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Learned young: HIV-1 germline-targeting vaccination in infants

Rogier W Sanders1,2,3, Tom G Caniels2, John P Moore1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.

Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS
|July 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Vaccinating young children against HIV-1 may be beneficial, as their developing immune systems can produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Strategies involve targeted immunogens for passive and active immunization in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Infants are routinely vaccinated against common viral infections.
  • While HIV-1 risk is low in early childhood, immunological factors suggest potential benefits of early vaccination.
  • The infant immune system may be uniquely suited for developing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential benefits of vaccinating young children against HIV-1.
  • To investigate strategies for inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) in infants.
  • To assess the role of bNAbs in infant protection against HIV-1.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzing studies of HIV-1-infected individuals to understand immune system development.
  • Exploring methods to target germline B cell precursors in infants for bNAb maturation.
  • Designing specific envelope glycoprotein immunogens for vaccination strategies.

Main Results:

  • Infant immune systems may more readily generate B cells producing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) compared to adults.
  • Sequential antigenic stimuli can guide B cell precursors to mature into bNAb-producing plasma cells.
  • Multidose immunization is a standard practice in childhood vaccination frameworks.

Conclusions:

  • Strategies using designed envelope glycoprotein immunogens can induce bNAbs in infants.
  • Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) can be utilized for passive protection of infants.
  • Combining passive protection with active vaccination offers a potential dual approach for infant HIV-1 prevention.
Abstract

Keywords:
HIV-1broadly neutralizing antibodiesgermline-targeting vaccinepediatric vaccine

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