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HIV-1 and influenza antibodies: seeing antigens in new ways

Nature Immunology volume 10, pages 573–578 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

New modes of humoral recognition have been identified by studies of antibodies that neutralize human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and influenza A viruses. Understanding how such modes of antibody-antigen recognition can occur in the context of sophisticated mechanisms of humoral evasion has implications for the development of effective vaccines. Here we describe eight modes of antibody recognition first observed with human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Similarities to four of these modes have been identified with antibodies to a conserved 'stem' epitope on influenza A viruses. We outline how each of these different modes of antibody recognition is particularly suited to overcoming a specific viral evasion tactic and assess potential routes of re-elicitation in vaccine settings.

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Figure 1: New modes of antibody recognition demonstrated by HIV-1-reactive antibodies.
Figure 2: Features of HIV-1 antibody recognition used by influenza hemagglutinin-reactive antibodies.
Figure 3: Antibody-directed strategies of vaccine design.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. Elsliger, G. Nabel and L. Shapiro for comments on the manuscript; D. Ekiert for assistance with Figure 2; J. Stuckey for Figures 1,2,3; and members of the Structural Biology Section, Vaccine Research Center for comments on the manuscript. Supported by the National Institutes of Health (intramural program and grants) and by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

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  1. Peter D. Kwong is with the Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. pdkwong@nih.gov,

    Peter D Kwong

  2. Ian A. Wilson is in the Department of Molecular Biology and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA.,

    Ian A Wilson

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Kwong, P., Wilson, I. HIV-1 and influenza antibodies: seeing antigens in new ways. Nat Immunol 10, 573–578 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni.1746

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