Antibody responses are vital in the protection against infectious diseases and inducing potent antibodies is the major goal in vaccine research. Two major advances over the last few years have further invigorated research towards an HIV vaccine that induces broad and potent neutralizing antibodies. First, the discovery of many different potent antibodies has highlighted new targets on the Env trimer. The second major advancement is the development of soluble stable native-like trimer mimics. These developments have paved the way for active and passive immunizations against SARS-CoV-2 developing stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein constructs as well as isolating extremely potent antibodies. Within a year several vaccines as well as monoclonal antibody treatment have been approved and will most likely have a major impact on the pandemic. With the emergence of new virus variants, vaccine immunogens and monoclonal antibodies need to evolve and detailed information on antibody – spike protein interactions are crucial to win the battle with SARS-CoV-2.