Abstract
Most human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine trials have lacked efficacy and empirical vaccine lead targets are scarce. Thus far, the only independent correlate of reduced risk of HIV-1 acquisition in humans is elevated levels of V2-specific antibodies identified in the modestly protective RV144 vaccine trial. Ten years after RV144, human and non-human primate vaccine studies have reassessed the potential contribution of V2-specific antibodies to vaccine efficacy. In addition, studies of natural HIV-1 infection in humans have provided insight into the development of V1V2-directed antibody responses and their impact on clinical parameters and disease progression. Functionally diverse anti-V2 monoclonal antibodies were isolated and their structurally distinct V2 epitope regions characterized. After RV144, a plethora of research studies were performed using different model systems, immunogens, protocols, and challenge viruses. These diverse studies failed to provide a clear picture regarding the contribution of V2 antibodies to vaccine efficacy. Here, we summarize the biological functions and clinical findings associated with V2-specific antibodies and discuss their impact on HIV vaccine research.
Highlights
The almost 2 million human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections per year worldwide are an incentive to drive progress in the development of a preventive HIV vaccine [1]
Differences in glycan content and composition and the capacity of envelope protein (Env) glycoproteins to stimulate the expression of genes involved in innate or adaptive immune responses in the context of different vectors and adjuvants may have contributed to the observed dissimilarities in immunogenicity between simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and HIV-1 [38,69,71,72,73,74,75,76]
V2q/V2qt broadly-neutralizing Abs (bnAbs) are highly potent in neutralizing a broad variety of HIV-1 strains, but it has not been possible to induce such bnAbs by vaccination
Summary
The almost 2 million human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections per year worldwide are an incentive to drive progress in the development of a preventive HIV vaccine [1]. Studies of natural infection have enabled the investigation of V2 responses that are derived “naturally” after infection with replication-competent primary viruses in the human system. These studies have helped to identify similarities between V2 Ab responses in natural infection and after vaccination. They have enabled to distinguish the requirements for V2 high and V2 low immune responses, to recapitulate the development of functionally potent V2 Abs, to isolate key monoclonal Abs (mAbs), and to identify how V2 Ab responses correlate with other immune responses and clinical outcome [19,20,21,22]. We discuss their potential contribution to vaccine efficacy versus the possibility that vaccine-inducible V2 Abs merely serve as surrogate markers for other immune responses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
