Neutralizing antibodies responses during natural HIV-1 infection

Neutralizing antibodies can protect a host against the infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).Neutralizing antibodies can be induced several weeks after infection.However,the antibodies induced in the early stage can neutralize only the autologous but not heterologous viruses.Nevertheless,broad neutralizing antibodies,which can neutralize both autologous and heterologous viruses,have been found in some chronic patients.Inaddition,broad neutralizing antibodies usually target the conserved regions of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein.However,the envelope glycoprotein mutation and its structure shielding limit the induction of these antibodies. Key words: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 ;  Neutralizing antibody; Broad neutralizing antibody