Neutralizing antibodies in SIV control: co-impact with T cells

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected naïve hosts experience a characteristic absence of early and potent virus-specific neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses preceding establishment of persistent infection. Yet conversely, we have recently shown that NAbs passively immunized in rhesus macaques at early post-SIV challenge are capable of playing a critical role in non-sterile viremia control with implications of antibody-enhanced antigen presentation. In a current follow-up study we have further reported that NAbs mediate rapid elicitation of polyfunctional virus-specific CD4+ T-cells in vivo. The NAb-immunized macaques mounting these responses exhibited sustained viremia control for over 1 year, accompanied with robust anti-SIV cellular immunity. Perspectives obtained from the results are discussed.