Model for competition from self during passive immunization, with application to broadly neutralizing antibodies for HIV.

We propose a mathematical model to interpret observations concerning the behavior of broadly neutralizing antibodies for chronic HIV in vivo. The model enables us to identify a threshold antibody level that must be achieved to decrease the viral load effectively. Although this threshold has not been reached in existing passive immunization studies, it is within range of humoral immune responses, suggesting that therapeutic vaccines are feasible. In an appendix, we develop a model of passive immunization against influenza, and acute infection.