scholarly journals Specificity and effector functions of non-neutralizing gB-specific monoclonal antibodies isolated from healthy individuals with human cytomegalovirus infection

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew L. Goodwin ◽  
Helen S. Webster ◽  
Hsuan-Yuan Wang ◽  
Jennifer A. Jenks ◽  
Cody S. Nelson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Congenital Infection ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Domain Specificity ◽  
Cell Functions ◽  
The Impact

AbstractHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common congenital infection, and the leading nongenetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in newborns globally. A gB subunit vaccine administered with adjuvent MF59 (gB/MF59) is the most efficacious tested to-date, achieving 50% efficacy in preventing infection of HCMV-seronegative mothers. We recently discovered that gB/MF59 vaccination elicited primarily non-neutralizing antibody responses, that HCMV strains acquired by vaccinees more often included strains with gB genotypes that are distinct from the vaccine antigen, and that protection against HCMV acquisition correlated with ability of vaccine-elicited antibodies to bind to membrane associated gB. Thus, we hypothesized that gB-specific non-neutralizing antibody binding breadth and function are dependent on their epitope and genotype specificity as well as their ability to interact with membrane-associated gB. Twenty-four gB-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) isolated from naturally HCMV-infected individuals were mapped for gB domain specificity by binding antibody multiplex assay (BAMA) and for genotype preference binding to membrane-associated gB presented on transfected cells. We defined their non-neutralizing functions including antibody dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). The isolated gB-specific non-neutralizing mAbs were primarily specific for Domain II and linear antigenic domain 2 site 2 (AD2). We observed variability in mAb gB genotype binding preference, with increased binding to gB genotypes 2 and 4. Functional studies identified two gB-specific mAbs that facilitate ADCP and have binding specificities of AD2 and Domain II. This investigation provides novel understanding on the impact of gB domain specificity and antigenic variability on gB-specific non-neutralizing antibody responses.ImportanceHCMV is the most common congenital infection worldwide, but development of a successful vaccine remains elusive. gB-specific non-neutralizing mAbs, represent a distinct anti-HCMV Ab subset implicated in the protection against primary infection during numerous phase-II gB/MF59 vaccine trials. By studying non-neutralizing gB-specific mAbs from naturally infected individuals, this study provides novel characterization of binding site specificity, genotypic preference, and effector cell functions mediated by mAbs elicited in natural infection. We found that a panel of twenty-four gB-specific non-neutralizing mAbs bind across multiple regions of the gB protein, traditionally through to be targeted by neutralizing mAbs only, and bind differently to gB depending if the protein is soluble versus embedded in a membrane. This investigation provides novel insight into the gB-specific binding characteristics and effector cell functions mediated by non-neutralizing gB-specific mAbs elicited through natural infection, providing new endpoints for future vaccine development.

scholarly journals Maternal Fc-mediated non-neutralizing antibody responses correlate with protection against congenital human cytomegalovirus infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor C. Semmes ◽  
Itzayana G. Miller ◽  
Jennifer A. Jenks ◽  
Courtney E. Wimberly ◽  
Stella J. Berendam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cord Blood ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Hcmv Infection ◽  
Passive Immunization ◽  
Congenital Infection ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
High Avidity ◽  
Igg Binding ◽  
Congenital Hcmv Infection

AbstractHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common congenital infection and a leading cause of stillbirth, neurodevelopmental impairment, and pediatric hearing loss worldwide. Development of a maternal vaccine or therapeutic to prevent congenital infection has been hindered by limited knowledge of the immune responses that protect against placental HCMV transmission in maternal primary and nonprimary infection. To identify protective antibody responses, we measured anti-HCMV IgG binding and anti-viral functions in maternal and cord blood sera from HCMV transmitting (n=41) and non- transmitting (n=40) mother-infant dyads identified via a large U.S.-based public cord blood bank. In a predefined immune correlate analysis, maternal monocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and high avidity IgG binding to HCMV envelope glycoproteins were associated with decreased risk of congenital HCMV infection. Moreover, HCMV-specific IgG engagement of FcγRI and FcγRIIA, which mediate non-neutralizing antibody responses, was enhanced in non-transmitting mother-infant dyads and strongly correlated with ADCP. These findings suggest that Fc effector functions including ADCP protect against placental HCMV transmission. Taken together, our data indicate that future active and passive immunization strategies to prevent congenital HCMV infection should target Fc-mediated non-neutralizing antibody responses.

scholarly journals Dense Bodies of a gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131 Pentamer-Repaired Towne Strain of Human Cytomegalovirus Induce an Enhanced Neutralizing Antibody Response

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Lehmann ◽  
Jessica Julia Falk ◽  
Nicole Büscher ◽  
Inessa Penner ◽  
Christine Zimmermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Antibody Response ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Protein Complex ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Laboratory Strain ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Critical Question ◽  
Dense Bodies ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTThe development of a vaccine against human cytomegalovirus infection (HCMV) is a high-priority medical goal. The viral pentameric protein complex consisting of glycoprotein H (gH)/gL/UL128-131A (PC) is considered to be an important vaccine component. Its relevance to the induction of a protective antibody response is, however, still a matter of debate. We addressed this issue by using subviral dense bodies (DBs) of HCMV. DBs are exceptionally immunogenic. Laboratory HCMV strain DBs harbor important neutralizing antibody targets, like the glycoproteins B, H, L, M, and N, but they are devoid of the PC. To be able to directly compare the impact of the PC on the levels of neutralizing antibody (NT-abs) responses, a PC-positive variant of the HCMV laboratory strain Towne was established by bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) mutagenesis (Towne-UL130rep). This strain synthesized PC-positive DBs upon infection of fibroblasts. These DBs were used in side-by-side immunizations with PC-negative Towne DBs. Mouse and rabbit sera were tested to address the impact of the PC on DB immunogenicity. The neutralizing antibody response to PC-positive DBs was superior to that of PC-negative DBs, as tested on fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells and for both animal species used. The experiments revealed the potential of the PC to enhance the antibody response against HCMV. Of particular interest was the finding that PC-positive DBs induced an antibody response that blocked the infection of fibroblasts by a PC-positive viral strain more efficiently than sera following immunizations with PC-negative particles.IMPORTANCEInfections with the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) may cause severe and even life-threatening disease manifestations in newborns and immunosuppressed individuals. Several strategies for the development of a vaccine against this virus are currently pursued. A critical question in this respect refers to the antigenic composition of a successful vaccine. Using a subviral particle vaccine candidate, we show here that one protein complex of HCMV, termed the pentameric complex (PC), enhances the neutralizing antibody response against viral infection of different cell types. We further show for the first time that this not only relates to the infection of epithelial or endothelial cells; the presence of the PC in the particles also enhanced the neutralizing antibody response against the infection of fibroblasts by HCMV. Together, these findings argue in favor of including the PC in strategies for HCMV vaccine development.

scholarly journals Preexisting immunity shapes distinct antibody landscapes after influenza virus infection and vaccination in humans

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (573) ◽  
pp. eabd3601
Author(s):  
Haley L. Dugan ◽  
Jenna J. Guthmiller ◽  
Philip Arevalo ◽  
Min Huang ◽  
Yao-Qing Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Influenza Virus Infection ◽  
Memory B Cells ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Protective Antibody ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Neutralizing Epitopes

Humans are repeatedly exposed to variants of influenza virus throughout their lifetime. As a result, preexisting influenza-specific memory B cells can dominate the response after infection or vaccination. Memory B cells recalled by adulthood exposure are largely reactive to conserved viral epitopes present in childhood strains, posing unclear consequences on the ability of B cells to adapt to and neutralize newly emerged strains. We sought to investigate the impact of preexisting immunity on generation of protective antibody responses to conserved viral epitopes upon influenza virus infection and vaccination in humans. We accomplished this by characterizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from plasmablasts, which are predominantly derived from preexisting memory B cells. We found that, whereas some influenza infection–induced mAbs bound conserved and neutralizing epitopes on the hemagglutinin (HA) stalk domain or neuraminidase, most of the mAbs elicited by infection targeted non-neutralizing epitopes on nucleoprotein and other unknown antigens. Furthermore, most infection-induced mAbs had equal or stronger affinity to childhood strains, indicating recall of memory B cells from childhood exposures. Vaccination-induced mAbs were similarly induced from past exposures and exhibited substantial breadth of viral binding, although, in contrast to infection-induced mAbs, they targeted neutralizing HA head epitopes. Last, cocktails of infection-induced mAbs displayed reduced protective ability in mice compared to vaccination-induced mAbs. These findings reveal that both preexisting immunity and exposure type shape protective antibody responses to conserved influenza virus epitopes in humans. Natural infection largely recalls cross-reactive memory B cells against non-neutralizing epitopes, whereas vaccination harnesses preexisting immunity to target protective HA epitopes.

scholarly journals Diagnosis and Management of Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in the Mother, Fetus, and Newborn Infant

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 680-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Grazia Revello ◽  
Giuseppe Gerna
Keyword(s):  
Prenatal Diagnosis ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Primary Infection ◽  
Hcmv Infection ◽  
Prognostic Markers ◽  
Recurrent Infection ◽  
Congenital Infection ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Hcmv Disease ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARY Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading cause of congenital viral infection and mental retardation. HCMV infection, while causing asymptomatic infections in most immunocompetent subjects, can be transmitted during pregnancy from the mother with primary (and also recurrent) infection to the fetus. Hence, careful diagnosis of primary infection is required in the pregnant woman based on the most sensitive serologic assays (immunoglobulin M [IgM] and IgG avidity assays) and conventional virologic and molecular procedures for virus detection in blood. Maternal prognostic markers of fetal infection are still under investigation. If primary infection is diagnosed in a timely manner, prenatal diagnosis can be offered, including the search for virus and virus components in fetal blood and amniotic fluid, with fetal prognostic markers of HCMV disease still to be defined. However, the final step for definite diagnosis of congenital HCMV infection is detection of virus in the blood or urine in the first 1 to 2 weeks of life. To date, treatment of congenital infection with antiviral drugs is only palliative both prior to and after birth, whereas the only efficacious preventive measure seems to be the development of a safe and immunogenic vaccine, including recombinant, subunit, DNA, and peptide-based vaccines now under investigation. The following controversial issues are discussed in the light of the most recent advances in the field: the actual perception of the problem; universal serologic screening before pregnancy; the impact of correct counseling on decision making by the couple involved; the role of prenatal diagnosis in ascertaining transmission of virus to the fetus; the impact of preconceptional and periconceptional infections on the prevalence of congenital infection; and the prevalence of congenitally infected babies born to mothers who were immune prior to pregnancy compared to the number born to mothers undergoing primary infection during pregnancy.

scholarly journals Two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine enhances antibody responses to variants in individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

2021 ◽  
pp. eabj0847
Author(s):  
Richard A Urbanowicz ◽  
Theocharis Tsoleridis ◽  
Hannah J Jackson ◽  
Lola Cusin ◽  
Joshua D Duncan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Enzyme Immunoassays ◽  
Antigenic Exposure ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Prior Infection

Understanding the impact of prior infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the response to vaccination is a priority for responding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In particular, it is necessary to understand how prior infection plus vaccination can modulate immune responses against variants of concern. To address this, we sampled 20 individuals with and 25 individuals without confirmed previous SARS-CoV-2 infection from a large cohort of healthcare workers followed serologically since April 2020. All 45 individuals had received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech BTN162b2 vaccine with a delayed booster at 10 weeks. Absolute and neutralizing antibody titers against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and variants were measured using enzyme immunoassays and pseudotype neutralization assays. We observed antibody reactivity against lineage A, B.1.351 and P.1 variants with increasing antigenic exposure, either through vaccination or natural infection. This improvement was further confirmed in neutralization assays using fixed dilutions of serum samples. The impact of antigenic exposure was more evident in enzyme immunoassays measuring SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific IgG antibody concentrations. Our data show that multiple exposures to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the context of a delayed booster expand the neutralizing breadth of the antibody response to neutralization-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants. This suggests that additional vaccine boosts may be beneficial in improving immune responses against future SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

scholarly journals Downregulation of Neurodevelopmental Gene Expression in iPSC-Derived Cerebral Organoids Upon Infection by Human Cytomegalovirus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Shea O'Brien ◽  
Rebekah L Mokry ◽  
Megan L Schumacher ◽  
Kirthi Pulakanti ◽  
Sridhar Rao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Congenital Infection ◽  
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell ◽  
Neural Progenitor ◽  
Human Neurons ◽  
The Impact

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a beta herpesvirus that, upon congenital infection, can cause severe birth defects including vision and hearing loss, microcephaly, and seizures. Currently, no approved treatment options exist for in utero infections. We previously demonstrated that HCMV infection decreases calcium signaling responses and alters neuronal differentiation in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here we aimed to determine the impact of infection on the transcriptome in developing human neurons using iPSC-derived 3-dimensional cerebral organoids. We infected iPSC-derived cerebral organoids with HCMV encoding eGFP and sorted cell populations based on GFP signal strength. Significant transcriptional downregulation was observed including in key neurodevelopmental gene pathways in both the GFP (+) and intermediate groups. Interestingly, the GFP (-) group also showed downregulation of the same targets indicating a mismatch between GFP expression and viral infection. Using a modified HCMV virus destabilizing IE 1 and 2 proteins, we still observed significant downregulation of neurodevelopmental gene expression in infected neural progenitor cells. Together, these data indicate that IE viral proteins are not the main drivers of neurodevelopmental gene dysregulation in HCMV infected neural tissues suggesting therapeutically targeting IE gene expression is insufficient to restore neural differentiation and function.

scholarly journals Elicitation of potent serum neutralizing antibody responses in rabbits by immunization with an HIV-1 clade C trimeric Env derived from an Indian elite neutralizer

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar ◽  
Suprit Deshpande ◽  
Leigh M. Sewall ◽  
Gabriel Ozorowski ◽  
Christopher A. Cottrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Clade C ◽  
Immunogen Design ◽  
Env Protein ◽  
Immunogenic Properties ◽  
Hiv 1

AbstractEvaluating the structure-function relationship of viral envelope (Env) evolution and the development of broadly cross-neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) in natural infection can inform rational immunogen design. In the present study, we examined the magnitude and specificity of autologous neutralizing antibodies induced in rabbits by a novel HIV-1 clade C Env protein (1PGE-THIVC) vis-à-vis those developed in an elite neutralizer from whom the env sequence was obtained that was used to prepare the soluble Env protein. The thermostable 1PGE-THIVC Env displayed a native like pre-fusion closed conformation in solution as determined by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and negative stain electron microscopy (EM). This closed spike conformation of 1PGE-THIVC Env trimers was correlated with weak or undetectable binding of non-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) compared to neutralizing mAbs. Furthermore, 1PGE-THIVC SOSIP induced potent neutralizing antibodies in rabbits to autologous virus variants. The autologous neutralizing antibody specificity induced in rabbits by 1PGE-THIVC was mapped to the C3/V4 region (T362/P401) of viral Env. This observation agreed with electron microscopy polyclonal epitope mapping (EMPEM) of the Env trimer complexed with IgG Fab prepared from the immunized rabbit sera. While the specificity of antibodies elicited in rabbits associated with neutralizing autologous viruses were distinct to those developed in the elite neutralizer, EMPEM analysis demonstrated significant changes to Env conformations when incubated with polyclonal antibody sera from the elite neutralizer, suggesting these antibodies lead to the destabilization of Env trimers. Our study not only shows distinct mechanisms associated with potent neutralization of sequence matched and unmatched autologous viruses by antibodies induced in rabbits and in the elite neutralizer, but also highlights how neutralizing antibodies developed during the course of natural infection can impact viral Env conformations.Author SummaryThe interplay between circulating virus variants and broadly cross neutralizing polyclonal antibodies developed in a subset of elite neutralizers is widely believed to provide strategies for rational immunogen design. In the present study, we studied the structural, antigenic and immunogenic properties of a thermostable soluble trimeric protein with near native pre-fusion conformation prepared using the primary sequence of an HIV-1 clade C env isolated from the broadly cross neutralizing plasma of an elite neutralizer. This novel SOSIP Env trimer demonstrated comparable antigenic, structural and immunogenic properties that favoured several ongoing subunit vaccine design efforts. The novel clade C SOSIP induced polyclonal neutralizing antibody response developed in rabbits not only differed in its epitope specificity compared to that elicited in natural infection in presence of pool of viral quasispecies but also showed how they differ in their ability to influence Env structure and conformation. A better understanding of how vaccine-induced polyclonal neutralizing antibody responses compares to responses that developed in natural infection will improve our knowledge in designing better vaccine design strategies.

scholarly journals Antibody responses induced by SHIV infection are more focused than those induced by soluble native HIV-1 envelope trimers in non-human primates

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. e1009736
Author(s):  
Jelle van Schooten ◽  
Marlies M. van Haaren ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Laura E. McCoy ◽  
Colin Havenar-Daughton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Antibody Diversity ◽  
Infected Infant ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Shiv Infection ◽  
Hiv 1

The development of an effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) vaccine is a high global health priority. Soluble native-like HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers (Env), including those based on the SOSIP design, have shown promise as vaccine candidates by inducing neutralizing antibody responses against the autologous virus in animal models. However, to overcome HIV-1’s extreme diversity a vaccine needs to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Such bNAbs can protect non-human primates (NHPs) and humans from infection. The prototypic BG505 SOSIP.664 immunogen is based on the BG505 env sequence isolated from an HIV-1-infected infant from Kenya who developed a bNAb response. Studying bNAb development during natural HIV-1 infection can inform vaccine design, however, it is unclear to what extent vaccine-induced antibody responses to Env are comparable to those induced by natural infection. Here, we compared Env antibody responses in BG505 SOSIP-immunized NHPs with those in BG505 SHIV-infected NHPs, by analyzing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). We observed three major differences between BG505 SOSIP immunization and BG505 SHIV infection. First, SHIV infection resulted in more clonal expansion and less antibody diversity compared to SOSIP immunization, likely because of higher and/or prolonged antigenic stimulation and increased antigen diversity during infection. Second, while we retrieved comparatively fewer neutralizing mAbs (NAbs) from SOSIP-immunized animals, these NAbs targeted more diverse epitopes compared to NAbs from SHIV-infected animals. However, none of the NAbs, either elicited by vaccination or infection, showed any breadth. Finally, SOSIP immunization elicited antibodies against the base of the trimer, while infection did not, consistent with the base being placed onto the virus membrane in the latter setting. Together these data provide new insights into the antibody response against BG505 Env during infection and immunization and limitations that need to be overcome to induce better responses after vaccination.

scholarly journals Lower Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Responses in Female Versus Male HIV-1 Infected Injecting Drug Users

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 384
Author(s):  
Zelda EULER ◽  
Tom L. VAN DEN KERKHOF ◽  
Roger D. KOUYOS ◽  
Damien C. TULLY ◽  
Todd M. ALLEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Users ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Injecting Drug Users ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Efficacy Trials ◽  
Female Idus ◽  
Broadly Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Hiv 1

Understanding the factors involved in the development of broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) responses in natural infection can guide vaccine design aimed at eliciting protective bNAb responses. Most of the studies to identify and study the development of bNAb responses have been performed in individuals who had become infected via homo- or heterosexual HIV-1 transmission; however, the prevalence and characteristics of bNAb responses in injecting drug users (IDUs) have been underrepresented. We retrospectively studied the prevalence of bNAb responses in HIV-1 infected individuals in the Amsterdam Cohort, including 50 male and 35 female participants who reported injecting drug use as the only risk factor. Our study revealed a significantly lower prevalence of bNAb responses in females compared to males. Gender, transmission route and CD4+ count at set point, but not viral load, were independently associated with the development of bNAb responses in IDUs. To further explore the influences of gender in the setting of IDU, we also looked into the Swiss 4.5k Screen. There we observed lower bNAb responses in female IDUs as well. These results reveal that the emergence of bNAbs may be dependent on multiple factors, including gender. Therefore, the effect of gender on the development of bNAb responses is a factor that should be taken into account when designing vaccine efficacy trials.

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