Germline-like predecessors of broadly neutralizing antibodies lack measurable binding to HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins: Implications for evasion of immune responses and design of vaccine immunogens

Development of new immunogens eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) is a main priority for the HIV-1 vaccine field. Envelope glycoproteins from non-B-non-C HIV-1clades have not been fully explored as components of a vaccine. We produced Vaccinia viruses expressing a truncated version of gp120 (gp120t) from HIV-1 clades CRF02_AG, H, J, B, and C and examined their immunogenicity in mice and rabbits. Mice primed with the recombinant Vaccinia viruses and boosted with the homologous gp120t or C2V3C3 polypeptides developed antibodies that bind potently to homologous and heterologous envelope glycoproteins. Notably, a subset of mice immunized with the CRF02_AG-based envelope immunogens developed a cross-reactive neutralizing response against tier 2 HIV-1 Env-pseudoviruses and primary isolates. Rabbits vaccinated with the CRF02_AG-based envelope immunogens also generated potent binding antibodies, and one animal elicited antibodies that neutralized almost all (13 of 16, 81.3%) tier 2 HIV-1 isolates tested. Overall, the results suggest that the novel CRF02_AG-based envelope immunogens and prime-boost immunization strategy elicit the type of immune responses required for a preventive HIV-1 vaccine.

Download Full-text

Antibody-Induced Internalization of HIV-1 Env Proteins Limits Surface Expression of the Closed Conformation of Env

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00293-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (11) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sai Priya Anand ◽

Jonathan R. Grover ◽

William D. Tolbert ◽

Jérémie Prévost ◽

Jonathan Richard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Envelope Glycoprotein ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Surface Expression ◽

Cellular Cytotoxicity ◽

Antibody Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity ◽

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Closed Conformation ◽

Infected Cells ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT To minimize immune responses against infected cells, HIV-1 limits the surface expression of its envelope glycoprotein (Env). Here, we demonstrate that this mechanism is specific for the Env conformation and affects the efficiency of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, we show that broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting the “closed” conformation of Env induce its internalization from the surface. In contrast, non-neutralizing antibodies (nNAbs) are displayed on the cell surface for prolonged period of times. The bNAb-induced Env internalization can be decreased by blocking dynamin function, which translates into higher susceptibilities of infected cells to ADCC. Our results suggest that antibody-mediated Env internalization is a mechanism used by HIV-1 to evade immune responses against the “closed” conformation of Env expressed on HIV-1-infected cells. IMPORTANCE HIV-1 has evolved to acquire several strategies to limit the exposure of its envelope glycoproteins (Env) on the surface of infected cells. In this study, we show that antibody-induced Env internalization is conformation specific and reduces the susceptibility of infected cells to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Thus, a better understanding of this mechanism might help develop antibodies with improved capacities to mediate ADCC.

Download Full-text

A38 Diversity analyses of HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins in HIV-infected individuals with and without broadly neutralizing antibodies

Virus Evolution ◽

10.1093/ve/vew036.037 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

B. Mabvakure ◽

C. Scheepers ◽

M. Nonyane ◽

B. Lambson ◽

S. Madzorera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Envelope Glycoproteins ◽

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Hiv 1

Download Full-text

Mapping the immunogenic landscape of near-native HIV-1 envelope trimers in non-human primates

10.1101/2020.02.05.936096 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Christopher A. Cottrell ◽

Jelle van Schooten ◽

Charles A. Bowman ◽

Meng Yuan ◽

David Oyen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Monoclonal Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Rhesus Macaques ◽

Fusion Peptide ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Envelope Glycoproteins ◽

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Vaccine Candidates ◽

Hiv 1

AbstractThe induction of broad and potent immunity by vaccines is the key focus of research efforts aimed at protecting against HIV-1 infection. Soluble native-like HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins have shown promise as vaccine candidates as they can induce potent autologous neutralizing responses in rabbits and non-human primates. In this study, monoclonal antibodies were isolated and characterized from rhesus macaques immunized with the BG505 SOSIP.664 trimer to better understand vaccine-induced antibody responses. Our studies reveal a diverse landscape of antibodies recognizing immunodominant strain-specific epitopes and non-neutralizing neo-epitopes. Additionally, we isolated a subset of mAbs against an epitope cluster at the gp120-gp41 interface that recognize the highly conserved fusion peptide and the glycan at position 88 and have characteristics akin to several human-derived broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Download Full-text

Conserved Role of an N-Linked Glycan on the Surface Antigen of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Modulating Virus Sensitivity to Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies against the Receptor and Coreceptor Binding Sites

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02321-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 90 (2) ◽

pp. 829-841 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Samantha Townsley ◽

Yun Li ◽

Yury Kozyrev ◽

Brad Cleveland ◽

Shiu-Lok Hu

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Binding Site ◽

Surface Antigen ◽

Binding Sites ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Host Immune Responses ◽

Coreceptor Binding ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACTHIV-1 establishes persistent infection in part due to its ability to evade host immune responses. Occlusion by glycans contributes to masking conserved sites that are targets for some broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Previous work has shown that removal of a highly conserved potential N-linked glycan (PNLG) site at amino acid residue 197 (N7) on the surface antigen gp120 of HIV-1 increases neutralization sensitivity of the mutant virus to CD4 binding site (CD4bs)-directed antibodies compared to its wild-type (WT) counterpart. However, it is not clear if the role of the N7 glycan is conserved among diverse HIV-1 isolates and if other glycans in the conserved regions of HIV-1 Env display similar functions. In this work, we examined the role of PNLGs in the conserved region of HIV-1 Env, particularly the role of the N7 glycan in a panel of HIV-1 strains representing different clades, tissue origins, coreceptor usages, and neutralization sensitivities. We demonstrate that the absence of the N7 glycan increases the sensitivity of diverse HIV-1 isolates to CD4bs- and V3 loop-directed antibodies, indicating that the N7 glycan plays a conserved role masking these conserved epitopes. However, the effect of the N7 glycan on virus sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies directed against the V2 loop epitope is isolate dependent. These findings indicate that the N7 glycan plays an important and conserved role modulating the structure, stability, or accessibility of bNAb epitopes in the CD4bs and coreceptor binding region, thus representing a potential target for the design of immunogens and therapeutics.IMPORTANCEN-linked glycans on the HIV-1 envelope protein have been postulated to contribute to viral escape from host immune responses. However, the role of specific glycans in the conserved regions of HIV-1 Env in modulating epitope recognition by broadly neutralizing antibodies has not been well defined. We show here that a single N-linked glycan plays a unique and conserved role among conserved glycans on HIV-1 gp120 in modulating the exposure or the stability of the receptor and coreceptor binding site without affecting the integrity of the Env in mediating viral infection or the ability of the mutant gp120 to bind to CD4. The observation that the antigenicity of the receptor and coreceptor binding sites can be modulated by a single glycan indicates that select glycan modification offers a potential strategy for the design of HIV-1 vaccine candidates.

Download Full-text