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At least 37 records · Page 2

Antigen pressure from two founder viruses induces multiple insertions at a single antibody position to generate broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies

Vaccination strategies aimed at maturing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) from naïve precursors are hindered by unusual features that characterize these Abs, including insertions and deletions (indels). Longitudinal studies of natural HIV infection cases shed light on the complex processes underlying bnAb development and have suggested a role for superinfection as a potential enhancer of neutralization breadth. Here we describe the development of a potent bnAb lineage that was elicited by two founder viruses to inform vaccine design. The V3-glycan targeting bnAb lineage (PC39-1) was isolated from subtype C-infected IAVI Protocol C elite neutralizer, donor PC39, and is defined by the presence of multiple independent insertions in CDRH1 that range from 1-11 amino acids in length. Memory B cell members of this lineage are predominantly atypical in phenotype yet also span the class-switched and antibody-secreting cell compartments. Development of neutralization breadth occurred concomitantly with extensive recombination between founder viruses before each virus separated into two distinct population “arms” that evolved independently to escape the PC39-1 lineage. Ab crystal structures show an extended CDRH1 that can help stabilize the CDRH3. Overall, these findings suggest that early exposure of the humoral system to multiple related Env molecules could promote the induction of bnAbs by focusing Ab responses to conserved epitopes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Complementary antibody lineages achieve neutralization breadth in an HIV-1 infected elite neutralizer

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) have remarkable breadth and potency against most HIV-1 subtypes and are able to prevent HIV-1 infection in animal models. However, bNAbs are extremely difficult to induce by vaccination. Defining the developmental pathways towards neutralization breadth can assist in the design of strategies to elicit protective bNAb responses by vaccination. Here, HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env)-specific IgG + B cells were isolated at various time points post infection from an HIV-1 infected elite neutralizer to obtain monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Multiple antibody lineages were isolated targeting distinct epitopes on Env, including the gp120-gp41 interface, CD4-binding site, silent face and V3 region. The mAbs each neutralized a diverse set of HIV-1 strains from different clades indicating that the patient’s remarkable serum breadth and potency might have been the result of a polyclonal mixture rather than a single bNAb lineage. High-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of the neutralizing mAbs (NAbs) in complex with an Env trimer generated from the same individual revealed that the NAbs used multiple strategies to neutralize the virus; blocking the receptor binding site, binding to HIV-1 Env N-linked glycans, and disassembly of the trimer. These results show that diverse NAbs can complement each other to achieve a broad and potent neutralizing serum response in HIV-1 infected individuals. Hence, the induction of combinations of moderately broad NAbs might be a viable vaccine strategy to protect against a wide range of circulating HIV-1 viruses.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

HIV-1 GP140 immunogens comprising modified NHR1 regions that stabilize pre-fusion conformations

The present invention provides HIV-1 vaccine immunogens. Some of the immunogens contain a soluble gp140-derived protein that harbors a modified N-terminus of the HR1 region in gp41. Some of the immunogens contain an HIV-1 Env-derived trimer protein that is presented on a nanoparticle platform. The invention also provides methods of using the HIV-1 vaccine immunogens for eliciting an immune response or treating HIV infections.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Nucleic acids encoding HIV-1 GP140 immunogens comprising modified NHR1 regions that stabilize pre-fusion conformations

The present invention provides HIV-1 vaccine immunogens. Some of the immunogens contain a soluble gp140-derived protein that harbors a modified N-terminus of the HR1 region in gp41. Some of the immunogens contain an HIV-1 Env-derived trimer protein that is presented on a nanoparticle platform. The invention also provides methods of using the HIV-1 vaccine immunogens for eliciting an immune response or treating HIV infections.

Kong, Leopold↗

HIV-1 GP140 immunogens comprising modified NHR1 regions that stabilize pre-fusion envelope conformations

The present invention provides HIV-1 vaccine immunogens. Some of the immunogens contain a soluble gp140-derived protein that harbors a modified N-terminus of the HR1 region in gp41. Some of the immunogens contain an HIV-1 Env-derived trimer protein that is presented on a nanoparticle platform. The invention also provides methods of using the HIV-1 vaccine immunogens for eliciting an immune response or treating HIV infections.

Kong, Leopold↗

Hitting the sweet spot: exploiting HIV-1 glycan shield for induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies

The surface of the HIV-1 Env glycoprotein, the target of neutralizing antibodies, is extensively covered by N-linked glycans that create a glycan shield. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), the primary targets of HIV-1 vaccine design, have to negotiate this glycan shield. Here, we review the barriers and opportunities that the HIV-1 glycan shield presents for vaccine induction of bNAbs.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Triple tandem trimer immunogens for HIV-1 and influenza nucleic acid-based vaccines

Recombinant native-like HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimers are used in candidate vaccines aimed at inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies. While state-of-the-art SOSIP or single-chain Env designs can be expressed as native-like trimers, undesired monomers, dimers and malformed trimers that elicit non-neutralizing antibodies are also formed, implying that these designs could benefit from further modifications for gene-based vaccination approaches. Here, we describe the triple tandem trimer (TTT) design, in which three Env protomers are genetically linked in a single open reading frame and express as native-like trimers. Viral vectored Env TTT induced similar neutralization titers but with a higher proportion of trimer-specific responses. The TTT design was also applied to generate influenza hemagglutinin (HA) trimers without the need for trimerization domains. Additionally, we used TTT to generate well-folded chimeric Env and HA trimers that harbor protomers from three different strains. In summary, the TTT design is a useful platform for the design of HIV-1 Env and influenza HA immunogens for a multitude of vaccination strategies.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Estimation of conditional cumulative incidence functions under generalized semiparametric regression models with missing covariates, with application to analysis of biomarker correlates in vaccine trials

Herein, this article presents generalized semiparametric regression models for conditional cumulative incidence functions with competing risks data when covariates are missing by sampling design or happenstance. A doubly robust augmented inverse probability weighted (AIPW) complete-case approach to estimation and inference is investigated. This approach modifies IPW complete-case estimating equations by exploiting the key features in the relationship between the missing covariates and the phase-one data to improve efficiency. An iterative numerical procedure is derived to solve the nonlinear estimating equations. The asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are established. A simulation study examining the finite-sample performances of the proposed estimators shows that the AIPW estimators are more efficient than the IPW estimators. The developed method is applied to the RV144 HIV-1 vaccine efficacy trial to investigate vaccine-induced IgG binding antibodies to HIV-1 as correlates of acquisition of HIV-1 infection while taking account of whether the HIV-1 sequences are near or far from the HIV-1 sequences represented in the vaccine construct.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Identification of $\mathrm{IOMA}$-class neutralizing antibodies targeting the $\mathrm{CD4}$-binding site on the $\mathrm{HIV}$-1 envelope glycoprotein

A major goal of current HIV-1 vaccine design efforts is to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). The VH1-2-derived bNAb IOMA directed to the CD4-binding site of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein is of interest because, unlike the better-known VH1-2-derived VRC01-class bNAbs, it does not require a rare short light chain complementarity-determining region 3 (CDRL3). Here, we describe three IOMA-class NAbs, ACS101-103, with up to 37% breadth, that share many characteristics with IOMA, including an average-length CDRL3. Cryo-electron microscopy revealed that ACS101 shares interactions with those observed with other VH1-2 and VH1-46-class bNAbs, but exhibits a unique binding mode to residues in loop D. Analysis of longitudinal sequences from the patient suggests that a transmitter/founder-virus lacking the N276 glycan might have initiated the development of these NAbs. Together these data strengthen the rationale for germline-targeting vaccination strategies to induce IOMA-class bNAbs and provide a wealth of sequence and structural information to support such strategies.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Multiscale affinity maturation simulations to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV

The design of vaccines against highly mutable pathogens, such as HIV and influenza, requires a detailed understanding of how the adaptive immune system responds to encountering multiple variant antigens (Ags). Here, we describe a multiscale model of B cell receptor (BCR) affinity maturation that employs actual BCR nucleotide sequences and treats BCR/Ag interactions in atomistic detail. We apply the model to simulate the maturation of a broadly neutralizing Ab (bnAb) against HIV. Starting from a germline precursor sequence of the VRC01 anti-HIV Ab, we simulate BCR evolution in response to different vaccination protocols and different Ags, which were previously designed by us. The simulation results provide qualitative guidelines for future vaccine design and reveal unique insights into bnAb evolution against the CD4 binding site of HIV. Our model makes possible direct comparisons of simulated BCR populations with results of deep sequencing data, which will be explored in future applications.

Conti, Simone (ORCID:000000017986567X)↗

Vaccination induces broadly neutralizing antibody precursors to HIV gp41

A key barrier to the development of vaccines that induce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other viruses of high antigenic diversity is the design of priming immunogens that induce rare bnAb-precursor B cells. The high neutralization breadth of the HIV bnAb 10E8 makes elicitation of 10E8-class bnAbs desirable; however, the recessed epitope within gp41 makes envelope trimers poor priming immunogens and requires that 10E8-class bnAbs possess a long heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (HCDR3) with a specific binding motif. We developed germline-targeting epitope scaffolds with affinity for 10E8-class precursors and engineered nanoparticles for multivalent display. Scaffolds exhibited epitope structural mimicry and bound bnAb-precursor human naive B cells in ex vivo screens, protein nanoparticles induced bnAb-precursor responses in stringent mouse models and rhesus macaques, and mRNA-encoded nanoparticles triggered similar responses in mice. Thus, germline-targeting epitope scaffold nanoparticles can elicit rare bnAb-precursor B cells with predefined binding specificities and HCDR3 features.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Recognition Patterns of the C1/C2 Epitopes Involved in Fc-Mediated Response in HIV-1 Natural Infection and the RV114 Vaccine Trial

Antibodies (Abs) specific for CD4-induced envelope (Env) epitopes within constant region 1 and 2 (C1/C2) were induced in the RV144 vaccine trial, where antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) correlated with reduced risk of HIV-1 infection. We combined X-ray crystallography and fluorescence resonance energy transfer-fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to describe the molecular basis for epitopes of seven RV144 Abs and compared them to A32 and C11, C1/C2 Abs induced in HIV infection. Our data indicate that most vaccine Abs recognize the 7-stranded β-sandwich of gp120, a unique hybrid epitope bridging A32 and C11 binding sites. Although primarily directed at the 7-stranded β-sandwich, some accommodate the gp120 N terminus in C11-bound 8-stranded conformation and therefore recognize a broader range of CD4-triggered Env conformations. Our data also suggest that Abs of RV144 and RV305, the RV144 follow-up study, although likely initially induced by the ALVAC-HIV prime encoding full-length gp120, matured through boosting with truncated AIDSVAX gp120 variants.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

HIV-1 CD4-binding site germline antibody–Env structures inform vaccine design

BG24, a VRC01-class broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) against HIV-1 Env with relatively few somatic hypermutations (SHMs), represents a promising target for vaccine strategies to elicit CD4-binding site (CD4bs) bNAbs. To understand how SHMs correlate with BG24 neutralization of HIV-1, we report 4.1 Å and 3.4 Å single-particle cryo-EM structures of two inferred germline (iGL) BG24 precursors complexed with engineered Env-based immunogens lacking CD4bs N-glycans. Structures reveal critical Env contacts by BG24 iGL and identify antibody light chain structural features that impede Env recognition. In addition, biochemical data and cryo-EM structures of BG24 iGL variants bound to Envs with CD4bs glycans present provide insights into N-glycan accommodation, including structural modes of light chain adaptations in the presence of the N276 gp120 glycan. Together, these findings reveal Env regions critical for germline antibody recognition and potential sites to alter in immunogen design.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Mapping the immunogenic landscape of near-native HIV-1 envelope trimers in non-human primates

The induction of broad and potent immunity by vaccines is the key focus of research efforts aimed at protecting against HIV-1 infection. Soluble native-like HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins have shown promise as vaccine candidates as they can induce potent autologous neutralizing responses in rabbits and non-human primates. In this study, monoclonal antibodies were isolated and characterized from rhesus macaques immunized with the BG505 SOSIP.664 trimer to better understand vaccine-induced antibody responses. Our studies reveal a diverse landscape of antibodies recognizing immunodominant strain-specific epitopes and non-neutralizing neo-epitopes. Additionally, we isolated a subset of mAbs against an epitope cluster at the gp120-gp41 interface that recognize the highly conserved fusion peptide and the glycan at position 88 and have characteristics akin to several human-derived broadly neutralizing antibodies.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Cooperation between somatic mutation and germline-encoded residues enables antibody recognition of HIV-1 envelope glycans

Viral glycoproteins are a primary target for host antibody responses. However, glycans on viral glycoproteins can hinder antibody recognition since they are self glycans derived from the host biosynthesis pathway. During natural HIV-1 infection, neutralizing antibodies are made against glycans on HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env). However, such antibodies are rarely elicited with vaccination. Previously, the vaccine-induced, macaque antibody DH501 was isolated and shown to bind to high mannose glycans on HIV-1 Env. Understanding how DH501 underwent affinity maturation to recognize glycans could inform vaccine induction of HIV-1 glycan antibodies. Here, we show that DH501 Env glycan reactivity is mediated by both germline-encoded residues that contact glycans, and somatic mutations that increase antibody paratope flexibility. Only somatic mutations in the heavy chain were required for glycan reactivity. The paratope conformation was fragile as single mutations within the immunoglobulin fold or complementarity determining regions were sufficient for eliminating antibody function. Taken together, the initial germline V H DJ H rearrangement generated contact residues capable of binding glycans, and somatic mutations were required to form a flexible paratope with a cavity conducive to HIV-1 envelope glycan binding. The requirement for the presence of most somatic mutations across the heavy chain variable region provides one explanation for the difficulty in inducing anti-Env glycan antibodies with HIV-1 Env vaccination.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗