Lack of neutralizing antibody response to HIV-1 predisposes to superinfection

Occurrences of HIV-1 superinfection offer a unique opportunity to investigate the correlates of immune protection. Here we describe the neutralizing antibody responses of a cohort of recently infected individuals who were screened for HIV superinfection. Three individuals identified with HIV superinfection had less cross-protective and autologous neutralizing antibody response than their non-superinfected case–controls. Neutralizing antibody may be crucial in the protection against superinfection and may explain why superinfection has only been documented following recent infection or treatment interruption. These data have considerable implications for vaccine development.