scholarly journals The Fc-mediated effector functions of a potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody, SC31, isolated from an early convalescent COVID-19 patient, are essential for the optimal therapeutic efficacy of the antibody

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253487
Author(s):  
Conrad E. Z. Chan ◽  
Shirley G. K. Seah ◽  
De Hoe Chye ◽  
Shane Massey ◽  
Maricela Torres ◽  
...  

Although SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies are promising therapeutics against COVID-19, little is known about their mechanism(s) of action or effective dosing windows. We report the generation and development of SC31, a potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody, isolated from a convalescent patient. Antibody-mediated neutralization occurs via an epitope within the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. SC31 exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities in multiple animal models. In SARS-CoV-2 infected K18-human ACE2 transgenic mice, treatment with SC31 greatly reduced viral loads and attenuated pro-inflammatory responses linked to the severity of COVID-19. Importantly, a comparison of the efficacies of SC31 and its Fc-null LALA variant revealed that the optimal therapeutic efficacy of SC31 requires Fc-mediated effector functions that promote IFNγ-driven anti-viral immune responses, in addition to its neutralization ability. A dose-dependent efficacy of SC31 was observed down to 5mg/kg when administered before viral-induced lung inflammatory responses. In addition, antibody-dependent enhancement was not observed even when infected mice were treated with SC31 at sub-therapeutic doses. In SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters, SC31 treatment significantly prevented weight loss, reduced viral loads, and attenuated the histopathology of the lungs. In rhesus macaques, the therapeutic potential of SC31 was evidenced through the reduction of viral loads in both upper and lower respiratory tracts to undetectable levels. Together, the results of our preclinical studies demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of SC31 in three different models and its potential as a COVID-19 therapeutic candidate.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conrad E.Z. Chan ◽  
Shirley G.K. Seah ◽  
De Hoe Chye ◽  
Shane Massey ◽  
Maricela Torres ◽  
...  

AbstractSARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies are promising therapeutics for COVID-19. However, little is known about the mechanisms of action of these antibodies or their effective dosing windows. We report the discovery and development of SC31, a potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing IgG1 antibody, originally isolated from a convalescent patient at day 27 after the onset of symptoms. Neutralization occurs via a binding epitope that maps within the ACE2 interface of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, conserved across all common circulating SARS-CoV-2 mutants. In SARS-CoV-2 infected K18-human ACE2 transgenic mice, SC31 demonstrated potent survival benefit by dramatically reducing viral load concomitant with attenuated pro-inflammatory responses linked to severe systemic disease, such as IL-6. Comparison with a Fc-null LALA variant of SC31 demonstrated that optimal therapeutic efficacy of SC31 requires intact Fc-mediated effector functions that can further induce an IFNγ-driven anti-viral immune response. Dose-dependent efficacy for SC31 was observed down to 5mg/kg when dosed before the activation of lung inflammatory responses. Importantly, despite FcγR binding, no evidence of antibody dependent enhancement was observed with the Fc-competent SC31 even at sub-therapeutic doses. Therapeutic efficacy was confirmed in SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters, where SC31 again significantly reduced viral load, decreased lung lesions and inhibited progression to severe disease manifestations. This study underlines the potential for significant COVID-19 patient benefit for the SC31 antibody that justifies rapid advancement to the clinic, as well as highlighting the importance of appropriate mechanistic and functional studies during development.One Sentence SummaryAnti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG1 antibody SC31 controls infection in vivo by blocking SP:ACE2 binding and triggering a Fc-mediated anti-viral response.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongyuan Gao ◽  
Zizhang Sheng ◽  
Chithra C. Sreenivasan ◽  
Dan Wang ◽  
Feng Li

Influenza causes millions of cases of hospitalizations annually and remains a public health concern on a global scale. Vaccines are developed and have proven to be the most effective countermeasures against influenza infection. Their efficacy has been largely evaluated by hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) titers exhibited by vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies, which correlate fairly well with vaccine-conferred protection. Contrarily, non-neutralizing antibodies and their therapeutic potential are less well defined, yet, recent advances in anti-influenza antibody research indicate that non-neutralizing Fc-effector activities, especially antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), also serve as a critical mechanism in antibody-mediated anti-influenza host response. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with Fc-effector activities have the potential for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of influenza infection. Inducing mAbs mediated Fc-effector functions could be a complementary or alternative approach to the existing neutralizing antibody-based prevention and therapy. This review mainly discusses recent advances in Fc-effector functions, especially ADCC and their potential role in influenza countermeasures. Considering the complexity of anti-influenza approaches, future vaccines may need a cocktail of immunogens in order to elicit antibodies with broad-spectrum protection via multiple protective mechanisms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanda Kishore Routhu ◽  
Narayanaiah Cheedarla ◽  
Venkata Satish Bollimpelli ◽  
Sailaja Gangadhara ◽  
Venkata Viswanadh Edara ◽  
...  

AbstractThere is a great need for the development of vaccines that induce potent and long-lasting protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Multimeric display of the antigen combined with potent adjuvant can enhance the potency and longevity of the antibody response. The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein is a primary target of neutralizing antibodies. Here, we developed a trimeric form of the RBD and show that it induces a potent neutralizing antibody response against live virus with diverse effector functions and provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in mice and rhesus macaques. The trimeric form induces higher neutralizing antibody titer compared to monomer with as low as 1μg antigen dose. In mice, adjuvanting the protein with a TLR7/8 agonist formulation alum-3M-052 induces 100-fold higher neutralizing antibody titer and superior protection from infection compared to alum. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes significant loss of innate cells and pathology in the lung, and vaccination protects from changes in innate cells and lung pathology. These results demonstrate RBD trimer protein as a suitable candidate for vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.


2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (16) ◽  
pp. 8130-8151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie M. Kilgore ◽  
Megan K. Murphy ◽  
Samantha L. Burton ◽  
Katherine S. Wetzel ◽  
S. Abigail Smith ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTAntibodies that can neutralize diverse viral strains are likely to be an important component of a protective human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine. To this end, preclinical simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-based nonhuman primate immunization regimens have been designed to evaluate and enhance antibody-mediated protection. However, these trials often rely on a limited selection of SIV strains with extreme neutralization phenotypes to assess vaccine-elicited antibody activity. To mirror the viral panels used to assess HIV-1 antibody breadth, we created and characterized a novel panel of 14 genetically and phenotypically diverse SIVsm envelope (Env) glycoproteins. To assess the utility of this panel, we characterized the neutralizing activity elicited by four SIVmac239 envelope-expressing DNA/modified vaccinia virus Ankara vector- and protein-based vaccination regimens that included the immunomodulatory adjuvants granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands, and CD40 ligand. The SIVsm Env panel exhibited a spectrum of neutralization sensitivity to SIV-infected plasma pools and monoclonal antibodies, allowing categorization into three tiers. Pooled sera from 91 rhesus macaques immunized in the four trials consistently neutralized only the highly sensitive tier 1a SIVsm Envs, regardless of the immunization regimen. The inability of vaccine-mediated antibodies to neutralize the moderately resistant tier 1b and tier 2 SIVsm Envs defined here suggests that those antibodies were directed toward epitopes that are not accessible on most SIVsm Envs. To achieve a broader and more effective neutralization profile in preclinical vaccine studies that is relevant to known features of HIV-1 neutralization, more emphasis should be placed on optimizing the Env immunogen, as the neutralization profile achieved by the addition of adjuvants does not appear to supersede the neutralizing antibody profile determined by the immunogen.IMPORTANCEMany in the HIV/AIDS vaccine field believe that the ability to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies capable of blocking genetically diverse HIV-1 variants is a critical component of a protective vaccine. Various SIV-based nonhuman primate vaccine studies have investigated ways to improve antibody-mediated protection against a heterologous SIV challenge, including administering adjuvants that might stimulate a greater neutralization breadth. Using a novel SIV neutralization panel and samples from four rhesus macaque vaccine trials designed for cross comparison, we show that different regimens expressing the same SIV envelope immunogen consistently elicit antibodies that neutralize only the very sensitive tier 1a SIV variants. The results argue that the neutralizing antibody profile elicited by a vaccine is primarily determined by the envelope immunogen and is not substantially broadened by including adjuvants, resulting in the conclusion that the envelope immunogen itself should be the primary consideration in efforts to elicit antibodies with greater neutralization breadth.


2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 639-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudhir Sharma ◽  
Indu Verma ◽  
G. K. Khuller

ABSTRACT The therapeutic efficacy of human neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP-1) against experimental tuberculosis in mice on the basis of numbers of CFU has been examined. Mice infected with 1.5 × 104CFU of Mycobacterium tuberculosisH37Rv and treated with different doses of HNP-1 injected subcutaneously exhibited significant clearance of bacilli from lungs, livers, and spleens. There were time- and dose-dependent decreases in the bacillary load in lungs, livers, and spleens of the HNP-1-treated animals compared to that in controls (untreated animals). These observations strongly suggest the therapeutic activity of HNP-1 against tuberculosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (607) ◽  
pp. eabf7201
Author(s):  
Ines Frank ◽  
Mariasole Cigoli ◽  
Muhammad S. Arif ◽  
Marissa D. Fahlberg ◽  
Stephanie Maldonado ◽  
...  

Anti-HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) may favor development of antiviral immunity by engaging the immune system during immunotherapy. Targeting integrin α4β7 with an anti-α4β7 monoclonal antibody (Rh-α4β7) affects immune responses in SIV/SHIV-infected macaques. To explore the therapeutic potential of combining bNAbs with α4β7 integrin blockade, SHIVSF162P3-infected, viremic rhesus macaques were treated with bNAbs only (VRC07-523LS and PGT128 anti-HIV antibodies) or a combination of bNAbs and Rh-α4β7 or were left untreated as a control. Treatment with bNAbs alone decreased viremia below 200 copies/ml in all macaques, but seven of eight macaques (87.5%) in the bNAbs-only group rebounded within a median of 3 weeks (95% CI: 2 to 9). In contrast, three of six macaques treated with a combination of Rh-α4β7 and bNAbs (50%) maintained a viremia below 200 copies/ml until the end of the follow-up period; viremia in the other three macaques rebounded within a median of 6 weeks (95% CI: 5 to 11). Thus, there was a modest delay in viral rebound in the macaques treated with the combination antibody therapy compared to bNAbs alone. Our study suggests that α4β7 integrin blockade may prolong virologic control by bNAbs in SHIVSF162P3-infected macaques.


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.


2012 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 1322-1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Wussow ◽  
Yujuan Yue ◽  
Joy Martinez ◽  
Jesse D. Deere ◽  
Jeff Longmate ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTNeutralizing antibodies (NAb) are important for interfering with horizontal transmission of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) leading to primary and congenital HCMV infection. Recent findings have shown that a pentameric virion complex formed by the glycoproteins gH/gL, UL128, UL130, and UL131A (UL128C) is required for HCMV entry into epithelial/endothelial cells (Epi/EC) and is the target of potent NAb in HCMV-seropositive individuals. Using bacterial artificial chromosome technology, we have generated a modified vaccinia Ankara virus (MVA) that stably coexpresses all 5 rhesus CMV (RhCMV) proteins homologous to HCMV UL128C, termed MVA-RhUL128C. Coimmunoprecipitation confirmed the interaction of RhgH with the other 4 RhCMV subunits of the pentameric complex. All 8 RhCMV-naïve rhesus macaques (RM) vaccinated with MVA-RhUL128C developed NAb that blocked infection of monkey kidney epithelial cells (MKE) and rhesus fibroblasts. NAb titers induced by MVA-RhUL128C measured on both cell types at 2 to 6 weeks postvaccination were comparable to levels observed in naturally infected RM. In contrast, MVA expressing a subset of RhUL128C proteins or RhgB glycoprotein only minimally stimulated NAb that inhibited infection of MKE. In addition, following subcutaneous RhCMV challenge at 8 weeks postvaccination, animals vaccinated with MVA-RhUL128C showed reduced plasma viral loads. These results indicate that MVA expressing the RhUL128C induces NAb inhibiting RhCMV entry into both Epi/EC and fibroblasts and limits RhCMV replication in RM. This novel approach is the first step in developing a prophylactic HCMV vaccine designed to interfere with virus entry into major cell types permissive for viral replication, a required property of an effective vaccine.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (34) ◽  
pp. 10780-10785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha L. Burton ◽  
Katie M. Kilgore ◽  
S. Abigail Smith ◽  
Sharmila Reddy ◽  
Eric Hunter ◽  
...  

Although the correlates of immunological protection from human immunodeficiency virus or simian immunodeficiency virus infection remain incompletely understood, it is generally believed that medium to high titers of serum neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against the challenge virus will prevent infection. This paradigm is based on a series of studies in which passive transfer of HIV-specific nAbs protected rhesus macaques (RMs) from subsequent mucosal challenge with a chimeric human/simian immunodeficiency virus. However, it is unknown whether nAb titers define protection in the setting of active immunization. Here we determined serum nAb titers against breakthrough transmitted/founder (T/F) SIVsmE660-derived envelope glycoprotein (Env) variants from 14 RMs immunized with SIVmac239-based DNA-prime/modified vaccinia virus Ankara-boost vaccine regimens that included GM-CSF or CD40L adjuvants and conferred significant but incomplete protection against repeated low-dose intrarectal challenge. A single Env variant established infection in all RMs except one, with no identifiable genetic signature associated with vaccination breakthrough compared with T/F Envs from four unvaccinated monkeys. Breakthrough T/F Env pseudoviruses were potently neutralized in vitro by heterologous pooled serum from chronically SIVsmE660-infected monkeys at IC50 titers exceeding 1:1,000,000. Remarkably, the T/F Env pseudoviruses from 13 of 14 monkeys were also susceptible to neutralization by autologous prechallenge serum at in vitro IC50 titers ranging from 1:742–1:10,832. These titers were similar to those observed in vaccinated RMs that remained uninfected. These data suggest that the relationship between serum nAb titers and protection from mucosal SIV challenge in the setting of active immunization is more complex than previously recognized, warranting further studies into the balance between immune activation, target cell availability, and protective antibody responses.


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.


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