Maternal HIV-1 Antibody and Vertical Transmission in Subtype C Virus Infection

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Abstract
Summary:The role of maternal humoral immune response and viral load was analyzed in relation to the incidence of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of infants born to HIV-1 subtype C infected mothers. High levels of viral RNA in the serum correlated with MTCT as did high titers of subtype C consensus V3 peptide binding antibodies (BA) and neutralizing antibody (NA) to subtype B HIV-1MN. Logistic regression analysis showed that maternal viral load and V3 peptide subtype C BA were independent predictors for MTCT, odds ratio (OR) = 2.22 and OR = 2.52, respectively. No correlation between NA to homologous HIV-1 subtype C virus and MTCT was found. BA to V3 peptides may provide a rapid inexpensive method that can be used to determine the risk of HIV-1 MTCT. Address correspondence and reprint requests to R. Michael Hendry, Department of Viral Vaccine Research. Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines, Bldg. 180 Rm. 207G. 401 N. Middletown Rd., Pearl River, NY 10965-1299; e-mail: [email protected] J. Casseb is currently at the Laboratory of Immunogenetics and Experimental Transplantation, São Paulo University Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. M. Mbizvo is currently with the United Nations Population Division/United Nations Population Fund/World Health Organization/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction, World Health Organization. Geneva, Switzerland. R. M. Hendry is currently at the Department of Viral Vaccine Research. Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines. Pearl River. New York, U.S.A. Manuscript received July 23, 2001; accepted January 22, 2002. © 2002 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins