B-cell receptor recognizing HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp160 (BCR-gp160)

The B-cell receptor (BCR) recognizing HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp160 is a membrane-bound immunoglobulin complex on the surface of B lymphocytes that mediates the initial recognition of the HIV-1 virus (Haynes et al., 2019, Nature Reviews Immunology). This receptor is composed of two heavy and two light chains, which together form a paratope specific for epitopes on the gp160 precursor or its subunits, gp120 and gp41 (Jardine et al., 2013, Science). In the context of therapeutic development, these BCRs are the primary targets for germline-targeting vaccines, such as eOD-GT8 60mer, which aim to stimulate specific naive B cells to undergo affinity maturation (Schief et al., 2021, IAVI). The ultimate goal of targeting these receptors is to elicit the production of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) capable of neutralizing a wide array of HIV-1 variants by binding to conserved regions of the viral envelope. This strategy is a cornerstone of modern HIV vaccine research, focusing on guiding the immune system's evolution from a germline state to a protective, mature antibody response. However, challenges remain, including the potential for inducing autoreactive antibodies and the high mutational diversity of the viral target (Haynes et al., 2019).

Other names

Anti-HIV-1 gp160 B-cell receptorHIV-1 envelope-specific B-cell receptorgp160-reactive B-cell receptorVRC01-class B-cell receptor precursor

Targeted activation of germline B-cell receptors to initiate somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation, leading to the production of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1.