Trispecific broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies mediate potent SHIV protection in macaques

A triple threat for HIV The HIV virus continually evolves tricks to evade elimination by the host. Prevention and a cure will likely rely on broadly neutralizing antibodies that can recognize and conquer multiple viral strains or subtypes. Xu et al. engineered a single antibody molecule to recognize three highly conserved proteins needed for HIV infection (see the Perspective by Cohen and Corey). This “trispecific” antibody uses two sites (V1V2 and MPER) to bind HIV-infected cells, while the third site (CD4bs) recruits killer T lymphocytes that can eliminate the virus. When tested against >200 different HIV strains, trispecific antibodies were highly potent and broadly neutralized ∼99% of HIV viruses. This approach could potentially simplify HIV treatment regimens and improve therapy response. Science , this issue p. 85 ; see also p. 46