Media Availability: Single Antibody Infusions Provide Durable Protection Against HIV-Like Virus in Monkeys

Media Availability: Single Antibody Infusions Provide Durable Protection Against HIV-Like Virus in Monkeys

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Antibody Infusions Protect Monkeys Against HIV-Like Virus

Model of the VRC01 antibody, one of the bNAbs used in the study. Credit: NIAID

A single antibody infusion can protect monkeys against infection with an HIV-like virus for up to 23 weeks, a new NIAID-led study shows. The scientists gave monkeys an infusion of one of several broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV, then exposed the animals weekly to low doses of simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV), which contains components of HIV and a related monkey virus. In all cases, the antibody infusion delayed the acquisition of SHIV. Although more research is needed, the study suggests using bNAb infusions as a prevention strategy potentially could protect people at high risk for HIV transmission.