Abstract
Despite the wide availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) prophylaxis during pregnancy, >150,000 infants become infected through mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV worldwide. It is likely that additional intervention strategies, such as a maternal HIV vaccine, will be required to eliminate pediatric HIV infections. A deeper understanding of the fine specificity and function of maternal HIV envelope (Env)-specific responses that provide partial protection against MTCT will be critical to inform the design of immunologic strategies to curb the pediatric HIV epidemic. Recent studies have underlined a role of maternal HIV Env-specific neutralizing and non-neutralizing responses in reducing risk of MTCT of HIV and in prolonging survival rates in HIV-infected infants. However, critical gaps in our knowledge include (A) the specific role of maternal autologous-virus IgG-neutralizing responses in driving the selection of infant transmitted founder (T/F) viruses and (B) Env mechanisms of escape from maternal autologous virus-neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). A more refined understanding of the fine specificities of maternal autologous virus NAbs and ways that maternal circulating viruses escape from these antibodies will be crucial to inform maternal vaccination strategies that can block MTCT to help achieve an HIV-free generation.
Highlights
According to the 2016 UNAIDS global report, >150,000 infants became infected with HIV-1 via mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in 2015 [1]
This study reported that transmitting and non-transmitting women had a similar proportion of neutralization-resistant viruses to paired maternal plasma, suggesting that maternal autologous neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) may not be associated with infant protection
The inability to validate the association of maternal antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)-mediating breast milk Env-specific IgG responses and reduced MTCT risk may be due to distinct cohort sizes, potential virologic differences in clade A and clade C viruses, and differences in fine specificity and function in these distinct cohorts of HIV-infected women
Summary
According to the 2016 UNAIDS global report, >150,000 infants became infected with HIV-1 via mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in 2015 [1]. This study reported that transmitting and non-transmitting women had a similar proportion of neutralization-resistant viruses to paired maternal plasma, suggesting that maternal autologous NAbs may not be associated with infant protection.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
