Strong selection pressure seen for outgrowth of less neutralization-sensitive viruses
FRIDAY, Dec. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A single infusion of the potent human monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting the HIV-1 CD4 binding site, VRC01, decreases plasma viremia, according to a study published in the Dec. 23 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Rebecca M. Lynch, from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues examined the impact of VRC01 on antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated and untreated HIV-1-infected subjects.
The researchers found that two infusions of VRC01 did not reduce the peripheral blood cell-associated virus reservoir measured four weeks after the second infusion among six ART-treated individuals with undetectable plasma viremia. A reduction in viremia was seen for six of eight ART-untreated viremic subjects after infusion with a single dose of VRC01. In two subjects with plasma virus load <1,000 copies/mL, virus suppression to undetectable levels occurred over 20 days until VRC01 levels declined. Viremia was only partially suppressed by mAb infusion among the remaining four subjects, with baseline virus loads between 3,000 and 30,000 copies; strong selection pressure was seen for the outgrowth of less neutralization-sensitive viruses.
“In summary, a single infusion of mAb VRC01 significantly decreased plasma viremia and preferentially suppressed neutralization-sensitive virus strains,” the authors write. “These data demonstrate the virological effect of this neutralizing antibody and highlight the need for combination strategies to maintain virus suppression.”
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
