Evolution of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 envelope in the first years of infection is associated with the dynamics of the neutralizing antibody response

• Authors: Barroso H, Bártolo I, Borrego P, Calado R, Cavaco-Silva P, Família C, Gomes P, Leitner T, Marcelino JM, Quintas A, Rocha C, Rosado L, Skar H, Taveira N
• Journal: Retrovirology
• Link: http://www.retrovirology.com/content/10/1/110

Differently from HIV-1, HIV-2 disease progression usually takes decades without antiretroviral therapy and the majority of HIV-2 infected individuals survive as elite controllers with normal CD4+ T cell counts and low or undetectable plasma viral load. Neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) are thought to play a central role in HIV-2 evolution and pathogenesis. However, the dynamic of the Nab response and resulting HIV-2 escape during acute infection and their impact in HIV-2 evolution and disease progression remain largely unknown. Our objective was to characterize the Nab response and the molecular and phenotypic evolution of HIV-2 in association with Nab escape in the first years of infection in two children infected at birth.
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