A recombinant human monoclonal anti-R7V antibody as a potential therapy for HIV infected patients in failure of HAART

The construction of a recombinant antibody directed against the cellular epitope R7V acquired by HIV during the viral budding has been realized. The c-DNAs encoding the variable regions of the anti-R7V antibody have been cloned from B lymphocytes of a non-progressor patient. Two transfer vectors containing complete coding sequences for heavy and light chains of this antibody were constructed and a recombinant baculovirus was generated by a double recombination between baculovirus DNA and the two transfer vectors. Insect cells infected with this baculovirus produced a complete human anti-R7V immunoglobulin. This recombinant antibody, specific to the R7V peptide, recognizes and neutralizes all clades of HIV1 including resistant viruses, opening new perspectives in anti-HIV therapy.