Passive neutralizing antibody controls SHIV viremia and enhances B cell responses in infant macaques

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Passive transfer of high doses of neutralizing antibodies can protect nonhuman primates against infection with simian HIV (SHIV). Ng et al. now report that low levels of neutralizing polyclonal antibodies plus a neutralizing monoclonal antibody do not prevent infection with SHIV, but do delay peak viremia, modulate CD4+ T cell decline and promote the de novo generation of neutralizing antibodies in macaques. Maternal HIV-1–specific antibodies are efficiently transferred to newborns, but their role in disease control is unknown. We administered neutralizing IgG, including the human neutralizing monoclonal IgG1b12, at levels insufficient to block infection, to six newborn macaques before oral challenge with simian-HIV strain SF162P3 (SHIVSF162P3). All of the macaques rapidly developed neutralizing antibodies and had significantly reduced plasma viremia for six months. These studies support the use of neutralizing antibodies in enhancing B cell responses and viral control in perinatal settings.