An important feature of a potential vaccine against HIV is the production of broadly neutralising antibodies (BrNAbs) capable of potentially blocking infectivity of a diverse array of HIV strains. BrNAbs naturally arise in some HIV infected individuals after several years of infection and their serum IgG can neutralise various HIV strains across different subtypes. We previously showed that vac...

No single diagnostic test for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is currently available for pregnant women at all stages of gestation. Improved accuracy in estimating the timing of primary infections can be used to identify women at higher risk of giving birth to congenitally infected infants. A diagnostic algorithm utilizing immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgG avidity was used to prospectively s...

Herein, we determined the seroprevalence, seroconversion, and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection among pregnant women in Taipei, Taiwan. Pregnant women attending antenatal consultation in a Taipei medical center were invited, and 104 women completed a self-administered structured questionnaire. Venous blood samples were collected during the first and third trim...

OBJECTIVE To determine HSV-2 seroprevalence, risk factors, and antibody avidity among a sample of Mexican pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS The avidity test was standardized with different urea concentrations and incubation times; the cut-off point was calculated to determine the low avidity (early infection). IgG antibodies against HSV-2 were detected from pregnant and postpartum women fr...

Among the immunoglobulins, the IgGs have received the lion’s share of attention and dominate the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that are US Food and Drug Administrationapproved or are in research pipelines leading to the clinic. Whereas IgG is relatively easy to produce and purify and a number of host expression systems have been developed for that isotype, interest in the utility of other isotyp...