Passive and active antibody studies in primates to inform HIV vaccines

Introduction: Prevention of infection remains the ultimate goal for HIV vaccination, and there is compelling evidence that antibodies directed to Envelope are necessary to block infection. Generating antibodies that are sufficiently broad, potent, and sustained to block infection by the diverse HIV-1 strains circulating worldwide remains an area of intense study.

Areas covered: In this review, we have summarized progress from publications listed as PubMed citations in 2016-17 in the areas of passive antibody studies using human neutralizing monoclonal antibodies in nonhuman primates, HIV Envelope vaccine development and active vaccination studies to generate potent neutralizing antibodies.

Expert commentary: Passive transfer studies in nonhuman primates using human neutralizing monoclonal antibodies have informed the potency, specificity, and cooperativity of antibodies needed to prevent infection, leading to clinical studies now testing potent antibodies for prevention of HIV. Progress in understanding the structure of Envelope has led to novel vaccine constructs, including mimetics, scaffolds and native-like proteins. As yet, no single approach ensures protection against the circulating global HIV-1 strains, but there is progress in understanding why, and intense research continues in these and other areas for a solution. We offer perspectives on how this knowledge may shape the design of future HIV vaccines.