Study Identifies Factors That Influence HIV Antibody Formation
A recent study revealed factors responsible for the creation of broadly neutralizing antibodies (BNA), formed in about 1% of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), that target various sub-types of HIV, a discovery that could direct efforts to develop an HIV vaccine.
In an effort to identify factors that result in the formation of BNA, researchers examined data from 4484 HIV-infected individuals recorded in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and the Zurich Primary HIV Infection Study. Of these, 239 had formed BNA.
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They found that 3 characteristics influence the formation of BNA independently of one another: viral load, virus diversity, and infection duration. The researchers noted that the independent effect of these factors is beneficial, removing the need to consider all 3 when designing an HIV vaccine.
The researchers also found that ethnicity effects the formation of BNA, with black individuals forming more BNA than white individuals, regardless of other factors. Furthermore, they found that the virus subtype is influential in the type of antibody that is formed.
“Our results show how different factors boost the formation of antibodies that broadly combat different viral strains,” the researchers concluded. “This will pave the way for us to systematically push ahead with the development of an effective vaccine against HIV.”
—Michael Potts
References:
Rusert P, Kouyos RD, Kadelka C, et al; Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Determinants of HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibody induction [published online September 26, 2016. Nat Med. doi:10.1038/nm.4187.
Broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies pave the way for vaccine [press release]. Zurich, Switzerland: University of Zurich; September 26, 2016. http://www.media.uzh.ch/en/Press-Releases/2016/HIV-antibodies. Accessed September 27, 2016.