Previous studies reported that VRC01-class bnAbs require more time (>5 years) to develop during infection than bnAbs targeting other Env epitopes (1–3 years) (Landais et al., 2016, Lynch et al., 2012), a hypothesis supported by the high frequency of SHMs typically found among VRC01-class antibodies (Figure 1). This evidence concerns the gene ERVW-1 and infection.