevent HIV infection in people who are HIV negative and control the virus in those already living with it. However, bNAbs have not yet reached the effectiveness of antiretroviral medicines, which remain the primary treatment and prevention method for HIV.
Researchers are exploring the potential of bNAbs as a form of HIV prevention, similar to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), through infusions of these antibodies. While the AMP trials showed that a single bNAb called VRC01 did not prevent HIV infection, the studies revealed that bNAbs could neutralise certain strains of the virus under specific conditions, providing a glimmer of hope for future research.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
