Protection of Newborn Macaques by Plant-Derived HIV Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies: a Model for Passive Immunotherapy during Breastfeeding

Abstract

Plant-produced human neutralizing antibody prophylaxis is highly effective in preventing infection in newborn monkeys during repeated oral exposure, modeling virus in breastmilk, and offers advantages in cost of production and safety. These findings raise the possibility that anti-Env antibodies may contribute to the control of viral replication in this newborn model and that the observed immune responsiveness may be driven by the long-lived presence of immune complexes.