The rapid mutation rate of HIV-1 enables its escape from neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in infected individuals. Bunnik et al. now show that the immune pressure exerted by NAbs has, over the course of the HIV epidemic, altered the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein such that HIV-1 variants isolated from recently infected individuals are more resistant to NAbs, compared with viral variants isolated from individuals infected at the start of the epidemic. Their results suggest the need to carefully select the envelope gene used in today's vaccine efforts.
- Evelien M Bunnik
- Zelda Euler
- Hanneke Schuitemaker
