Native envelope-based immunogens derived from critical timepoints in the development of breadth elicit rapid neutralizing antibodies in rabbits

Abstract

Background HIV-1 evolves rapidly within the host, resulting in the development of diverse variants called a viral “quasispecies” population. A major goal of vaccine efforts is the design of Envelope (Env)-based immunogens effective at eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies. We hypothesize that B cells become programmed to develop broad NAbs by exposure to Envs presented by the viral quasispecies variants. We propose that similar programming could be achieved by a vaccine concept exposing the host to such Env quasispecies variants isolated from an individual who developed broad NAbs over time. Methods