Persistence of VRC01-resistant HIV-1 during antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

VRC01, a broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody (bnmAb), can neutralize a diverse array of HIV-1 isolates by mimicking CD4 binding to the envelope glycoprotein gp120. We have previously demonstrated the presence of VRC01-resistant strains in an HIV-1 infected patient during antiretroviral therapy. Here, we report follow-up studies of two subsequent samples from the same patient. With genetic and phenotypic analysis of over 70 full-length molecular clones of the HIV-1 envelope, we show that VRC01-resistant HIV-1 continued to exist and change in its proportion of the infecting virus during treatment with a highly active antiretroviral therapy. Consistent with our previous observation, the resistant phenotype was associated with a single asparagine residue at position 460 (N460), a potential N-linked glycosylation site in the V5 region. The persistence and continuing evolution of VRC01-resistant HIV-1 in vivo presents a great challenge to our future preventative and therapeutic interventions based on VRC01. © 2013 The Author(s).