An antibody tag-team: driving neutralization through escape

Trends Immunol. 2014 Sep;35(9):403-5. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2014.07.009. Epub 2014 Aug 15.

Abstract

HIV rapidly mutates to escape antibody detection, and B cells counter this mutation by continual evolution to restore recognition, serendipitously resulting in the evolution of neutralizing activity in a fraction of infected individuals. A recent Cell paper describes how antibody repertoires stochastically collaborated, shaping the viral swarm and utilizing viral immune evasion to their advantage.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Blocking / genetics
  • Antibodies, Blocking / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Viral / genetics
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Antibody Affinity
  • Antigenic Modulation
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • HIV / genetics
  • HIV / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Mutation / genetics

Substances

  • Antibodies, Blocking
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral