Therapeutic Antibodies in HIV
A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Immunology, Vaccines, and Antivirals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 230
Special Issue Editors
Interests: viruses; Fc-effectors, innate immunity; TRIM protein
Interests: viruses; envelope glycoproteins; Fc-effectors; viral accessory proteins; NK cell responses; HIV-1 reservoirs
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue examines the role of therapeutic antibodies in HIV infection, emphasizing the relative contributions of viral neutralization and Fc-mediated effector functions. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) recognize the native HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) present on both virions and infected cells and have shown substantial antiviral activity in preclinical studies and clinical trials. However, the extent to which highly potent bnAbs mediate Fc-dependent clearance of infected cells in vivo remains incompletely defined, in part due to divergent findings from SIV and SHIV models. Recent studies have clarified key distinctions between antibody classes. Non-neutralizing antibodies (nnAbs), which often target conserved Env epitopes that are occluded in the native trimer, can mediate efficient Fc-dependent elimination of infected cells when combined with strategies that induce Env opening, such as CD4 mimetics, underscoring the importance of Env conformation in shaping antibody function. By contrast, many naturally occurring bnAbs are optimized for neutralization, with Fc effector contributions that vary across antibodies and experimental contexts, and their efficacy can be further constrained by pre-existing or acquired viral resistance. This has motivated Fc engineering approaches, including afucosylation, targeted mutations, subclass modulation, and multi-specific formats, to enhance engagement of innate immune pathways. Beyond direct antiviral effects, antibody-derived recognition domains are increasingly being incorporated into chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell platforms, where epitope accessibility, density, and distance from the membrane critically influence cytotoxic function. Anti-HIV-1 antibodies may also reawaken endogenous immune control through vaccinal effects, including enhanced antigen presentation and durable cellular immune responses. These properties distinguish antibody-based interventions from antiretroviral therapy, including long-acting agents such as lenacapavir, and raise important questions regarding their integration with existing treatment strategies. Given this background, we welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives addressing mechanistic and translational aspects of antibody-mediated HIV control, including the emergence of resistance mutations, modulation of Env conformation, adverse outcomes, implications for reservoir targeting, and cure-oriented strategies.
Dr. Pradeep Uchil
Dr. Jonathan Richard
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- HIV-1
- therapeutic antibodies
- Fc-effector functions
- broadly neutralizing antibodies
- non-neutralizing antibodies
- CD4 mimetics
- Env conformation
- antibody-based CAR T cells
- epitope location
- ADCC
- ADCP
- antibody engineering
- HIV-1 reservoir clearance
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