Breadth of human immunodeficiency virus-specific neutralizing activity in sera: clustering analysis and association with clinical variables

J Virol. 2010 Feb;84(3):1631-6. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01482-09. Epub 2009 Nov 18.

Abstract

Induction of antibodies that neutralize a broad range of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates is a major goal of vaccine development. To study natural examples of broad neutralization, we analyzed sera from 103 HIV-1-infected subjects. Among progressor patients, 20% of sera neutralized more than 75% of a panel of 20 diverse viral isolates. Little activity was observed in sera from long-term nonprogressors (elite controllers). Breadth of neutralization was correlated with viral load, but not with CD4 count, history of past antiretroviral use, age, gender, race/ethnicity, or route of exposure. Clustering analysis of sera by a novel method identified a statistically robust subgrouping of sera that demonstrated broad and potent neutralization activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Cluster Analysis
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV Long-Term Survivors
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing