HIV finds escape routes from a preventive antibody—but newer antibodies may close them
In an HIV prevention trial, an antibody blocked the viruses most vulnerable to it, but others broke through. Now researchers have uncovered how HIV evolved after those infections—and why the amount of antibody in the body is an essential part of the story.
In a recent HIV prevention study, an antibody called VRC01 initially blocked infections caused by highly sensitive strains of the virus. However, other strains managed to break through and infect the participants. Researchers found that the amount of antibody in the body plays a crucial role in preventing HIV infections. The study, published in Nature Microbiology, examined how HIV evolved after infection in people who received VRC01.
It revealed that escape mutations developed in 31% of VRC01 recipients, compared to none in the placebo group. These mutations showed that HIV can adapt quickly to antibody pressure, even when targeting a critical region of the virus. The researchers emphasize the importance of maintaining high antibody levels and exploring combinations of antibodies that target different parts of the virus to prevent resistance.
They also stress the need for advanced sequencing techniques to detect rare escape variants and the potential of newer, more potent antibodies in combating HIV infections.
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