Antibody-mediated protection against SHIV challenge includes systemic clearance of distal virus

Science. 2016 Sep 2;353(6303):1045-1049. doi: 10.1126/science.aag0491. Epub 2016 Aug 18.

Abstract

HIV-1-specific broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) can protect rhesus monkeys against simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) challenge. However, the site of antibody interception of virus and the mechanism of antibody-mediated protection remain unclear. We administered a fully protective dose of the bNAb PGT121 to rhesus monkeys and challenged them intravaginally with SHIV-SF162P3. In PGT121-treated animals, we detected low levels of viral RNA and viral DNA in distal tissues for seven days following challenge. Viral RNA-positive tissues showed transcriptomic changes indicative of innate immune activation, and cells from these tissues initiated infection after adoptive transfer into naïve hosts. These data demonstrate that bNAb-mediated protection against a mucosal virus challenge can involve clearance of infectious virus in distal tissues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Female
  • HIV Antibodies / administration & dosage*
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology
  • Macaca mulatta
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / prevention & control*
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology*
  • Transcriptome
  • Vagina / virology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • DNA, Viral
  • HIV Antibodies
  • RNA, Viral