VRC01-class germline B cell receptor precursor (VRC01-class gl-BCR precursor)

VRC01-class germline B cell receptor precursors are naïve human B cell antigen receptors that utilize the IGHV1-2 gene segment for the heavy chain and a light chain with a short (5 amino acid) complementarity-determining region 3 (LCDR3). These BCRs are the developmental starting point for VRC01-class broadly neutralizing antibodies, a rare class capable of potently neutralizing diverse HIV-1 strains by targeting the CD4 binding site (CD4bs) of the HIV envelope glycoprotein. The frequency of VRC01-class BCR precursors in the human population is sufficient to permit germline targeting vaccination strategies, with most individuals carrying suitable alleles (mostly IGHV1-2*02). Rational HIV-1 vaccine strategies aim to engage these germline BCRs with specifically designed immunogens (e.g., eOD-GT8), priming these rare B cells for affinity maturation into potent VRC01-class bnAbs capable of broad HIV-1 neutralization.

Other names

VRC01-class precursor BCRVRC01-class naive B cell receptorVRC01-class germline BCRVRC01-class gl-BNAb precursorVRC01-class B cell precursorNaive VRC01-class BCRGermline VRC01-class BCR precursor

Not applicable for drugs, but for vaccines: Antigenic priming—engineered immunogens bind to VRC01-class germline BCRs on naïve B cells, activating and selecting them for affinity maturation and somatic hypermutation toward broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies.