scholarly journals Comprehensive Analysis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Specific CD4 Responses Reveals Marked Immunodominance of gag and nef and the Presence of Broadly Recognized Peptides

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (9) ◽  
pp. 4463-4477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Kaufmann ◽  
Paul M. Bailey ◽  
John Sidney ◽  
Bradford Wagner ◽  
Philip J. Norris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Hla Dr ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Total Magnitude ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Increasing evidence suggests that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific CD4 T-cell responses contribute to effective immune control of HIV-1 infection. However, the breadths and specificities of these responses have not been defined. We screened fresh CD8-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 36 subjects at different stages of HIV-1 infection for virus-specific CD4 responses by gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot assay, using 410 overlapping peptides spanning all HIV-1 proteins (based on the clade B consensus sequence). HIV-1-specific CD4 responses were identified in 30 of the 36 individuals studied, with the strongest and broadest responses detected in persons treated in acute infection who underwent treatment interruption. In individuals with identified responses, the total number of recognized HIV-1 peptides ranged from 1 to 36 (median, 7) and the total magnitude of responses ranged from 80 to >14,600 (median, 990) spot-forming cells/106 CD8-depleted PBMC. Neither the total magnitude nor the number of responses correlated with viremia. The most frequent and robust responses were directed against epitopes within the Gag and Nef proteins. Peptides targeted by ≥25% of individuals were then tested for binding to a panel of common HLA-DR molecules. All bound broadly to at least four of the eight alleles tested, and two bound to all of the HLA-DR molecules studied. Fine mapping and HLA restriction of the responses against four of these peptides showed a combination of clustering of epitopes and promiscuous presentation of the same epitopes by different HLA class II alleles. These findings have implications for the design of immunotherapeutic strategies and for testing candidate HIV vaccines.

scholarly journals Incorporation of HLA-DR into the Envelope of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 In Vivo: Correlation with Stage of Disease and Presence of Opportunistic Infection

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (21) ◽  
pp. 10256-10259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen D. Lawn ◽  
Salvatore T. Butera
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Virus Replication ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Active Tuberculosis ◽  
Hla Dr ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) bearing HLA-DR in its envelope was detected in plasma from all patients with chronic HIV-1 infection (n = 16) and was present at higher levels in patients with active tuberculosis coinfection (n = 6). Intriguingly, however, HLA-DR was not detectable in HIV-1 from patients during primary viremia (n = 6), suggesting the possibility of virus replication in less-activated cells.

scholarly journals Rapid Reversion of Sequence Polymorphisms Dominates Early Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Evolution

2006 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Li ◽  
Adrianne D. Gladden ◽  
Marcus Altfeld ◽  
John M. Kaldor ◽  
David A. Cooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
T Cell Epitopes ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Sequence Polymorphisms ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The error-prone replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) enables it to continuously evade host CD8+ T-cell responses. The observed transmission, and potential accumulation, of CD8+ T-cell escape mutations in the population may suggest a gradual adaptation of HIV-1 to immune pressures. Recent reports, however, have highlighted the propensity of some escape mutations to revert upon transmission to a new host in order to restore efficient replication capacity. To more specifically address the role of reversions in early HIV-1 evolution, we examined sequence polymorphisms arising across the HIV-1 genome in seven subjects followed longitudinally 1 year from primary infection. As expected, numerous nonsynonymous mutations were associated with described CD8+ T-cell epitopes, supporting a prominent role for cellular immune responses in driving early HIV-1 evolution. Strikingly, however, a substantial proportion of substitutions (42%) reverted toward the clade B consensus sequence, with nearly one-quarter of them located within defined CD8 epitopes not restricted by the contemporary host's HLA. More importantly, these reversions arose significantly faster than forward mutations, with the most rapidly reverting mutations preferentially arising within structurally conserved residues. These data suggest that many transmitted mutations likely incur a fitness cost that is recovered through retrieval of an optimal, or ancestral, form of the virus. The propensity of mutations to revert may limit the accumulation of immune pressure-driven mutations in the population, thus preserving critical CD8+ T-cell epitopes as vaccine targets, and argue against an unremitting adaptation of HIV-1 to host immune pressures.

scholarly journals Preferential Infection of α4β7+ Memory CD4+ T Cells During Early Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. e735-e743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Tokarev ◽  
Lyle R McKinnon ◽  
Amélie Pagliuzza ◽  
Aida Sivro ◽  
Tosin E Omole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Memory Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Hiv 1

Abstract Background Establishment of persistent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reservoirs occurs early in infection, and biomarkers of infected CD4+ T cells during acute infection are poorly defined. CD4+ T cells expressing the gut homing integrin complex α4β7 are associated with HIV-1 acquisition, and are rapidly depleted from the periphery and gastrointestinal mucosa during acute HIV-1 infection. Methods Integrated HIV-1 DNA was quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from acutely (Fiebig I–III) and chronically infected individuals by sorting memory CD4+ T-cell subsets lacking or expressing high levels of integrin β7 (β7negative and β7high, respectively). HIV-1 DNA was also assessed after 8 months of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiated in Fiebig II/III individuals. Activation marker and chemokine receptor expression was determined for β7-defined subsets at acute infection and in uninfected controls. Results In Fiebig I, memory CD4+ T cells harboring integrated HIV-1 DNA were rare in both β7high and β7negative subsets, with no significant difference in HIV-1 DNA copies. In Fiebig stages II/III and in chronically infected individuals, β7high cells were enriched in integrated and total HIV-1 DNA compared to β7negative cells. During suppressive cART, integrated HIV-1 DNA copies decreased in both β7negative and β7high subsets, which did not differ in DNA copies. In Fiebig II/III, integrated HIV-1 DNA in β7high cells was correlated with their activation. Conclusions β7high memory CD4+ T cells are preferential targets during early HIV-1 infection, which may be due to the increased activation of these cells.

scholarly journals Design and preclinical evaluation of a multigene human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C DNA vaccine for clinical trial

2006 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy A. Burgers ◽  
Joanne H. van Harmelen ◽  
Enid Shephard ◽  
Craig Adams ◽  
Thandiswa Mgwebi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
South African ◽  
Dna Vaccine ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Subtype C ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

In this study, the design and preclinical development of a multigene human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C DNA vaccine are described, developed as part of the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI). Genetic variation remains a major obstacle in the development of an HIV-1 vaccine and recent strategies have focused on constructing vaccines based on the subtypes dominant in the developing world, where the epidemic is most severe. The vaccine, SAAVI DNA-C, contains an equimolar mixture of two plasmids, pTHr.grttnC and pTHr.gp150CT, which express a polyprotein derived from Gag, reverse transcriptase (RT), Tat and Nef, and a truncated Env, respectively. Genes included in the vaccine were obtained from individuals within 3 months of infection and selection was based on closeness to a South African subtype C consensus sequence. All genes were codon-optimized for increased expression in humans. The genes have been modified for safety, stability and immunogenicity. Tat was inactivated through shuffling of gene fragments, whilst maintaining all potential epitopes; the active site of RT was mutated; 124 aa were removed from the cytoplasmic tail of gp160; and Nef and Gag myristylation sites were inactivated. Following vaccination of BALB/c mice, high levels of cytotoxic T lymphocytes were induced against multiple epitopes and the vaccine stimulated strong CD8+ gamma interferon responses. In addition, high titres of antibodies to gp120 were induced in guinea pigs. This vaccine is the first component of a prime–boost regimen that is scheduled for clinical trials in humans in the USA and South Africa.

scholarly journals Comprehensive Investigation of the Molecular Defect in vif-Deficient Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Virions

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 5810-5820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan C. Gaddis ◽  
Elena Chertova ◽  
Ann M. Sheehy ◽  
Louis E. Henderson ◽  
Michael H. Malim
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Molecular Defect ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in primary blood lymphocytes, certain T-cell lines (nonpermissive cells), and most likely in vivo is highly dependent on the virally encoded Vif protein. Evidence suggests that Vif acts late in the viral life cycle during assembly, budding, and/or maturation to counteract the antiviral activity of the CEM15 protein and possibly other antiviral factors. Because HIV-1 virions produced in the absence of Vif are severely restricted at a postentry, preintegration step of infection, it is presumed that such virions differ from wild-type virions in some way. In the present study, we established a protocol for producing large quantities of vif-deficient HIV-1 (HIV-1/Δvif) from an acute infection of nonpermissive T cells and performed a thorough examination of the defect in these virions. Aside from the expected lack of Vif, we observed no apparent abnormalities in the packaging, modification, processing, or function of proteins in Δvif virions. In addition, we found no consistent defect in the ability of Δvif virions to perform intravirion reverse transcription under a variety of assay conditions, suggesting that the reverse transcription complexes in these particles can behave normally under cell-free conditions. Consistent with this finding, neither the placement of the primer tRNA3Lys nor its ability to promote reverse transcription in an in vitro assay was affected by a lack of Vif. Based on the inability of this comprehensive analysis to uncover molecular defects in Δvif virions, we speculate that such defects are likely to be subtle and/or rare.

scholarly journals Early Induction and Maintenance of Env-Specific T-Helper Cells following Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 2663-2674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uma Malhotra ◽  
Sarah Holte ◽  
Tuofu Zhu ◽  
Elizabeth Delpit ◽  
Claire Huntsberry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
T Helper ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Mounting evidence points to a role for CD4+ T-helper (Th) cell activities in controlling human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. To determine the induction and evolution of Th responses following acute infection, we prospectively analyzed Env- and Gag-specific Th responses longitudinally for 92 patients with acute (n = 28) or early (n = 64) HIV-1 infection (median, 55 days postinfection [DPI]). The probability of detecting HIV-1-specific lymphoproliferative responses was remarkably low, and when present, the responses were more likely to be Gag specific than Env specific (16 versus 5%). Env-specific responses were significantly more common in patients presenting at <30 DPI than in those presenting at 30 to 365 DPI (21 versus 0.5%, P = 0.001). By contrast, Gag-specific responses occurred with similar frequencies among subjects presenting at <30 DPI and 30 to 365 DPI (13 versus 17%, P = 0.6). After treatment, and regardless of the duration of infection before therapy, Gag-specific Th responses predominated. Furthermore, some acutely infected subjects lost detectable Env-specific Th proliferative responses, which failed to reemerge upon treatment. Detailed analysis for one such subject revealed Env-specific lymphoproliferation at 11 DPI but no detectable Env-specific lymphoproliferation or ex vivo gamma interferon (IFN-γ) secretion at multiple subsequent time points. Env-specific CD4+ T-cell clones from 11 DPI recognized six epitopes in both conserved and variable regions within gp120 and gp41, exhibited major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxicity, and secreted high levels of antiviral cytokines. T-cell receptor clonal transcript analyses and autologous virus sequencing revealed that Th cells induced during acute infection were maintained and there were no Th escape mutations. Subsequent analysis for this subject and six of seven others revealed detectable IFN-γ-secreting cells, but only following in vitro gp160 stimulation. In summary, we conclude that Env-specific Th responses are elicited very early in acute infection and may precede Gag-specific responses. The inability to detect Env-specific Th responses over time and despite antiretroviral therapy may reflect low frequencies and impaired proliferative capacity, and viral escape is not necessary for this to occur.

scholarly journals The Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Confers Higher Rates of Replicative Fitness to Perinatally Transmitted Viruses than to Nontransmitted Viruses

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (23) ◽  
pp. 11609-11618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohong Kong ◽  
John T. West ◽  
Hong Zhang ◽  
Danielle M. Shea ◽  
Tendai J. M'soka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Perinatal Transmission ◽  
Replicative Fitness ◽  
Recombinant Viruses ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Selection of a minor viral genotype during perinatal transmission of human Immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been observed, but there is a lack of information on the correlation of the restrictive transmission with biological properties of the virus, such as replicative fitness. Recombinant viruses expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein or the Discosoma sp. red fluorescent (DsRed2) protein carrying the V1 to V5 regions of env from seven mother-infant pairs (MIPs) infected by subtype C HIV-1 were constructed, and competition assays were carried out to compare the fitness between the transmitted and nontransmitted viruses. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the frequency of infected cells, and the replicative fitness was determined based on a calculation that takes into account replication of competing viruses in a single infection versus dual infections. Transmitted viruses from five MIPs with the mothers chronically infected showed a restrictive env genotype, and all the recombinant viruses carrying the infants' Env had higher replicative fitness than those carrying the Env from the mothers. This growth fitness is lineage specific and can be observed only within the same MIP. In contrast, in two MIPs where the mothers had undergone recent acute infection, the viral Env sequences were similar between the mothers and infants and showed no further restriction in quasispecies during perinatal transmission. The recombinant viruses carrying the Env from the infants' viruses also showed replication fitness similar to those carrying the mothers' Env proteins. Our results suggest that newly transmitted viruses from chronically infected mothers have been selected to have higher replicative fitness to favor transmission, and this advantage is conferred by the V1 to V5 region of Env of the transmitted viruses. This finding has important implications for vaccine design or development of strategies to prevent HIV-1 transmission.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Functional Involvement of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Integrase in Nuclear Import of Viral cDNA during Acute Infection

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (21) ◽  
pp. 11563-11573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamako Ikeda ◽  
Hironori Nishitsuji ◽  
Xin Zhou ◽  
Nobuo Nara ◽  
Takashi Ohashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Nuclear Import ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Virus Infectivity ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Viral Cdna ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Nuclear import of viral cDNA is a critical step for establishing the proviral state of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The contribution of HIV-1 integrase (IN) to the nuclear import of viral cDNA is controversial, partly due to a lack of identification of its bona fide nuclear localization signal. In this study, to address this putative function of HIV-1 IN, the effects of mutations at key residues for viral cDNA recognition (PYNP at positions 142 to 145, K156, K159, and K160) were evaluated in the context of viral replication. During acute infection, some mutations (N144Q, PYNP>KL, and KKK>AAA) severely reduced viral gene expression to less than 1% the wild-type (WT) level. None of the mutations affected the synthesis of viral cDNA. Meanwhile, the levels of integrated viral cDNA produced by N144Q, PYNP>KL, and KKK>AAA mutants were severely reduced to less than 1% the WT level. Quantitative PCR analysis of viral cDNA in nuclei and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed that these mutations significantly reduced the level of viral cDNA accumulation in nuclei. Further analysis revealed that IN proteins carrying the N144Q, PYNP>KL, and KKK>AAA mutations showed severely reduced binding to viral cDNA but kept their karyophilic properties. Taken together, these results indicate that mutations that reduced the binding of IN to viral cDNA resulted in severe impairment of virus infectivity, most likely by affecting the nuclear import of viral cDNA that proceeds integration. These results suggest that HIV-1 IN may be one of the critical constituents for the efficient nuclear import of viral cDNA.

scholarly journals Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp41 Antibodies That Mask Membrane Proximal Region Epitopes: Antibody Binding Kinetics, Induction, and Potential for Regulation in Acute Infection

2007 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Munir Alam ◽  
Richard M. Scearce ◽  
Robert J. Parks ◽  
Kelly Plonk ◽  
Steven G. Plonk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Competitive Inhibition ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Human Mabs ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Two human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (2F5 and 4E10) against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope g41 cluster II membrane proximal external region (MPER) broadly neutralize HIV-1 primary isolates. However, these antibody specificities are rare, are not induced by Env immunization or HIV-1 infection, and are polyspecific and also react with lipids such as cardiolipin or phosphatidylserine. To probe MPER anti-gp41 antibodies that are produced in HIV-1 infection, we have made two novel murine MAbs, 5A9 and 13H11, against HIV-1 gp41 envelope that partially cross-blocked 2F5 MAb binding to Env but did not neutralize HIV-1 primary isolates or bind host lipids. Competitive inhibition assays using labeled 13H11 MAb and HIV-1-positive patient plasma samples demonstrated that cluster II 13H11-blocking plasma antibodies were made in 83% of chronically HIV-1 infected patients and were acquired between 5 to 10 weeks after acute HIV-1 infection. Both the mouse 13H11 MAb and the three prototypic cluster II human MAbs (98-6, 126-6, and 167-D) blocked 2F5 binding to gp41 epitopes to variable degrees; the combination of 98-6 and 13H11 completely blocked 2F5 binding. These data provide support for the hypothesis that in some patients, B cells make nonneutralizing cluster II antibodies that may mask or otherwise down-modulate B-cell responses to immunogenic regions of gp41 that could be recognized by B cells capable of producing antibodies like 2F5.

scholarly journals Analysis of Genetic Variability within the Immunodominant Epitopes of Envelope gp41 from Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Group M and Its Impact on HIV-1 Antibody Detection

2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 773-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Dorn ◽  
Silvina Masciotra ◽  
Chunfu Yang ◽  
Robert Downing ◽  
Benon Biryahwaho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Geographic Origin ◽  
Antibody Detection ◽  
Homologous Region ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

The serodiagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection primarily relies on the detection of antibodies, most of which are directed against the immunodominant regions (IDR) of HIV-1 structural proteins. Among these, the N-terminal region of gp41 contains cluster I (amino acids [aa] 580 to 623), comprising the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope (AVERYLKDQQLL) and the cysteine loop (CSGKLIC), and cluster II (aa 646 to 682), comprising an ectodomain region (ELDKWA). To delineate the epitope diversity within clusters I and II and to determine whether the diversity affects serologic detection by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-licensed enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits, gp41 Env sequences from 247 seropositive persons infected with HIV-1 group M, subtypes A (n = 42), B (n = 62), B′ (n = 13), C (n = 38), D (n = 41), E (n = 18), F (n = 27), and G (n = 6), and 6 HIV-1-infected but persistently seronegative (HIPS) persons were analyzed. While all IDR were highly conserved among both seropositive and HIPS persons, minor amino acid substitutions (<20% for any one residue, mostly conservative) were observed for all subtypes, except for B′, in comparison with the consensus sequence for each subtype. Most importantly, none of the observed substitutions among the group M plasma specimens affected antibody detection, since all specimens (n = 152) tested positive with all five FDA-licensed EIA kits. Furthermore, all specimens reacted with a group M consensus gp41 peptide (WGIKQLQARVLAVERYLKDQQLLGIWGCSGKLICTTAVPWNASW), and high degrees of cross-reactivity (>80%) were observed with an HIV-1 group N peptide, an HIV-1 group O peptide, and a peptide derived from the homologous region of gp41 from simian immunodeficiency virus from chimpanzee (SIVcpz). Taken together, these data indicate that the minor substitutions observed within the IDR of gp41 of HIV-1 group M subtypes do not affect antibody recognition and that all HIV-1-seropositive specimens containing the observed substitutions react with the FDA-licensed EIA kits regardless of viral genotype and geographic origin.

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