There are three MAbs in this latter category directed to both the V3 loop and the CD4 binding site of gp120. Our current hypothesis is that the MAbs affect functions in the viral core. It is likely that more than one pathway is involved.
Similar work is ongoing with influenza A virus.
These are by far the smallest antibodies known. We are currently synthesising and testing new microantibodies that neutralize HIV and other viruses. As well as biological work on their mechanism of action, we are using mass spectroscopy and the BIAcore 2000 to investigate atomic interactions and affinities respectively between microantibody and virus. N J Dimmock 1992 J. Virol.