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Omicron subvariants may differ in their replicative fitness and their potential to cause more severe disease. In this study, the authors characterized Omicron BA.2.75 in a hamster model and found that it replicates more efficiently in the lungs than BA.2 and BA.5.

We propose a new nomenclature for mpox virus lineages with sustained human-to-human transmission to improve tracking, communication and public health response.

Recombination contributes to HIV evolution in patients, but its identification can be difficult. Here, the authors develop a computational tool called RAPR to track recombination in patients, identify recombination hot spots, and show contribution of recombination to antibody escape.

In a first-in-human trial of a triple combination of broadly neutralizing antibodies in people living with HIV, 83% of participants maintained virologic suppression for the duration of antibody therapy, with 42% showing virologic suppression for at least 38–44 weeks, despite the decline of serum antibody concentrations to low or undetectable levels.

This Review explores the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 since its emergence in late 2019 and discusses how the changes in the various variants and subvariants have affected the viral life cycle and ongoing transmission. In addition, prevention and treatment strategies are outlined, as well as the effects of antigenically distinct variants and immune imprinting on immunity after natural infection or vaccination.

By integrating the serum concentration of a broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) with its in vitro 80% inhibitory concentration, the PT₈₀ biomarker may be used to guide target levels of bNAbs for effective prevention of HIV-1 acquisition.

Vaccine design is challenging when the infectious agent is genetically diverse. Polyvalent 'mosaic' antigens might be used to address this challenge, and these two studies show promising results in monkeys infected with HIV-1 (pages 268–270 and 324–328).

Vaccine design is challenging when the infectious agent is genetically diverse. Polyvalent 'mosaic' antigens might be used to address this challenge, and these two studies show promising results in monkeys infected with HIV-1 (pages 268–270 and pages 319–323).

In this work, researchers engineer HIV-1 immunogens using molecular dynamics simulations to enhance vaccine designs that select for specific antibody mutations. Their approach improved the selection of mutations crucial for broadly neutralizing antibody responses, offering a promising strategy for HIV vaccine development.

A range of Influenza vaccines have been linked to induction of adaptive immunity in a number of animal models. Here, the authors utilize a computational design strategy and produce a swine H3 influenza vaccine which shows enhanced efficacy in both murine and porcine infectious disease models.

In this study, Henderson and Zhou et al. visualize the development of a HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) from germline to maturity by determining cryo-EM structures of HIV-1 Envelope (Env) proteins bound to Fab fragments of antibodies at different stages of development of a Env V3-glcyan supersite targeting bnAb clone.

A combination of three monoclonal antibodies transiently reduced viremia in people living with HIV-1 and not on antiretroviral therapy, but it did not prevent viral rebound. Further studies are needed to determine if this approach can be optimized.

A single dose of a broadly neutralizing, HIV-specific antibody transiently reduces viral load in plasma, and in some individuals is associated with durable virus suppression in the absence of antiretroviral therapy.

Here, the authors report that specific monoclonal antibodies isolated from vaccinated rhesus macaques can neutralize a subset of Tier 2 difficult-to-neutralize HIV-1 that express Env in an open conformation, suggesting that V3 loop-specific targeting can bias the estimation of vaccine-induced bnAbs.

The analysis of multiple SIV vaccine regimens in macaques leads to the identification of a key two-amino-acid signature that confers resistance to neutralizing antibodies; a similar mechanism of immune escape is shown to operate in HIV and may explain the limited efficacy seen in HIV vaccine trials.

A previous human HIV-1 vaccine clinical trial, boosting with HIV envelope protein from two strains, demonstrated moderate vaccine efficacy. Here, Bradleyet al. show that a pentavalent HIV envelope protein boost improves protection from viral challenge in non-human primates and they identify immune correlates of protection.

Longitudinal sampling is used to map the evolution of an HIV-1 virus from the time of infection, and the co-evolution of a broadly neutralizing antibody in the same infected patient; the findings have important implications for HIV vaccine development.

A group convened and led by the Virus Evolution Working Group of the World Health Organization reports on its deliberations and announces a naming scheme that will enable clear communication about SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest and concern.

The SARS-CoV-2 Assessment of Viral Evolution (SAVE) programme provides a real-time risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 variants with the potential to affect transmission, virulence and resistance to infection- and vaccine-induced immunity.

There are many reasons why the development of a potent and durable vaccine to HIV-1 is exceptionally challenging, including the large genetic diversity of the virus and its complex mechanisms of immune evasion. In this Review, Haynes et al. discuss strategies for the induction of potent broadly neutralizing antibodies for HIV-1 and the steps that may be necessary for ultimate success.