Evidence for efficient vertical transfer of maternal HIV-1 envelope-specific neutralizing antibodies but no association of such antibodies with reduced infant infection
Omenda, M.M.; Milligan, C.; Odem-Davis, K.; Nduati, R.; Richardson, B.A.; Lynch, J.; John-Stewart, G.; Overbaugh, J.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 64(2): 163-166
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1525-4135 PMID: 23774880 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0b013e31829f6e41Document Number: 577305
: Little is known about the efficiency of vertical transfer of HIV-1-specific antibodies. Antibody levels in plasma from 60 mother-infant pairs near the time of birth, including 14 breast-feeding transmission pairs, were compared. The envelope-binding titers were strongly correlated (r = 0.91, P < 0.0001) and similar (1.4-fold greater in maternal plasma) between a mother and her corresponding infant as were the neutralizing antibody (Nab) levels (r = 0.80, P < 0.0001; 1.3-fold higher), suggesting efficient transfer. There was no significant difference in Nab responses between transmitting and nontransmitting mothers, although there was a trend for transmitting mothers to have higher HIV-1-specific Nabs.