Girard A, et al. - In view of the observation that early steps of HIV infection are mediated by the binding of the envelope to mucosal receptors as α4β7 and the C-type lectins DC-SIGN and langerin and that highly exposed seronegative individuals (HESN) have env-specific B-cell responses, researchers investigated the ability of gp120-specific antibodies to block HIV interaction with α4β7, DC-SIGN and/or langerinin HESN. HESN serum, as well as mucosal secretions, displayed the presence of antibodies reducing gp120 binding to both α4β7 and DC-SIGN, whereas HIV+ patients had antibodies that facilitated gp120 binding to DC-SIGN. These findings suggest a significant association of mucosal blocking score (MBS), that defined the ability of antibodies to interfere with gp120/α4β7, gp120/DC-SIGN, and gp120/langerin binding, with protection in HESN and with altered HIV spreading to mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues.