New anti-HIV antibody function discovered: tethering of viral particles at the surface of cells

Teams at the Institut Pasteur, CNRS, Vaccine Research Institute (VRI) and Université de Paris have discovered a new function of anti-HIV-1  antibodies by applying cutting-edge microscopy techniques to in vitro viral cultures. The scientists found that certain antibodies already known for effectively targeting HIV-1 envelope (Env) protein can prevent infected cells from releasing viral particles, thus halting viral spread. The antibodies are Y-shaped, enabling them to attach themselves between the infected cell and viral particles or directly between viral particles. This chain composed of antibodies and viral particles prevents viral spread. These findings demonstrate that these powerful antibodies exhibit different antiviral activities in addition to neutralization.

Find out more (in French)

HIV particles (in yellow) accumulating on the surface of an infected cell (in purple). Colorized scanning electron microscopy image. © Stéphane Fremont, Jérémy Dufloo, Arnaud Echard, Timothée Bruel, Olivier Schwartz, Jean-Marc Panaud, Institut Pasteur