scholarly journals Glycan Profiles of gp120 Protein Vaccines from Four Major HIV-1 Subtypes Produced from Different Host Cell Lines under Non-GMP or GMP Conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shixia Wang ◽  
Yegor Voronin ◽  
Peng Zhao ◽  
Mayumi Ishihara ◽  
Nickita Mehta ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Envelope (Env) glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is an important target for the development of an HIV vaccine. Extensive glycosylation of Env is an important feature that both protects the virus from antibody responses and serves as a target for some highly potent broadly neutralizing antibodies. Therefore, analysis of glycans on recombinant Env proteins is highly significant. Here, we present glycosylation profiles of recombinant gp120 proteins from four major clades of HIV-1 (A, B, C, and AE), produced either as research-grade material in 293 and CHO cells or as two independent lots of clinical material under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions. Almost all potential N-linked glycosylation sites were at least partially occupied in all proteins. The occupancy rates were largely consistent among proteins produced under different conditions, although a few sites showed substantial variability even between the two GMP lots. Our data confirmed previous studies in the field, showing an abundance of oligomannose on Env protein, with 40 to 50% of glycans being Man5 to Man9 on all four proteins under all production conditions. Overall, the differences in occupancy and glycan forms among different Env subtypes produced under different conditions were less dramatic than anticipated, and antigenicity analysis with a panel of six monoclonal antibodies, including antibodies that recognize glycan forms, showed that all four gp120s maintained their antibody-binding profiles. Such findings have major implications for the final production of a clinical HIV vaccine with Env glycoprotein components. IMPORTANCE HIV-1 Env protein is a major target for the development of an HIV-1 vaccine. Env is covered with a large number of sugar-based glycan forms; about 50% of the Env molecular weight is composed of glycans. Glycan analysis of recombinant Env is important for understanding its roles in viral pathogenesis and immune responses. The current report presents the first extensive comparison of glycosylation patterns of recombinant gp120 proteins from four major clades of HIV-1 produced in two different cell lines, grown either under laboratory conditions or at 50-liter GMP scale in different lots. Information learned in this study is valuable for the further design and production of HIV-1 Env proteins as the critical components of HIV-1 vaccine formulations.

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (15) ◽  
pp. 7478-7493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay Wieczorek ◽  
Shelly J. Krebs ◽  
Vaniambadi Kalyanaraman ◽  
Stephen Whitney ◽  
Sodsai Tovanabutra ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTEliciting broadly reactive functional antibodies remains a challenge in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine development that is complicated by variations in envelope (Env) subtype and structure. The majority of new global HIV-1 infections are subtype C, and novel antigenic properties have been described for subtype C Env proteins. Thus, an HIV-1 subtype C Env protein (CO6980v0c22) from an infected person in the acute phase (Fiebig stage I/II) was developed as a research reagent and candidate immunogen. The gp145 envelope is a novel immunogen with a fully intact membrane-proximal external region (MPER), extended by a polylysine tail. Soluble gp145 was enriched for trimers that yielded the expected “fan blade” motifs when visualized by cryoelectron microscopy. CO6980v0c22 gp145 reacts with the 4E10, PG9, PG16, and VRC01 HIV-1 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), as well as the V1/V2-specific PGT121, 697, 2158, and 2297 MAbs. Different gp145 oligomers were tested for immunogenicity in rabbits, and purified dimers, trimers, and larger multimers elicited similar levels of cross-subtype binding and neutralizing antibodies to tier 1 and some tier 2 viruses. Immunized rabbit sera did not neutralize the highly resistant CO6980v0c22 pseudovirus but did inhibit the homologous infectious molecular clone in a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) assay. This Env is currently in good manufacturing practice (GMP) production to be made available for use as a clinical research tool and further evaluation as a candidate vaccine.IMPORTANCEAt present, the product pipeline for HIV vaccines is insufficient and is limited by inadequate capacity to produce large quantities of vaccine to standards required for human clinical trials. Such products are required to evaluate critical questions of vaccine formulation, route, dosing, and schedule, as well as to establish vaccine efficacy. The gp145 Env protein presented in this study forms physical trimers, binds to many of the well-characterized broad neutralizing MAbs that target conserved Env epitopes, and induce cross-subtype neutralizing antibodies as measured in both cell line and primary cell assays. This subtype C Env gp145 protein is currently undergoing good manufacturing practice production for use as a reagent for preclinical studies and for human clinical research. This product will serve as a reagent for comparative studies and may represent a next-generation candidate HIV immunogen.


npj Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Blasi ◽  
Donatella Negri ◽  
Kevin O. Saunders ◽  
Erich J. Baker ◽  
Hannah Stadtler ◽  
...  

AbstractA preventative HIV-1 vaccine is an essential intervention needed to halt the HIV-1 pandemic. Neutralizing antibodies protect against HIV-1 infection in animal models, and thus an approach toward a protective HIV-1 vaccine is to induce broadly cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). One strategy to achieve this goal is to define envelope (Env) evolution that drives bnAb development in infection and to recreate those events by vaccination. In this study, we report the immunogenicity, safety, and efficacy in rhesus macaques of an SIV-based integrase defective lentiviral vector (IDLV) expressing sequential gp140 Env immunogens derived from the CH505 HIV-1-infected individual who made the CH103 and CH235 bnAb lineages. Immunization with IDLV expressing sequential CH505 Envs induced higher magnitude and more durable binding and neutralizing antibody responses compared to protein or DNA +/− protein immunizations using the same sequential envelopes. Compared to monkeys immunized with a vector expressing Envs alone, those immunized with the combination of IDLV expressing Env and CH505 Env protein demonstrated improved durability of antibody responses at six months after the last immunization as well as lower peak viremia and better virus control following autologous SHIV-CH505 challenge. There was no evidence of vector mobilization or recombination in the immunized and challenged monkeys. Although the tested vaccines failed to induce bnAbs and to mediate significant protection following SHIV-challenge, our results show that IDLV proved safe and successful at inducing higher titer and more durable immune responses compared to other vaccine platforms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (50) ◽  
pp. 32066-32077
Author(s):  
Lynn N. Bertagnolli ◽  
Joseph Varriale ◽  
Sarah Sweet ◽  
Jacqueline Brockhurst ◽  
Francesco R. Simonetti ◽  
...  

In untreated HIV-1 infection, rapid viral evolution allows escape from immune responses. Viral replication can be blocked by antiretroviral therapy. However, HIV-1 persists in a latent reservoir in resting CD4+ T cells, and rebound viremia occurs following treatment interruption. The reservoir, which is maintained in part by clonal expansion, can be measured using quantitative viral outgrowth assays (QVOAs) in which latency is reversed with T cell activation to allow viral outgrowth. Recent studies have shown that viruses detected in QVOAs prior to treatment interruption often differ from rebound viruses. We hypothesized that autologous neutralizing antibodies directed at the HIV-1 envelope (Env) protein might block outgrowth of some reservoir viruses. We modified the QVOA to reflect pressure from low concentrations of autologous antibodies and showed that outgrowth of a substantial but variable fraction of reservoir viruses is blocked by autologous contemporaneous immunoglobulin G (IgG). A reduction in outgrowth of >80% was seen in 6 of 15 individuals. This effect was due to direct neutralization. We established a phylogenetic relationship between rebound viruses and viruses growing out in vitro in the presence of autologous antibodies. Some large infected cell clones detected by QVOA carried neutralization-sensitive viruses, providing a cogent explanation for differences between rebound virus and viruses detected in standard QVOAs. Measurement of the frequency of reservoir viruses capable of outgrowth in the presence of autologous IgG might allow more accurate prediction of time to viral rebound. Ultimately, therapeutic immunization targeting the subset of variants resistant to autologous IgG might contribute to a functional cure.


Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Perdiguero ◽  
Cristina Sánchez-Corzo ◽  
Carlos Sorzano ◽  
Lidia Saiz ◽  
Pilar Mediavilla ◽  
...  

The development of an effective Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) vaccine that is able to stimulate both the humoral and cellular HIV-1-specific immune responses remains a major priority challenge. In this study, we described the generation and preclinical evaluation of single and double modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)-based candidates expressing the HIV-1 clade C membrane-bound gp145(ZM96) trimeric protein and/or the Gag(ZM96)-Pol-Nef(CN54) (GPN) polyprotein that was processed to form Gag-induced virus-like particles (VLPs). In vitro characterization of MVA recombinants revealed the stable integration of HIV-1 genes without affecting its replication capacity. In cells that were infected with Env-expressing viruses, the gp145 protein was inserted into the plasma membrane exposing critical epitopes that were recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), whereas Gag-induced VLPs were released from cells that were infected with GPN-expressing viruses. VLP particles as well as purified MVA virions contain Env and Gag visualized by immunoelectron microscopy and western-blot of fractions that were obtained after detergent treatments of purified virus particles. In BALB/c mice, homologous MVA-gp145-GPN prime/boost regimen induced broad and polyfunctional Env- and Gag-specific CD4 T cells and antigen-specific T follicular helper (Tfh) and Germinal Center (GC) B cells, which correlated with robust HIV-1-specific humoral responses. Overall, these results support the consideration of MVA-gp145-GPN vector as a potential vaccine candidate against HIV-1.


Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Rita Calado ◽  
Joana Duarte ◽  
Pedro Borrego ◽  
José Maria Marcelino ◽  
Inês Bártolo ◽  
...  

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Staropoli ◽  
Jérémy Dufloo ◽  
Anaïs Ducher ◽  
Pierre-Henri Commere ◽  
Anna Sartori-Rupp ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The HIV-1 Env protein is exposed at the surface of virions and infected cells. Env fluctuates between different closed and open structural states and these conformations influence both viral infectivity and sensitivity to antibody binding and neutralization. We established a flow virometry assay to visualize Env proteins at the surface of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions. The assay is performed on ultracentrifuged fluorescent viral particles that are stained with a panel of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and nonneutralizing antibodies (nnAbs) that probe different epitopes of Env. We used this assay to compare Env at the surface of producer cells and viral particles and to analyze the effect of Nef, CD4, and SERINC5 on Env accessibility to antibodies. We studied the laboratory-adapted strain NL4-3 and two transmitted/founder viruses, THRO and CH058. We confirm that antibody accessibility varies between viral strains and show that Nef, CD4, and SERINC5 additively impact Env conformations. We further demonstrate that the Env accessibility profile on virions is globally similar to that observed on HIV-1-infected cells, with some noticeable differences. For instance, nnAbs bind to virions more efficiently than to producer cells, likely reflecting changes in Env conformational states on mature viral particles. This test complements other techniques and provides a convenient and simple tool for quantifying and probing the structure of Env at the virion surface and to analyze the impact of viral and cellular proteins on these parameters. IMPORTANCE HIV-1 Env conformation is one of the key parameters determining viral infectivity. The flow virometry-based assay developed in this study allows for the characterization of proteins incorporated in HIV-1 particles. We studied the conformation of HIV-1 Env and the impact that the viral protein Nef and the cellular proteins CD4 and SERINC5 have on Env accessibility to antibodies. Our assay permitted us to highlight some noticeable differences in the conformation of Env between producer cells and viral particles. It contributes to a better understanding of the actual composition of HIV-1 particles.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blasi Maria ◽  
Negri Donatella ◽  
Saunders O Kevin ◽  
Baker J Erich ◽  
Stadtler Hannah ◽  
...  

AbstractA preventative HIV-1 vaccine is an essential intervention needed to halt the HIV-1 pandemic. Neutralizing antibodies protect against HIV-1 infection in animal models, and thus an approach toward a protective HIV-1 vaccine is to induce broadly cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). One strategy to achieve this goal is to define envelope (Env) evolution that drives bnAb development in infection and to recreate those events by vaccination. In this study we report the immunogenicity, safety and efficacy in rhesus macaques of an SIV-based integrase defective lentiviral vector (IDLV) expressing sequential gp140 Env immunogens derived from the CH505 HIV-1-infected individual who made the CH103 and CH235 bnAb lineages. Immunization with IDLV expressing sequential CH505 Env induced higher magnitude and more durable binding and neutralizing antibody responses compared to protein or DNA +/- protein immunizations using the same sequential envelopes. Compared to monkeys immunized with vector expressing Envs alone, those immunized with the combination of IDLV expressing Env and CH505 Env protein demonstrated improved durability of antibody responses at six month after the last immunization as well as lower peak viremia and better virus control following autologous SHIV-CH505 challenge. There was no evidence of vector mobilization or recombination in the immunized and challenged monkeys. Our results show that while IDLV proved safe and successful at inducing higher titer and more durable immune responses compared to other vaccine platforms, the use of non-stabilized sequential envelope trimers did not induce broadly neutralizing antibody responses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. e1008977
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar ◽  
Suprit Deshpande ◽  
Leigh M. Sewall ◽  
Gabriel Ozorowski ◽  
Christopher A. Cottrell ◽  
...  

Evaluating 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 novel 1PGE-THIVC Env trimer 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. Our study demonstrated neutralization of sequence matched and unmatched autologous viruses by serum antibodies induced in rabbits by 1PGE-THIVC and also highlighted a comparable specificity for the 1PGE-THIVC SOSIP trimer with that seen with polyclonal antibodies elicited in the elite neutralizer by negative-stain electron microscopy polyclonal epitope (ns-EMPEM) mapping.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Wei ◽  
Audra A. Hargett ◽  
Barbora Knoppova ◽  
Alexandra Duverger ◽  
Reda Rawi ◽  
...  

AbstractN-glycans, which represent >50% mass of the HIV-1 envelope (Env) trimer, play important roles for virus-cell entry and immune evasion. How each glycan unit interacts to shape the Env protein-sugar complex and affects Env function is not well understood. Here, high-resolution glycomics analysis of two Env variants from the same donor, with differing functional characteristics and N-glycosylation-site composition, revealed that changes to key N-glycosylation-site not only affected the Env structure at distant locations, but also had a ripple effect on Env-wide glycan processing, virus infectivity, and antibody recognition and virus neutralization. Specifically, the N262 glycan, although not located in the CD4-binding site, controlled Env binding to the CD4 receptor, affected the recognition of Env by several glycan-dependent broadly neutralizing antibodies, and altered heterogeneity of glycosylation at several sites, with N156, N160, and N448 displaying limited glycan processing. Molecular dynamic simulations visualized how specific oligosaccharide positions can move to compensate for loss of a glycan. This study demonstrates how changes in individual glycan units can alter molecular dynamics and processing of the Env-glycan shield and, consequently, Env function.


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