Initial antibodies binding to HIV-1 gp41 in acutely infected subjects are polyreactive and highly mutated

• DOI: 10.1084/jem.20110363
• Publication Date: 2011-10-11T05:28:06Z
• Authors: Hua-Xin Liao; Xi Chen; Supriya Munshaw; Ruijun Zhang; Dawn J. Marshall; Nathan Vandergrift; John F. Whitesides; Xiaozhi Lu; Jae-Sung Yu; Kwan-Ki Hwang; Feng Gao; Martin Markowitz; Sonya L. Heath; Katharine J. Bar; Paul A. Goepfert; David C. Montefiori; George C. Shaw; S. Munir Alam; David M. Margolis; Thomas N. Denny; Scott D. Boyd; Eleanor Marshal; Michael Egholm; Birgitte B. Simen; Bozena Hanczaruk; Andrew Z. Fire; Gerald Voss; Garnett Kelsoe; Georgia D. Tomaras; M. Anthony Moody; Thomas B. Kepler; Barton F. Haynes
• Keywords: Viremia

The initial antibody response to HIV-1 is targeted envelope (Env) gp41, and nonneutralizing ineffective in controlling viremia. To understand the origins characteristics of gp41-binding antibodies produced shortly after transmission, we isolated studied gp41-reactive plasma cells from subjects acutely infected with HIV-1. frequencies somatic mutations were relatively high these antibodies. Reverted unmutated ancestors derived frequently did not react autologous Env; however, polyreactive bound host or bacterial antigens. In one large clonal lineage antibodies, reactivity Env was acquired only mutations. Polyreactive also uninfected individuals. These data suggest that majority acute infection are cross-reactive responses generated by stimulating memory B have previously been activated non–HIV-1