Browsing by Author "Moore, Penelope L."

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Ability to develop broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies is not restricted by the germline Ig gene repertoire.
(American Association of Immunologists., 2015) Scheepers, Cathrine.; Shrestha, Ram K.; Lambson, Bronwen Elizabeth.; Jackson, Katherine J. L.; Wright, Imogen A.; Naicker, Dshanta Dyanedi.; Goosen, Mark.; Berrie, Leigh.; Ismail, Arshad.; Garrett, Nigel Joel.; Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Moore, Penelope L.; Travers, Simon A.; Morris, Lynn.
Abstract available in pdf.
Broad neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 mediated by plasma antibodies against the gp41 membrane proximal external region.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2009) Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Madiga, Maphuti C.; Moore, Penelope L.; Mlisana, Koleka Patience.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Binley, James M.; Shaw, George M.; Mascola, John R.; Morris, Lynn.
We identified three cross-neutralizing plasma samples with high-titer anti-membrane proximal external region (MPER) peptide binding antibodies from among 156 chronically human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals. In order to establish if these antibodies were directly responsible for the observed neutralization breadth, we used MPER-coated magnetic beads to deplete plasmas of these specific antibodies. Depletion of anti-MPER antibodies from BB34, CAP206, and SAC21 resulted in 77%, 68%, and 46% decreases, respectively, in the number of viruses neutralized. Antibodies eluted from the beads showed neutralization profiles similar to those of the original plasmas, with potencies comparable to those of the known anti-MPER monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 4E10, 2F5, and Z13e1. The anti-MPER neutralizing antibodies in BB34 were present in the immunoglobulin G3 subclass-enriched fraction. Alanine scanning of the MPER showed that the antibodies from these three plasmas had specificities distinct from those of the known MAbs, requiring one to three crucial residues at positions 670, 673, and 674. These data demonstrate the existence of MPER-specific cross-neutralizing antibodies in plasma, although the ability to elicit such potent antiviral antibodies during natural infection appears to be rare. Nevertheless, the identification of three novel antibody specificities within the MPER supports its further study as a promising target for vaccine design.
Broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting the HIV-1 envelope V2 apex confer protection against a clade C SHIV challenge.
(American Association for the Advancement of Science., 2017) Julg, Boris.; Tartaglia, Lawrence J.; Keele, Brandon F.; Wagh, Kshitij.; Pegu, Amarendra.; Sok, Devin.; Abbink, Peter.; Schmidt, Stephen D.; Wang, Keyun.; Chen, Xuejun.; Joyce, M. Gordon.; Georgiev, Ivelin S.; Choe, Misook.; Kwong, Peter D.; Doria-Rose, Nicole A.; Le, Khoa.; Louder, Mark K.; Bailer, Robert T.; Moore, Penelope L.; Korber, Bette T. M.; Seaman, Michael S.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Morris, Lynn.; Koup, Richard A.; Mascola, John R.; Burton, Dennis R.; Barouch, Dan H.
Abstract available in pdf.
Broadly neutralizing antibody specificities detected in the genital tract of HIV-1 infected women.
(Wolters Kluwer., 2016) Mkhize, Nonhlanhla N.; Durgiah, Raveshni.; Ashley, Vicki C.; Archary, Derseree.; Garrett, Nigel Joel.; Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Moore, Penelope L.; Yates, Nicole L.; Passmore, Jo-Ann Shelley.; Tomaras, Georgia D.; Morris, Lynn.
Abstract available in PDF file..
The C3-V4 region is a major target of autologous neutralizing antibodies in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C Infection.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2008) Moore, Penelope L.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Choge, Isaac Ang'Ang'A.; Ranchobe, Nthabeleng.; Mlisana, Koleka Patience.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Morris, Lynn.
The early autologous neutralizing antibody response in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C infections is often characterized by high titers, but the response is type specific with little to no cross-neutralizing activity. The specificities of these early neutralizing antibodies are not known; however, the type specificity suggests that they may target the variable regions of the envelope. Here, we show that cross-reactive anti-V3 antibodies developed within 3 to 12 weeks in six individuals but did not mediate autologous neutralization. Using a series of chimeric viruses, we found that antibodies directed at the V1V2, V4, and V5 regions contributed to autologous neutralization in some individuals, with V1V2 playing a more substantial role. However, these antibodies did not account for the total neutralizing capacity of these sera against the early autologous virus. Antibodies directed against the C3-V4 region were involved in autologous neutralization in all four sera studied. In two sera, transfer of the C3-V4 region rendered the chimera as sensitive to antibody neutralization as the parental virus. Although the C3 region, which contains the highly variable α2-helix was not a direct target in most cases, it contributed to the formation of neutralization epitopes as substitution of this region resulted in neutralization resistance. These data suggest that the C3 and V4 regions combine to form important structural motifs and that epitopes in this region are major targets of the early autologous neutralizing response in HIV-1 subtype C infection.
Case report: mechanisms of HIV elite control in two African women.
(BioMed Central., 2018) Moosa, Yumna.; Tanko, Ramla F.; Ramsuran, Veron.; Singh, Ravesh.; Madzivhandila, Mashudu.; Yende-Zuma, Fortunate Nonhlanhla.; Abrahams, Melissa-Rose.; Selhorst, Philippe.; Gounder, Kamini.; Moore, Penelope L.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Garrett, Nigel Joel.; Burgers, Wendy A.
Abstract available in pdf.
Comparison of viral env proteins from acute and chronic infections with subtype C human immunodeficiency virus type 1 identifies differences in glycosylation and CCR5 utilization and suggests a new strategy for immunogen design.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2013) Ping, Li-Hua.; Joseph, Sarah B.; Anderson, Jeffrey A.; Abrahams, Melissa-Rose.; Salazar-Gonzalez, Jesus F.; Kincer, Laura P.; Treurnicht, Florette K.; Arney, Leslie.; Ojeda, Suany.; Zhang, Ming.; Keys, Jessica.; Potter, E. Lake.; Chu, Haitao.; Moore, Penelope L.; Salazar-Gonzalez, Maria.; Iyer, Shilpa.; Jabara, Cassandra.; Kirchherr, Jennifer.; Mapanje, Clement.; Ngandu, Nobubelo K.; Seoighe, Cathal.; Hoffman, Irving F.; Gao, Feng.; Tang, Yuyang.; Labranche, Celia.; Lee, Benhur.; Saville, Andrew.; Vermeulen, Marion.; Fiscus, Susan A.; Morris, Lynn.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Haynes, Barton F.; Shaw, George M.; Korber, Bette T. M.; Hahn, Beatrice H.; Cohen, Myron S.; Montefiori, David Charles.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Swanstrom, Ronald.
Understanding human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission is central to developing effective prevention strategies, including a vaccine.We compared phenotypic and genetic variation in HIV-1 env genes from subjects in acute/early infection and subjects with chronic infections in the context of subtype C heterosexual transmission.We found that the transmitted viruses all used CCR5 and required high levels of CD4 to infect target cells, suggesting selection for replication in T cells and not macrophages after transmission. In addition, the transmitted viruses were more likely to use a maraviroc-sensitive conformation of CCR5, perhaps identifying a feature of the target T cell.We confirmed an earlier observation that the transmitted viruses were, on average, modestly under-glycosylated relative to the viruses from chronically infected subjects. This difference was most pronounced in comparing the viruses in acutely infected men to those in chronically infected women. These features of the transmitted virus point to selective pressures during the transmission event.We did not observe a consistent difference either in heterologous neutralization sensitivity or in sensitivity to soluble CD4 between the two groups, suggesting similar conformations between viruses from acute and chronic infection. However, the presence or absence of glycosylation sites had differential effects on neutralization sensitivity for different antibodies.We suggest that the occasional absence of glycosylation sites encoded in the conserved regions of env, further reduced in transmitted viruses, could expose specific surface structures on the protein as antibody targets.
Cooperation between strain-specific and broadly neutralizing responses limited viral escape and prolonged the exposure of the broadly neutralizing epitope.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2017) Anthony, Colin S.; York, Talita.; Bekker, Valerie.; Matten, David.; Selhorst, Philippe.; Ferreria, Roux-Cil.; Garrett, Nigel Joel.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Morris, Lynn.; Wood, Natasha T.; Moore, Penelope L.; Williamson, Carolyn.
Abstract available in pdf.
Development of broadly neutralizing antibodies from autologous neutralizing antibody responses.
(Lippincott Williams & Wilkins., 2014) Derdeyn, Cynthia A.; Moore, Penelope L.; Morris, Lynn.
Abstract available in pdf.
Developmental pathway for potent V1V2-directed HIV-neutralizing antibodies.
(Macmillan Publishers Limited., 2014) Doria-Rose, Nicole A.; Schramm, Chaim A.; Gorman, Jason.; Moore, Penelope L.; Bhiman, Jinal N.; DeKosky, Brandon J.; Ernandes, Michael J.; Georgiev, Ivelin S.; Kim, Helen J.; Pancera, Marie.; Staupe, Ryan P.; Altae-Tran, Han R.; Bailer, Robert T.; Crooks, Ema T.; Druz, Aliaksandr.; Garrett, Nigel Joel.; Hoi, Kam H.; Kong, Rui.; Louder, Mark K.; Longo, Nancy S.; McKee, Krisha.; Nonyane, Molati.; O’Dell, Sijy.; Roark, Ryan S.; Rudicell, Rebecca S.; Schmidt, Stephen D.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Soto, Cinque.; Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Yang, Yongping.; Zhang, Zhenhai.; Mullikin, James C.; Binley, James M.; Sanders, Rogier W.; Wilson, Ian A.; Moore, John P.; Ward, Andrew B.; Georgiou, George.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Morris, Lynn.; Kwong, Peter D.; Shapiro, Lawrence.; Mascola, John R.
Antibodies capable of neutralizing HIV-1 often target variable regions 1 and 2 (V1V2) of the HIV-1 envelope, but the mechanism of their elicitation has been unclear. Here we define the developmental pathway by which such antibodies are generated and acquire the requisite molecular characteristics for neutralization. Twelve somatically related neutralizing antibodies (CAP256-VRC26.01-12) were isolated from donor CAP256 (from the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA)); each antibody contained the protruding tyrosine-sulphated, anionic antigen-binding loop (complementarity-determining region (CDR) H3) characteristic of this category of antibodies. Their unmutated ancestor emerged between weeks 30-38 post-infection with a 35-residue CDR H3, and neutralized the virus that superinfected this individual 15 weeks after initial infection. Improved neutralization breadth and potency occurred by week 59 with modest affinity maturation, and was preceded by extensive diversification of the virus population. HIV-1 V1V2-directed neutralizing antibodies can thus develop relatively rapidly through initial selection of B cells with a long CDR H3, and limited subsequent somatic hypermutation. These data provide important insights relevant to HIV-1 vaccine development.
Differences in HIV-1 neutralization breadth in two geographically distinct cohorts in Africa.
(Oxford University Press., 2015) Bandawe, Gama P.; Moore, Penelope L.; Werner, Lise.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Madiga, Maphuti C.; Nofemela, Andile.; Thebus, Ruwayhida.; Marais, Jinny C.; Maboko, Leonard.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Hoelscher, Michael.; Morris, Lynn.; Williamson, Carolyn.
Abstract available in pdf.
Evolution of an HIV glycan–dependent broadly neutralizing antibody epitope through immune escape.
(Nature Publishing Group., 2012) Moore, Penelope L.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Bhiman, Jinal N.; Nonyane, Molati.; Hermanus, Tandile.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Bajimaya, Shringkhala.; Abrahams, Melissa-Rose.; Tumba, Nancy Lola.; Ping, Li-Hua.; Ngandu, Nobubelo K.; Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Swanstrom, Ronald.; Seaman, Michael S.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Morris, Lynn.;
Neutralizing antibodies are likely to play a crucial part in a preventative HIV-1 vaccine. Although efforts to elicit broadly cross-neutralizing (BCN) antibodies by vaccination have been unsuccessful, a minority of individuals naturally develop these antibodies after many years of infection. How such antibodies arise, and the role of viral evolution in shaping these responses, is unknown. Here we show, in two HIV-1–infected individuals who developed BCN antibodies targeting the glycan at Asn332 on the gp120 envelope, that this glycan was absent on the initial infecting virus. However, this BCN epitope evolved within 6 months, through immune escape from earlier strain-specific antibodies that resulted in a shift of a glycan to position 332. Both viruses that lacked the glycan at amino acid 332 were resistant to the Asn332-dependent BCN monoclonal antibody PGT128 (ref. 8), whereas escaped variants that acquired this glycan were sensitive. Analysis of large sequence and neutralization data sets showed the 332 glycan to be significantly under-represented in transmitted subtype C viruses compared to chronic viruses, with the absence of this glycan corresponding with resistance to PGT128. These findings highlight the dynamic interplay between early antibodies and viral escape in driving the evolution of conserved BCN antibody epitopes.
Features of recently transmitted HIV-1 clade C viruses that impact antibody recognition : implications for active and passive immunization.
(Public Library of Science., 2016) Rademeyer, Cecilia.; Korber, Bette T. M.; Seaman, Michael S.; Giorgi, Elena E.; Thebus, Ruwayhida.; Robles, Alexander.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Wagh, Kshitij.; Garrity, Jetta.; Carey, Brittany R.; Gao, Hongmei.; Greene, Kelli M.; Tang, Haili.; Bandawe, Gama P.; Marais, Jinny C.; Diphoko, Thabo E.; Hraber, Peter.; Tumba, Nancy Lola.; Moore, Penelope L.; Gray, Glenda Elizabeth.; Kublin, James.; McElrath, Margaret Juliana.; Vermeulen, Marion.; Middelkoop, Keren.; Bekker, Linda-Gail.; Hoelscher, Michael.; Maboko, Leonard.; Makhema, Joseph.; Robb, Merlin L.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.; Kim, Jerome H.; Hahn, Beatrice H.; Gao, Feng.; Swanstrom, Ronald.; Morris, Lynn.; Montefiori, David Charles.; Williamson, Carolyn.
Abstract available in PDF file.
High titer HIV-1 V3-specific antibodies with broad reactivity but low neutralizing potency in acute infection and following vaccination.
(Elsevier, 2008) Davis, Katie L.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Moore, Penelope L.; Decker, Julie M.; Salomon, Aidy.; Montefiori, David Charles.; Graham, Barney S.; Keefer, Michael C.; Pinter, Abraham.; Morris, Lynn.; Hahn, Beatrice H.; Shaw, George M.
Identifying the earliest neutralizing antibody specificities that are elicited following infection or vaccination by HIV-1 is an important objective of current HIV/AIDS vaccine research. We have shown previously that transplantation of HIV-1 V3 epitopes into an HIV-2 envelope (Env) scaffold provides a sensitive and specific means to detect and quantify HIV-1 V3 epitope specific neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) in human sera. Here, we employ this HIV-2/HIV-1 V3 scaffolding strategy to study the kinetics of development and breadth of V3- specific Nabs in longitudinal sera from individuals acutely infected with clade C or clade B HIV-1 and in human subjects immunized with clade B HIV-1 immunogens. HIV-2/HIV-1 chimeras containing V3 sequences matched to virus type (HIV-2 or HIV-1), subtype (clade B or C), or strain (autologous or heterologous) were used as test reagents. We found that by 3–8 weeks post infection, 12 of 14 clade C subjects had a median IC50 V3-specific Nab titer of 1:700 against chimeric viruses containing a heterologous clade C V3. By 5 months post-infection, all 14 subjects were positive for V3-specific Nabs with median titers of 1:8000 against heterologous clade C V3 and 1:1300 against clade B V3. Two acutely infected clade B patients developed heterologous clade B V3-specific Nabs at titers of 1:300 and 1:1800 by 13 weeks of infection and 1:5000 and 1:11000 by 7 months of infection. Titers were not different against chimeras containing autologous clade B V3 sequences. Each of 10 uninfected normal human volunteers who were immunized with clade B HIV-1 Env immunogens, but none of five sham immunized control subjects, developed V3-specific Nabs titers as high as 1:3000 (median 1:1300; range 1:700–1:3000). None of the HIV- 1 infected or vaccinated subjects had antibodies that neutralized primary HIV-1 virus strains. These results indicate that high-titer, broadly reactive V3-specific antibodies are among the first to be elicited during acute and early HIV-1 infection and following vaccination but these antibodies lack neutralizing potency against primary HIV-1 viruses, which effectively shield V3 from antibody binding to the functional Env trimer.
HIV broadly neutralizing antibody targets.
(Wolters Kluwer., 2015) Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Moore, Penelope L.; Morris, Lynn.
Abstract available in pdf.
HIV-1 glycan density drives the persistence of the mannose patch within an infected individual.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2016) Coss, Karen P.; Vasiljevic, Snezana.; Pritchard, Laura K.; Krumm, Stefanie A.; Glaze, Molly.; Madzorera, Sharon.; Moore, Penelope L.; Crispin, Max.; Doores, Katie J.
Abstract available in pdf.
HIV-specific Fc effector function early in infection predicts the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies.
(Public Library of Science., 2018) Richardson, Simone I.; Chung, Amy W.; Natarajan, Harini.; Mabvakure, Batsirai.; Mkhize, Nonhlanhla N.; Garrett, Nigel Joel.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Moore, Penelope L.; Ackerman, Margaret E.; Alter, Galit.; Morris, Lynn.
Abstract available in pdf.
Identification of broadly neutralizing antibody epitopes in 1 the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein using evolutionary models.
(Virology Journal, 2013) Lacerda, Miguel.; Moore, Penelope L.; Ngandu, Nobubelo K.; Seaman, Michael.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Murrell, Ben.; Krishnamoorthy, Mohan.; Nonyane, Molati.; Madiga, Maphuti C.; Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Bailer, Robert T.; Gao, Hongmei.; Greene, Kelli M.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Mascola, John R.; Korber, Bette T. M.; Montefiori, David Charles.; Morris, Lynn.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Seoighe, Cathal.
Background: Identification of the epitopes targeted by antibodies that can neutralize diverse HIV-1 strains can provide important clues for the design of a preventative vaccine. Methods: We have developed a computational approach that can identify key amino acids within the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein that influence sensitivity to broadly cross-neutralizing antibodies. Given a sequence alignment and neutralization titers for a panel of viruses, the method works by fitting a phylogenetic model that allows the amino acid frequencies at each site to depend on neutralization sensitivities. Sites at which viral evolution influences neutralization sensitivity were identified using Bayes factors (BFs) to compare the fit of this model to that of a null model in which sequences evolved independently of antibody sensitivity. Conformational epitopes were identified with a Metropolis algorithm that searched for a cluster of sites with large Bayes factors on the tertiary structure of the viral envelope. Results: We applied our method to ID50 neutralization data generated from seven HIV-1 subtype C serum samples with neutralization breadth that had been tested against a multi-clade panel of 225 pseudoviruses for which envelope sequences were also available. For each sample, between two and four sites were identified that were strongly associated with neutralization sensitivity (2ln(BF) > 6), a subset of which were experimentally confirmed using site-directed mutagenesis. Conclusions: Our results provide strong support for the use of evolutionary models applied to cross-sectional viral neutralization data to identify the epitopes of serum antibodies that confer neutralization breadth.
Isolation of a Monoclonal Antibody That Targets the Alpha-2 Helix of gp120 and Represents the Initial Autologous Neutralizing-Antibody Response in an HIV-1 Subtype C-Infected Individual.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2011) Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Moody, Michael Anthony.; Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Chen, Xi.; Marshall, Dawn J.; Amos, Joshua.; Moore, Penelope L.; Foulger, Andrew.; Yu, Jae-Sung.; Lambson, Bronwen Elizabeth.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Whitesides, John.; Tomaras, Georgia D.; Haynes, Barton F.; Morris, Lynn.; Liao, Hua-Xin.
The C3-V4 region is a major target of autologous neutralizing antibodies in HIV-1 subtype C infection. We previously identified a Center for AIDS Program of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) participant, CAP88, who developed a potent neutralizing-antibody response within 3 months of infection that targeted an epitope in the C3 region of the HIV-1 envelope (P. L. Moore et al., PLoS Pathog. 5:e1000598, 2009). Here we showed that these type-specific antibodies could be adsorbed using recombinant gp120 from the transmitted/founder virus from CAP88 but not by gp120 made from other isolates. Furthermore, this activity could be depleted using a chimeric gp120 protein that contained only the C3 region from the CAP88 viral envelope engrafted onto the unrelated CAP63 viral envelope (called 63-88C3). On the basis of this, a differential sorting of memory B cells was performed using gp120s made from 63-88C3 and CAP63 labeled with different fluorochromes as positive and negative probes, respectively. This strategy resulted in the isolation of a highly specific monoclonal antibody (MAb), called CAP88-CH06, that neutralized the CAP88 transmitted/founder virus and viruses from acute infection but was unable to neutralize CAP88 viruses isolated at 6 and 12 months postinfection. The latter viruses contained 2 amino acid changes in the alpha-2 helix of C3 that mediated escape from this MAb. One of these changes involved the introduction of an N-linked glycan at position 339 that occluded the epitope, while the other mutation (either E343K or E350K) was a charge change. Our data validate the use of differential sorting to isolate a MAb targeting a specific epitope in the envelope glycoprotein and provided insights into the mechanisms of autologous neutralization escape.
Limited Neutralizing Antibody Specificities Drive Neutralization Escape in Early HIV-1 Subtype C Infection.
(Plos, 2009) Moore, Penelope L.; Ranchobe, Nthabeleng.; Lambson, Bronwen Elizabeth.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Cave, Eleanor.; Abrahams, Melissa-Rose.; Bandawe, Gama P.; Mlisana, Koleka Patience.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Morris, Lynn.
We previously showed that HIV-1 subtype C viruses elicit potent but highly type-specific neutralizing antibodies (nAb) within the first year of infection. In order to determine the specificity and evolution of these autologous nAbs, we examined neutralization escape in four individuals whose responses against the earliest envelope differed in magnitude and potency. Neutralization escape occurred in all participants, with later viruses showing decreased sensitivity to contemporaneous sera, although they retained sensitivity to new nAb responses. Early nAb responses were very restricted, occurring sequentially and targeting only two regions of the envelope. In V1V2, limited amino acid changes often involving indels or glycans, mediated partial or complete escape, with nAbs targeting the V1V2 region directly in 2 cases. The alpha-2 helix of C3 was also a nAb target, with neutralization escape associated with changes to positively charged residues. In one individual, relatively high titers of anti-C3 nAbs were required to drive genetic escape, taking up to 7 weeks for the resistant variant to predominate. Thereafter titers waned but were still measurable. Development of this single anti-C3 nAb specificity was associated with a 7-fold drop in HIV-1 viral load and a 4-fold rebound as the escape mutation emerged. Overall, our data suggest the development of a very limited number of neutralizing antibody specificities during the early stages of HIV-1 subtype C infection, with temporal fluctuations in specificities as escape occurs. While the mechanism of neutralization escape appears to vary between individuals, the involvement of limited regions suggests there might be common vulnerabilities in the HIV-1 subtype C transmitted envelope.