High-Resolution Pan-Viral Antibody Profiling and Brain Health in People with HIV

Why It Matters

By turning antibody repertoires into precise, high‑throughput biomarkers, this approach offers a new avenue to identify and treat covert viral contributors to neurocognitive decline in people living with HIV.

Key Takeaways

• Panviral antibody profiling reveals hidden co-infection impacts on HIV brain health.
• High‑resolution epitope mapping outperforms traditional IgG serology for biomarkers.
• Chronic herpesvirus exposure correlates with cognitive decline in well‑controlled HIV.
• Molecular indexing enables scalable, low‑volume antibody detection in plasma and CSF.
• Integrating antibody signatures with genetics may guide personalized antiviral therapies.

Summary

Dr. Patricia Katie Riggs presented her latest research on high‑resolution panviral antibody profiling and its relationship to brain health in people living with HIV, emphasizing well‑controlled patients and the role of chronic co‑infections.

Using a molecular indexing of proteins (MIP‑A) platform, Riggs mapped antibody responses against 529 known human viruses from plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. The technique captures epitope‑specific signatures, revealing that antibodies targeting herpesviruses such as CMV and EBV are linked to neurocognitive impairment, even when traditional viral load assays are negative.

Riggs argued that “antibodies should be viewed as integrated biomarkers,” noting that EBV epitope responses predict multiple sclerosis risk and that specific HIV peptide antibodies differentiate elite controllers. She also referenced ongoing CMV‑based HIV cure trials and the potential of antiviral vaccines.

The findings suggest that high‑resolution serology can stratify patients for targeted antiviral or vaccine strategies, potentially mitigating accelerated aging and cognitive decline in the HIV population. The work highlights the value of multidisciplinary collaboration that blends clinical insight with advanced computational immunology.

Original Description

High-Resolution Pan-viral Antibody Profiling and Brain Health in People with HIV | Patricia "Katie" Riggs, D.O. (4/1/26) #neurohiv #johnshopkins http://https//www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology-neurosurgery/research/jhu-nimh/seminar-series