Anti-V3 antibody reactivity correlates with clinical stage of HIV-1 infection and with serum neutralizing activity

During HIV-1 infection, the current tenet is that only anti-gag antibodies decline, while those directed at env remain stable. Among the latter antibodies, those directed to the V3 domain of gp120 are assumed to play a role in the immune surveillance against HIV-1. We investigated the correlation between anti-V3 antibody levels and the clinical stage of infection and the ability to neutralize syncytium formation. Using a V3-specific...