scholarly journals Development of a structural epitope mimic: an idiotypic approach to HCV vaccine design

npj Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa M. Cowton ◽  
Ania M. Owsianka ◽  
Valeria Fadda ◽  
Ana Maria Ortega-Prieto ◽  
Sarah J. Cole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Vaccine Design ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
High Genetic Diversity ◽  
Mutagenesis Screen ◽  
Binding Characteristics ◽  
Antigen Protein

AbstractHCV vaccine development is stymied by the high genetic diversity of the virus and the variability of the envelope glycoproteins. One strategy to overcome this is to identify conserved, functionally important regions—such as the epitopes of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs)—and use these as a basis for structure-based vaccine design. Here, we report an anti-idiotype approach that has generated an antibody that mimics a highly conserved neutralizing epitope on HCV E2. Crucially, a mutagenesis screen was used to identify the antibody, designated B2.1 A, whose binding characteristics to the bNAb AP33 closely resemble those of the original antigen. Protein crystallography confirmed that B2.1 A is a structural mimic of the AP33 epitope. When used as an immunogen B2.1 A induced antibodies that recognized the same epitope and E2 residues as AP33 and most importantly protected against HCV challenge in a mouse model.

scholarly journals Differential Antibody Responses to Conserved HIV-1 Neutralizing Epitopes in the Context of Multivalent Scaffolds and Native-Like gp140 Trimers

mBio ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles D. Morris ◽  
Parisa Azadnia ◽  
Natalia de Val ◽  
Nemil Vora ◽  
Andrew Honda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Antibody Response ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Vaccine Design ◽  
Viral Envelope ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Systematic Effort ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) have provided valuable insights into the humoral immune response to HIV-1. While rationally designed epitope scaffolds and well-folded gp140 trimers have been proposed as vaccine antigens, a comparative understanding of their antibody responses has not yet been established. In this study, we probed antibody responses to the N332 supersite and the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) in the context of heterologous protein scaffolds and native-like gp140 trimers. Ferritin nanoparticles and fragment crystallizable (Fc) regions were utilized as multivalent carriers to display scaffold antigens with grafted N332 and MPER epitopes, respectively. Trimeric scaffolds were also identified to stabilize the MPER-containing BG505 gp140.681 trimer in a native-like conformation. Following structural and antigenic evaluation, a subset of scaffold and trimer antigens was selected for immunization in BALB/c mice. Serum binding revealed distinct patterns of antibody responses to these two bNAb targets presented in different structural contexts. For example, the N332 nanoparticles elicited glycan epitope-specific antibody responses that could also recognize the native trimer, while a scaffolded BG505 gp140.681 trimer generated a stronger and more rapid antibody response to the trimer apex than its parent gp140.664 trimer. Furthermore, next-generation sequencing (NGS) of mouse splenic B cells revealed expansion of antibody lineages with long heavy-chain complementarity-determining region 3 (HCDR3) loops upon activation by MPER scaffolds, in contrast to the steady repertoires primed by N332 nanoparticles and a soluble gp140.664 trimer. These findings will facilitate the future development of a coherent vaccination strategy that combines both epitope-focused and trimer-based approaches. IMPORTANCE Both epitope-focused and trimer-based strategies are currently being explored in HIV-1 vaccine development, which aims to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting conserved epitopes on the viral envelope (Env). However, little is known about the differences in antibody response to these bNAb targets presented by foreign scaffolds and native Env. In this study, a systematic effort was undertaken to design multivalent epitope scaffolds and soluble gp140.681 trimers with a complete antigenic surface, and to comparatively analyze the antibody responses elicited by these antigens to the N332 supersite and MPER in a mouse model. This study will inform both epitope-focused and trimer-based vaccine design and will facilitate integration of the two vaccine strategies. IMPORTANCE Both epitope-focused and trimer-based strategies are currently being explored in HIV-1 vaccine development, which aims to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting conserved epitopes on the viral envelope (Env). However, little is known about the differences in antibody response to these bNAb targets presented by foreign scaffolds and native Env. In this study, a systematic effort was undertaken to design multivalent epitope scaffolds and soluble gp140.681 trimers with a complete antigenic surface, and to comparatively analyze the antibody responses elicited by these antigens to the N332 supersite and MPER in a mouse model. This study will inform both epitope-focused and trimer-based vaccine design and will facilitate integration of the two vaccine strategies.

scholarly journals Broadly neutralizing antibodies and vaccine design against HIV-1 infection

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Wang ◽  
Linqi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Vaccine Design ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Type I ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Dynamic Studies ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1 ◽  
Remarkable Progress

AbstractRemarkable progress has been achieved for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions against human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) through antiretroviral therapy. However, vaccine development has remained challenging. Recent discoveries in broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bNAbs) has led to the development of multiple novel vaccine approaches for inducing bNAbs-like antibody response. Structural and dynamic studies revealed several vulnerable sites and states of the HIV-1 envelop glycoprotein (Env) during infection. Our review aims to highlight these discoveries and rejuvenate our endeavor in HIV-1 vaccine design and development.

scholarly journals Membrane Env liposomes for immunization with HIV spikes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel P. Leaman ◽  
Armando Stano ◽  
Yajing Chen ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Michael B. Zwick
Keyword(s):  
Envelope Glycoprotein ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Vaccine Design ◽  
Glycosylation Site ◽  
Hiv Vaccine ◽  
Tier 2 ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Platform ◽  
Cd4 Binding Site

AbstractA key goal in HIV vaccine design remains to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against the membrane-embedded envelope glycoprotein spike (mEnv). However, mEnv has lagged behind engineered soluble Envs in vaccine development due to low expression yields and the presence of extraneous proteins on particles. Here, we describe a mEnv vaccine platform that requires no extra proteins or protein engineering. MEnv trimers were fixed, purified and combined with liposomes in mild detergent. On removal of detergent, mEnvs were observed embedded in particles, designated mEnv liposomes (MELs), which were recognized by HIV bnAbs but not non-nAbs. Following sequential immunization in rabbits, MEL antisera neutralized select tier 2 HIV isolates. Variations between the Env immunogens, including a missing N-glycosylation site at position 197 near the CD4 binding site, provide insights into the specificities elicited and possible ways to improve immunogens. MELs can facilitate vaccine design to elicit HIV bnAbs using biochemically defined and multimerized mEnv.

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (BNAbs): templates for HIV-1 vaccine design

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lixin Yan ◽  
◽  
Lihong Liu ◽  
Yilin Wang ◽  
Xi Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Design ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Hiv 1

scholarly journals Reverse Immunology Approach to Define a New HIV-gp41-Neutralizing Epitope

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karim Dorgham ◽  
Nicolas Pietrancosta ◽  
Amel Affoune ◽  
Olivier Lucar ◽  
Tahar Bouceba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Molecular Design ◽  
Docking Studies ◽  
Viral Envelope ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Surface Envelope ◽  
Hiv 1

The design of immunogens susceptible to elicit potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remains a veritable challenge in the course of vaccine development. Viral envelope proteins adopt different conformational states during the entry process, allowing the presentation of transient neutralizing epitopes. We focused on the highly conserved 3S motif of gp41, which is exposed to the surface envelope in its trimeric prefusion state. Vaccination with a W614A-modified 3S peptide induces in animals neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibodies among which we selected clone F8. We used F8 as bait to select for W614A-3S phage-peptide mimics. Binding and molecular docking studies revealed that F8 interacts similarly with W614A-3S and a Mim_F8-1 mimotope, despite their lack of sequence homology, suggesting structural mimicry. Finally, vaccination of mice with the purified Mim_F8-1 phage elicited HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies that bound to the cognate W614A-3S motif. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into the molecular design of immunogens to elicit antibodies with neutralizing properties.

scholarly journals Anti-V3/Glycan and Anti-MPER Neutralizing Antibodies, but Not Anti-V2/Glycan Site Antibodies, Are Strongly Associated with Greater Anti-HIV-1 Neutralization Breadth and Potency

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 5264-5275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Abraham Jacob ◽  
Thandeka Moyo ◽  
Michael Schomaker ◽  
Fatima Abrahams ◽  
Berta Grau Pujol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Prediction Interval ◽  
Vaccine Design ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
External Region ◽  
Membrane Proximal External Region ◽  
Site Recognition ◽  
Anti Hiv ◽  
Glycan Site ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACTThe membrane-proximal external region (MPER), the V2/glycan site (initially defined by PG9 and PG16 antibodies), and the V3/glycans (initially defined by PGT121–128 antibodies) are targets of broadly neutralizing antibodies and potential targets for anti-HIV-1 antibody-based vaccines. Recent evidence shows that antibodies with moderate neutralization breadth are frequently attainable, with 50% of sera from chronically infected individuals neutralizing ≥50% of a large, diverse set of viruses. Nonetheless, there is little systematic information addressing which specificities are preferentially targeted among such commonly found, moderately broadly neutralizing sera. We explored associations between neutralization breadth and potency and the presence of neutralizing antibodies targeting the MPER, V2/glycan site, and V3/glycans in sera from 177 antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected (>1 year) individuals. Recognition of both MPER and V3/glycans was associated with increased breadth and potency. MPER-recognizing sera neutralized 4.62 more panel viruses than MPER-negative sera (95% prediction interval [95% PI], 4.41 to 5.20), and V3/glycan-recognizing sera neutralized 3.24 more panel viruses than V3/glycan-negative sera (95% PI, 3.15 to 3.52). In contrast, V2/glycan site-recognizing sera neutralized only 0.38 more panel viruses (95% PI, 0.20 to 0.45) than V2/glycan site-negative sera and no association between V2/glycan site recognition and breadth or potency was observed. Despite autoreactivity of many neutralizing antibodies recognizing MPER and V3/glycans, antibodies to these sites are major contributors to neutralization breadth and potency in this cohort. It may therefore be appropriate to focus on developing immunogens based upon the MPER and V3/glycans.IMPORTANCEPrevious candidate HIV vaccines have failed either to induce wide-coverage neutralizing antibodies or to substantially protect vaccinees. Therefore, current efforts focus on novel approaches never before successfully used in vaccine design, including modeling epitopes. Candidate immunogen models identified by broadly neutralizing antibodies include the membrane-proximal external region (MPER), V3/glycans, and the V2/glycan site. Autoreactivity and polyreactivity of anti-MPER and anti-V3/glycan antibodies are thought to pose both direct and indirect barriers to achieving neutralization breadth. We found that antibodies to the MPER and the V3/glycans contribute substantially to neutralization breadth and potency. In contrast, antibodies to the V2/glycan site were not associated with neutralization breadth/potency. This suggests that the autoreactivity effect is not critical and that the MPER and the V3/glycans should remain high-priority vaccine candidates. The V2/glycan site result is surprising because broadly neutralizing antibodies to this site have been repeatedly observed. Vaccine design priorities should shift toward the MPER and V3/glycans.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Replication and Pathogenicity of Avian Influenza A H7 Subtype Viruses in a Mouse Model

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (19) ◽  
pp. 10558-10566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomy Joseph ◽  
Josephine McAuliffe ◽  
Bin Lu ◽  
Hong Jin ◽  
George Kemble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Antigenic Relatedness ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
H7 Subtype

ABSTRACT Avian influenza A H7 subtype viruses pose a significant threat to human health because of their ability to transmit directly from domestic poultry to humans and to cause disease and, sometimes, death. Although it is important to develop vaccines against viruses of this subtype, very limited information is available on the immune response and pathogenesis of H7 viruses in animal models such as mice and ferrets. Ten H7 viruses were selected for possible vaccine development on the basis of their phylogenetic relationships and geographical locations. The virulence of the 10 viruses for mice and the immunogenicity of the viruses in mice and ferrets were evaluated to study the extent of antigenic relatedness and the level of cross-reactivity of antibodies. Most of the viruses showed similar patterns of cross-reactivity with mouse and ferret antisera. The Eurasian viruses elicited broadly cross-reactive antibodies that neutralized viruses from both Eurasian and North American lineages, but the converse was not true. A subset of the viruses was also evaluated for the ability to replicate and cause disease in BALB/c mice following intranasal administration. H7 subtype viruses were able to infect mice without adaptation and manifested different levels of lethality and kinetics of replication. On the basis of phylogenetic data, induction of broadly cross-neutralizing antibodies in mouse and ferret antisera, and their ability to replicate in mice, we have selected A/Netherlands/219/03 (subtype H7N7) and A/chicken/BC/CN-7/04 (subtype H7N3) viruses for vaccine development. The mouse model can be used for the preclinical evaluation of these vaccines against H7 subtype viruses.

scholarly journals Introduction of two prolines and removal of the polybasic cleavage site leads to optimal efficacy of a recombinant spike based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the mouse model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Amanat ◽  
Shirin Strohmeier ◽  
Raveen Rathnasinghe ◽  
Michael Schotsaert ◽  
Lynda Coughlan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Cleavage Site ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Optimized Design ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Viral Target

AbstractThe spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been identified as the prime target for vaccine development. The spike protein mediates both binding to host cells and membrane fusion and is also so far the only known viral target of neutralizing antibodies. Coronavirus spike proteins are large trimers that are relatively instable, a feature that might be enhanced by the presence of a polybasic cleavage site in the SARS-CoV-2 spike. Exchange of K986 and V987 to prolines has been shown to stabilize the trimers of SARS-CoV-1 and the Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus spikes. Here, we test multiple versions of a soluble spike protein for their immunogenicity and protective effect against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in a mouse model that transiently expresses human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 via adenovirus transduction. Variants tested include spike protein with a deleted polybasic cleavage site, the proline mutations, a combination thereof, as well as the wild type protein. While all versions of the protein were able to induce neutralizing antibodies, only the antigen with both a deleted cleavage site and the PP mutations completely protected from challenge in this mouse model.ImportanceA vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 is urgently needed. A better understanding of antigen design and attributes that vaccine candidates need to have to induce protective immunity is of high importance. The data presented here validates the choice of antigens that contain the PP mutation and suggests that deletion of the polybasic cleavage site could lead to a further optimized design.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document