Virological features associated with the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV-1

•Many HIV infected humans develop broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs).•Viral evolution shapes the maturation of bNAbs through creation and exposure of epitopes.•Epitope variants, or ‘immunotypes’, drive increased breadth.•Incorporating viral evolution into vaccines may be necessary to elicit bNAbs.

The development of a preventative HIV-1 vaccine remains a global public health priority. This will likely require the elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) able to block infection by diverse viral strains from across the world. Understanding the pathway to neutralization breadth in HIV-1 infected humans will provide insights into how bNAb lineages arise, a process that probably involves a combination of host and viral factors. Here, we focus on the role of viral characteristics and evolution in shaping bNAbs during HIV-1 infection, and describe how these findings may be translated into novel vaccine strategies.Video Abstract To view the video inline, enable JavaScript on your browser. However, you can download and view the video by clicking on the icon belowHelp with MP4 filesOptionsDownload video (7293 K)