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Li X, Zhang W, Shu Y, Huo R, Zheng C, Qi Q, Fu P, Sun J, Wang Y, Wang Y, Lu J, Zhao X, Yin G, Wang Q, Hong J. Biparatopic anti-PCSK9 antibody enhances the LDL-uptake in HepG2 cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15331. [PMID: 38961200 PMCID: PMC11222478 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66290-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target to reduce lipids. In 2020, we reported a chimeric camelid-human heavy chain antibody VHH-B11-Fc targeting PCSK9. Recently, it was verified that VHH-B11 binds one linear epitope in the PCSK9 hinge region. To enhance its druggability, we have developed a novel biparatopic B11-H2-Fc Ab herein. Thereinto, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) confirmed the epitope differences in binding-PCSK9 among VHH-B11, VHH-H2 and the approved Repatha. Additionally, SPR revealed the B11-H2-Fc exhibits an avidity of approximately 0.036 nM for PCSK9, representing a considerable increase compared to VHH-B11-Fc (~ 0.69 nM). Moreover, we found the Repatha and B11-H2-Fc exhibited > 95% PCSK9 inhibition efficiency compared to approximately 48% for the VHH-Fc at 7.4 nM (P < 0.0005). Further, we verified its biological activity using the human hepatoma cells G2 model, where the B11-H2-Fc exhibited almost 100% efficiency in PCSK9 inhibition at only 0.75 μM. The immunoblotting results of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) uptake assay also demonstrated the excellent performance of B11-H2-Fc on recovering the LDL-c receptor (LDLR), as strong as the Repatha (P > 0.05). These findings provide the first evidence of the efficacy of a novel Ab targeting PCSK9 in the field of lipid-lowering drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyang Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Public Health and Emergency Management, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Shu
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China
| | - Rui Huo
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China
| | - Chengyang Zheng
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China
| | - Qi Qi
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China
| | - Pengfei Fu
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China
| | - Jie Sun
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China
| | - Yuhuan Wang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China
| | - Yan Wang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China
| | - Juxu Lu
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China
| | - Xiangjie Zhao
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China
| | - Guoyou Yin
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China.
| | - Qingqing Wang
- Employment and Business Startup Service Center, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China.
| | - Jun Hong
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Ping Dingshan, 467036, China.
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2
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Bruun TUJ, Tang S, Erwin G, Deis L, Fernandez D, Kim PS. Structure-guided stabilization improves the ability of the HIV-1 gp41 hydrophobic pocket to elicit neutralizing antibodies. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:103062. [PMID: 36841484 PMCID: PMC10064241 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.103062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The hydrophobic pocket found in the N-heptad repeat (NHR) region of HIV-1 gp41 is a highly conserved epitope that is the target of various HIV-1-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. Although the high conservation of the pocket makes it an attractive vaccine candidate, it has been challenging to elicit potent anti-NHR antibodies via immunization. Here, we solved a high-resolution structure of the NHR mimetic IQN17, and, consistent with previous ligand-bound gp41 pocket structures, we observed remarkable conformational plasticity of the pocket. The high malleability of this pocket led us to test whether we could improve the immunogenicity of the gp41 pocket by stabilizing its conformation. We show that the addition of five amino acids at the C terminus of IQN17, to generate IQN22, introduces a stabilizing salt bridge at the base of the peptide that rigidifies the pocket. Mice immunized with IQN22 elicited higher avidity antibodies against the gp41 pocket and a more potent, albeit still weak, neutralizing response against HIV-1 compared with IQN17. Stabilized epitope-focused immunogens could serve as the basis for future HIV-1 fusion-inhibiting vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodora U J Bruun
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Shaogeng Tang
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Graham Erwin
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Lindsay Deis
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Daniel Fernandez
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; Chem-H Macromolecular Structure Knowledge Center (MSKC), Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Peter S Kim
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA.
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3
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Pang W, Lu Y, Zhao YB, Shen F, Fan CF, Wang Q, He WQ, He XY, Li ZK, Chen TT, Yang CX, Li YZ, Xiao SX, Zhao ZJ, Huang XS, Luo RH, Yang LM, Zhang M, Dong XQ, Li MH, Feng XL, Zhou QC, Qu W, Jiang S, Ouyang S, Zheng YT. A variant-proof SARS-CoV-2 vaccine targeting HR1 domain in S2 subunit of spike protein. Cell Res 2022; 32:1068-1085. [PMID: 36357786 PMCID: PMC9648449 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-022-00746-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, commonly with many mutations in S1 subunit of spike (S) protein are weakening the efficacy of the current vaccines and antibody therapeutics. This calls for the variant-proof SARS-CoV-2 vaccines targeting the more conserved regions in S protein. Here, we designed a recombinant subunit vaccine, HR121, targeting the conserved HR1 domain in S2 subunit of S protein. HR121 consisting of HR1-linker1-HR2-linker2-HR1, is conformationally and functionally analogous to the HR1 domain present in the fusion intermediate conformation of S2 subunit. Immunization with HR121 in rabbits and rhesus macaques elicited highly potent cross-neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, particularly Omicron sublineages. Vaccination with HR121 achieved near-full protections against prototype SARS-CoV-2 infection in hACE2 transgenic mice, Syrian golden hamsters and rhesus macaques, and effective protection against Omicron BA.2 infection in Syrian golden hamsters. This study demonstrates that HR121 is a promising candidate of variant-proof SARS-CoV-2 vaccine with a novel conserved target in the S2 subunit for application against current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Pang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Lu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Bo Zhao
- grid.411503.20000 0000 9271 2478The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Provincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic Regulation, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian China
| | - Fan Shen
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chang-Fa Fan
- grid.410749.f0000 0004 0577 6238Division of Animal Model Research, Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Qiang He
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Yan He
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ze-Kai Li
- grid.411503.20000 0000 9271 2478The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Provincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic Regulation, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian China
| | - Tao-Tao Chen
- grid.411503.20000 0000 9271 2478The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Provincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic Regulation, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian China
| | - Cui-Xian Yang
- grid.508267.eYunnan Provincial Infectious Disease Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan China
| | - You-Zhi Li
- grid.411503.20000 0000 9271 2478The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Provincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic Regulation, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian China
| | - Si-Xuan Xiao
- grid.411503.20000 0000 9271 2478The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Provincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic Regulation, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian China
| | - Zu-Jiang Zhao
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xu-Sheng Huang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rong-Hua Luo
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China
| | - Liu-Meng Yang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China
| | - Mi Zhang
- grid.508267.eYunnan Provincial Infectious Disease Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan China
| | - Xing-Qi Dong
- grid.508267.eYunnan Provincial Infectious Disease Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan China
| | - Ming-Hua Li
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center for Non-human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China
| | - Xiao-Li Feng
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center for Non-human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China
| | - Qing-Cui Zhou
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center for Non-human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China
| | - Wang Qu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center for Non-human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan China
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Songying Ouyang
- The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Provincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic Regulation, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
| | - Yong-Tang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China. .,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,Kunming National High-level Biosafety Research Center for Non-human Primates, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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4
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Rubio AA, Filsinger Interrante MV, Bell BN, Brown CL, Bruun TUJ, LaBranche CC, Montefiori DC, Kim PS. A Derivative of the D5 Monoclonal Antibody That Targets the gp41 N-Heptad Repeat of HIV-1 with Broad Tier-2-Neutralizing Activity. J Virol 2021; 95:e0235020. [PMID: 33980592 PMCID: PMC8274607 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02350-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infection is initiated by the viral glycoprotein Env, which, after interaction with cellular coreceptors, adopts a transient conformation known as the prehairpin intermediate (PHI). The N-heptad repeat (NHR) is a highly conserved region of gp41 exposed in the PHI; it is the target of the FDA-approved drug enfuvirtide and of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). However, to date, these mAbs have only been weakly effective against tier-1 HIV-1 strains, which are most sensitive to neutralizing antibodies. Here, we engineered and tested 11 IgG variants of D5, an anti-NHR mAb, by recombining previously described mutations in four of D5's six antibody complementarity-determining regions. One variant, D5_AR, demonstrated 6-fold enhancement in the 50% inhibitory dose (ID50) against lentivirus pseudotyped with HXB2 Env. D5_AR exhibited weak cross-clade neutralizing activity against a diverse set of tier-2 HIV-1 viruses, which are less sensitive to neutralizing antibodies than tier-1 viruses and are the target of current antibody-based vaccine efforts. In addition, the neutralization potency of D5_AR IgG was greatly enhanced in target cells expressing FcγRI, with ID50 values of <0.1 μg/ml; this immunoglobulin receptor is expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells, which are implicated in the early stages of HIV-1 infection of mucosal surfaces. D5 and D5_AR have equivalent neutralization potency in IgG, Fab, and single-chain variable-fragment (scFv) formats, indicating that neutralization is not impacted by steric hindrance. Taken together, these results provide support for vaccine strategies that target the PHI by eliciting antibodies against the gp41 NHR and support investigation of anti-NHR mAbs in nonhuman primate passive immunization studies. IMPORTANCE Despite advances in antiretroviral therapy, HIV remains a global epidemic and has claimed more than 32 million lives. Accordingly, developing an effective HIV vaccine remains an urgent public health need. The gp41 N-heptad repeat (NHR) of the HIV-1 prehairpin intermediate (PHI) is highly conserved (>90%) and is inhibited by the FDA-approved drug enfuvirtide, making it an attractive vaccine target. However, to date, anti-NHR antibodies have not been potent. Here, we engineered D5_AR, a more potent variant of the anti-NHR antibody D5, and established its ability to inhibit HIV-1 strains that are more difficult to neutralize and are more representative of circulating strains (tier-2 strains). The neutralizing activity of D5_AR was greatly potentiated in cells expressing FcγRI; FcγRI is expressed on cells that are implicated at the earliest stages of sexual HIV-1 transmission. Taken together, these results bolster efforts to target the gp41 NHR and the PHI for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adonis A. Rubio
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University School of Humanities & Sciences, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Maria V. Filsinger Interrante
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Stanford Biophysics Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Benjamin N. Bell
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Clayton L. Brown
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Theodora U. J. Bruun
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Celia C. LaBranche
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - David C. Montefiori
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peter S. Kim
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
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5
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The high-affinity immunoglobulin receptor FcγRI potentiates HIV-1 neutralization via antibodies against the gp41 N-heptad repeat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2018027118. [PMID: 33431684 PMCID: PMC7826338 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018027118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research, an effective HIV-1 vaccine remains elusive. One potential vaccine target is the N-heptad repeat (NHR) region of gp41, which is the target of the FDA-approved drug enfuvirtide. However, monoclonal antibodies and antisera targeting this region have only been modestly neutralizing to date. Here, we show that the neutralization potency of the well-characterized anti-NHR antibody D5 is increased >5,000-fold by expression of FcγRI (CD64) on cells. Since FcγRI is expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells, which are implicated in the early establishment of HIV-1 infection following sexual transmission, these results may be important to HIV-1 vaccine development. The HIV-1 gp41 N-heptad repeat (NHR) region of the prehairpin intermediate, which is transiently exposed during HIV-1 viral membrane fusion, is a validated clinical target in humans and is inhibited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug enfuvirtide. However, vaccine candidates targeting the NHR have yielded only modest neutralization activities in animals; this inhibition has been largely restricted to tier-1 viruses, which are most sensitive to neutralization by sera from HIV-1–infected individuals. Here, we show that the neutralization activity of the well-characterized NHR-targeting antibody D5 is potentiated >5,000-fold in TZM-bl cells expressing FcγRI compared with those without, resulting in neutralization of many tier-2 viruses (which are less susceptible to neutralization by sera from HIV-1–infected individuals and are the target of current antibody-based vaccine efforts). Further, antisera from guinea pigs immunized with the NHR-based vaccine candidate (ccIZN36)3 neutralized tier-2 viruses from multiple clades in an FcγRI-dependent manner. As FcγRI is expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells, which are present at mucosal surfaces and are implicated in the early establishment of HIV-1 infection following sexual transmission, these results may be important in the development of a prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine.
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6
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Hessell AJ, Powell R, Jiang X, Luo C, Weiss S, Dussupt V, Itri V, Fox A, Shapiro MB, Pandey S, Cheever T, Fuller DH, Park B, Krebs SJ, Totrov M, Haigwood NL, Kong XP, Zolla-Pazner S. Multimeric Epitope-Scaffold HIV Vaccines Target V1V2 and Differentially Tune Polyfunctional Antibody Responses. Cell Rep 2020; 28:877-895.e6. [PMID: 31340151 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.06.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The V1V2 region of the HIV-1 envelope is the target of several broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Antibodies to V1V2 elicited in the RV144 clinical trial correlated with a reduced risk of HIV infection, but these antibodies were without broad neutralizing activity. Antibodies targeting V1V2 also correlated with a reduced viral load in immunized macaques challenged with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) or simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV). To focus immune responses on V1V2, we engrafted the native, glycosylated V1V2 domain onto five different multimeric scaffold proteins and conducted comparative immunogenicity studies in macaques. Vaccinated macaques developed high titers of plasma and mucosal antibodies that targeted structurally distinct V1V2 epitopes. Plasma antibodies displayed limited neutralizing activity but were functionally active for ADCC and phagocytosis, which was detectable 1-2 years after immunizations ended. This study demonstrates that multivalent, glycosylated V1V2-scaffold protein immunogens focus the antibody response on V1V2 and are differentially effective at inducing polyfunctional antibodies with characteristics associated with protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann J Hessell
- Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
| | - Rebecca Powell
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Xunqing Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Christina Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Svenja Weiss
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Vincent Dussupt
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Vincenza Itri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Alisa Fox
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Mariya B Shapiro
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Shilpi Pandey
- Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Tracy Cheever
- Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Deborah H Fuller
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Byung Park
- Primate Genetics Program, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Shelly J Krebs
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | | | - Nancy L Haigwood
- Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA; Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239.
| | - Xiang-Peng Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Susan Zolla-Pazner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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7
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Trimeric heptad repeat synthetic peptides HR1 and HR2 efficiently inhibit HIV-1 entry. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20192196. [PMID: 31477581 PMCID: PMC6757187 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20192196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The trimeric heptad repeat domains HR1 and HR2 of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) gp41 play a key role in HIV-1-entry by membrane fusion. To develop efficient inhibitors against this step, the corresponding trimeric-N36 and C34 peptides were designed and synthesized. Analysis by circular dichroism of monomeric and trimeric N36 and C34 peptides showed their capacities to adopt α-helical structures and to establish physical interactions. At the virological level, while trimeric-C34 conserves the same high anti-fusion activity as monomeric-C34, trimerization of N36-peptide induced a significant increase, reaching 500-times higher in anti-fusion activity, against R5-tropic virus-mediated fusion. This result was associated with increased stability of the N36 trimer peptide with respect to the monomeric form, as demonstrated by the comparative kinetics of their antiviral activities during 6-day incubation in a physiological medium. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that while the trimerization of C34 peptide had no beneficial effect on its stability and antiviral activity, the trimerization of N36 peptide strengthened both stability and antiviral activity. This approach, promotes trimers as new promising HIV-1 inhibitors and point to future development aimed toward innovative peptide fusion inhibitors, microbicides or as immunogens.
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8
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An HIV Envelope gp120-Fc Fusion Protein Elicits Effector Antibody Responses in Rhesus Macaques. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2017; 24:CVI.00028-17. [PMID: 28404572 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00028-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A goal for HIV prevention programs is to develop safe, effective vaccines that elicit durable and broadly protective antibodies. Many vaccine programs focus on the immune responses to critical epitopes in the gp120 portion of HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env) and seek to improve the quality and quantity of antibodies by altering the sequence, conformation, oligomerization, or glycosylation of gp120 to activate appropriate germ line B cells and mimic the subsequent maturation pathways seen in infected individuals. As a complement to these strategies, we developed dimeric fusion protein immunogens consisting of HIVBaL gp120 monomer attached to a Gly/Ser linker that is, in turn, fused to one half of the dimeric Fc domain from rhesus macaque IgG1 (Env-rFc). We envisioned that Env-rFc may mimic some aspects of immune complexes by binding Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) on immune cells to increase the strength, breadth, and durability of Env-specific antibody responses. The Env-rFc retained a capacity to bind both cell surface CD4 and FcγRs. In a rhesus macaque immunization study, Env-rFc elicited higher gp120 binding antibody titers than Env and elicited antibodies that recognize CD4-induced epitopes. Env-rFc also induced antibodies capable of neutralizing tier 1A HIV pseudotyped viruses and mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, outcomes not observed with monomeric gp120 in our study. Serum antibodies produced in Env-rFc-immunized macaques had increased durability compared to that of Env monomer immunization. Our work suggests that adding IgG1 Fc to Env-based immunogens may stimulate increased effector capacity in the immune sera and improve the protective serum antibody response.
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9
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Advancements in Developing Strategies for Sterilizing and Functional HIV Cures. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:6096134. [PMID: 28529952 PMCID: PMC5424177 DOI: 10.1155/2017/6096134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been successful in prolonging lifespan and reducing mortality of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, the eradication of latent HIV reservoirs remains a challenge for curing HIV infection (HIV cure) because of HIV latency in primary memory CD4+ T cells. Currently, two types of HIV cures are in development: a “sterilizing cure” and a “functional cure.” A sterilizing cure refers to the complete elimination of replication-competent proviruses in the body, while a functional cure refers to the long-term control of HIV replication without treatment. Based on these concepts, significant progress has been made in different areas. This review focuses on recent advancements and future prospects for HIV cures.
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10
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Xu J, Zhang C. Human IgG Fc promotes expression, secretion and immunogenicity of enterovirus 71 VP1 protein. J Biomed Res 2016; 30:209-16. [PMID: 27533931 PMCID: PMC4885169 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.30.20140157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterovirus (EV71) can cause severe neurological diseases, but the underlying pathogenesis remains unclear. The capsid protein, viral protein 1 (VP1), plays a critical role in the pathogenicity of EV71. High level expression and secretion of VP1 protein are necessary for structure, function and immunogenicity in its natural conformation. In our previous studies, 5 codon-optimized VP1 DNA vaccines, including wt-VP1, tPA-VP1, VP1-d, VP1-hFc and VP1-mFc, were constructed and analyzed. They expressed VP1 protein, but the levels of secretion and immunogenicity of these VP1 constructs were significantly different (P<0.05). In this study, we further investigated the protein levels of these constructs and determined that all of these constructs expressed VP1 protein. The secretion level was increased by including a tPA leader sequence, which was further increased by fusing human IgG Fc (hFc) to VP1. VP1-hFc demonstrated the most potent immunogenicity in mice. Furthermore, hFc domain could be used to purify VP1-hFc protein for additional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Xu
- Department of Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.
| | - Chunhua Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases
- China-US Vaccine Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
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11
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He B, Xia S, Yu F, Fu Y, Li W, Wang Q, Lu L, Jiang S. Putative suppressing effect of IgG Fc-conjugated haemagglutinin (HA) stalk of influenza virus H7N9 on the neutralizing immunogenicity of Fc-conjugated HA head: implication for rational design of HA-based influenza vaccines. J Gen Virol 2015; 97:327-333. [PMID: 26653217 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of influenza A H7N9 in infection has posed a great threat to public health globally. Poor immunogenicity of H7N9 haemagglutinin (HA) is a major obstacle to the development of an effective H7N9 vaccine. Here, we found that the vaccine containing the H7HA head conjugated with IgG Fc (Hd-Fc) induced strong neutralizing antibody responses and protection against H7N9 infection, whilst the Fc-conjugated H7HA stalk (St-Fc)-based vaccine could not induce neutralizing antibodies, although the St-Fc-immunized mice were partially protected. The vaccines containing the full-length extracellular domain of HA conjugated with Fc and the mixture of Hd-Fc plus St-Fc induced significantly lower neutralizing antibody and haemagglutination inhibition titres than the Hd-Fc-based vaccine. These results suggest that the St-Fc may have inhibitory effects on the neutralizing immunogenicity of Hd-Fc. Therefore, the neutralizing domain(s), such as the receptor-binding domain, in the HA head should be kept and the non-neutralizing domain(s) in the HA stalk with the ability to potentially suppress the neutralizing immunogenicity of HA head should be removed from Fc-conjugated HA-based influenza vaccines to increase the neutralizing antibody response.
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Affiliation(s)
- B He
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - S Xia
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - F Yu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Y Fu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - W Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Q Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - L Lu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - S Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, School of Basic Medical Sciences and, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, PR China.,Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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12
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Nonneutralizing Antibodies Induced by the HIV-1 gp41 NHR Domain Gain Neutralizing Activity in the Presence of the HIV Fusion Inhibitor Enfuvirtide: a Potential Therapeutic Vaccine Strategy. J Virol 2015; 89:6960-4. [PMID: 25903343 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00791-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A key barrier against developing preventive and therapeutic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccines is the inability of viral envelope glycoproteins to elicit broad and potent neutralizing antibodies. However, in the presence of fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide, we show that the nonneutralizing antibodies induced by the HIV type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 N-terminal heptad repeat (NHR) domain (N63) exhibit potent and broad neutralizing activity against laboratory-adapted HIV-1 strains, including the drug-resistant variants, and primary HIV-1 isolates with different subtypes, suggesting the potential of developing gp41-targeted HIV therapeutic vaccines.
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13
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Receptor binding domain based HIV vaccines. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:594109. [PMID: 25667925 PMCID: PMC4312573 DOI: 10.1155/2015/594109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This paper analyzes the main trend of the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) vaccines in recent years. Designing an HIV-1 vaccine that provides robust protection from HIV-1 infection remains a challenge despite many years of effort. Therefore, we describe the receptor binding domain of gp120 as a target for developing AIDS vaccines. And we recommend some measures that could induce efficiently and produce cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies with high binding affinity. Those measures may offer a new way of the research and development of the potent and broad AIDS vaccines.
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14
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Novel neutralising antibodies targeting the N-terminal helical region of the transmembrane envelope protein p15E of the porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV). Immunol Res 2014; 58:9-19. [PMID: 23729215 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-013-8430-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Previously, immunising different species with the transmembrane envelope protein p15E of the porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV), neutralising antibodies were induced which recognised epitopes in the fusion peptide proximal region (FPPR) and in the membrane-proximal external region (MPER). Only the MPER-specific antibodies were shown to neutralise and these antibodies targeted epitopes in the MPER similarly localised as the epitopes recognised by antibodies broadly neutralising HIV-1 such as 2F5 and 4E10. To study whether neutralising antibodies could be induced immunising with subunits of p15E, recombinant proteins corresponding to the N-terminal, the C-terminal helical region (NHR, CHR) and a p15E with a mutation in the Cys-Cys loop were produced. Whereas none of these antigens induced MPER-specific neutralising antibodies, the animals immunised with the FPPR/NHR subunit and the mutated p15E produced neutralising antibodies binding to the NHR. Therefore, for the first time, antibodies specific for the NHR and neutralising PERV were described.
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15
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Benen TD, Tonks P, Kliche A, Kapzan R, Heeney JL, Wagner R. Development and immunological assessment of VLP-based immunogens exposing the membrane-proximal region of the HIV-1 gp41 protein. J Biomed Sci 2014; 21:79. [PMID: 25160824 PMCID: PMC4256929 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-014-0079-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 gp41 is particularly conserved and target for the potent broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bnMAbs) 2F5, 4E10 and 10E8. Epitope focusing and stabilization present promising strategies to enhance the quality of immune responses to specific epitopes. Results The aim of this work was to design and evaluate novel immunogens based on the gp41 MPER with the potential to elicit cross-clade neutralizing antibodies. For that purpose, gp41 was truncated N-terminally in order to dispose immunodominant, non-neutralizing sites and enhance the exposure of conserved regions. To stabilize a trimeric conformation, heterologous GCN4 and HA2 zipper domains were fused based on an in silico “best-fit” model to the protein’s amino terminus. Cell surface exposure of resulting proteins and their selective binding to bnMAbs 2F5 and 4E10 could be shown by cytometric analyses. Incorporation into VLPs and preservation of antigenic structures were verified by electron microscopy, and the oligomeric state was successfully stabilized by zipper domains. These gp41 immunogens were evaluated for antigenicity in an immunization study in rabbits primed with homologous DNA expression plasmids and boosted with virus-like particle (VLP) proteins. Low titers of anti-MPER antibodies were measured by IgG ELISA, and low neutralizing activity could be detected against a clade C and B viral isolate in sera. Conclusions Thus, although neutralizing titers were very moderate, induction of cross-clade neutralizing antibodies seems possible following immunization with MPER-focusing immunogens. However, further refinement of MPER presentation and immunogenicity is clearly needed to induce substantial neutralization responses to these epitopes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12929-014-0079-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ralf Wagner
- Molecular Microbiology and Gene Therapy Unit, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, 93053, Germany.
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16
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Chen X, Liu H, Zhang T, Liu Y, Xie X, Wang Z, Xu X. A vaccine of L2 epitope repeats fused with a modified IgG1 Fc induced cross-neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity against divergent human papillomavirus types. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95448. [PMID: 24802101 PMCID: PMC4011685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Current human papillomavirus (HPV) major capsid protein L1 virus-like particles (VLPs)-based vaccines in clinic induce strong HPV type-specific neutralizing antibody responses. To develop pan-HPV vaccines, here, we show that the fusion protein E3R4 consisting of three repeats of HPV16 L2 aa 17–36 epitope (E3) and a modified human IgG1 Fc scaffold (R4) induces cross-neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity against divergent HPV types. E3R4 was expressed as a secreted protein in baculovirus expression system and could be simply purified by one step Protein A affinity chromatography with the purity above 90%. Vaccination of E3R4 formulated with Freunds adjuvant not only induced cross-neutralizing antibodies against HPV pseudovirus types 16, 18, 45, 52, 58, 6, 11 and 5 in mice, but also protected mice against vaginal challenges with HPV pseudovirus types 16, 45, 52, 58, 11 and 5 for at least eleven months after the first immunization. Moreover, vaccination of E3R4 formulated with FDA approved adjuvant alum plus monophosphoryl lipid A also induced cross-neutralizing antibodies against HPV types 16, 18 and 6 in rabbits. Thus, our results demonstrate that delivery of L2 antigen as a modified Fc-fusion protein may facilitate pan-HPV vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Chen
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyang Liu
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yanchun Liu
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xixiu Xie
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhirong Wang
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xuemei Xu
- Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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17
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Berthelmann A, Lach J, Gräwert MA, Groll M, Eichler J. VersatileC3-symmetric scaffolds and their use for covalent stabilization of the foldon trimer. Org Biomol Chem 2014; 12:2606-14. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ob42251h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Attachment of foldon monomers to a trimesic acid scaffold enhances thermal stability of the trimer, while maintaining the correct fold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Berthelmann
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy
- University of Erlangen-Nurnberg
- 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Lach
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy
- University of Erlangen-Nurnberg
- 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Melissa A. Gräwert
- Center for Integrated Protein Science at the Department of Chemistry
- Chair of Biochemistry
- Technical University of Munich
- 85747 Munich, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory
| | - Michael Groll
- Center for Integrated Protein Science at the Department of Chemistry
- Chair of Biochemistry
- Technical University of Munich
- 85747 Munich, Germany
| | - Jutta Eichler
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy
- University of Erlangen-Nurnberg
- 91052 Erlangen, Germany
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18
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Lu L, Wei M, Chen Y, Xiong W, Yu F, Qi Z, Jiang S, Pan C. F(ab')2 fragment of a gp41 NHR-trimer-induced IgM monoclonal antibody neutralizes HIV-1 infection and blocks viral fusion by targeting the conserved gp41 pocket. Microbes Infect 2013; 15:887-94. [PMID: 24141089 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2013.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Revised: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Using a recombinant protein N46FdFc that mimics the HIV-1 gp41 N-helix trimer to immunize mice, we identified the first IgM monoclonal antibody 18D3 that specifically bound to the conserved gp41 pocket. Its F(ab')2 fragment potently inhibited HIV-1 Env-mediated cell-cell fusion and neutralized infection by laboratory-adapted and primary HIV-1 isolates with different subtypes and tropism, including the T20-resistant variants. This F(ab')2 fragment can be used to develop a bispecific broad neutralizing monoclonal antibody or HIV-1 inactivator as a novel immunotherapeutic for treatment and prevention of HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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19
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Du L, Zhao G, Sun S, Zhang X, Zhou X, Guo Y, Li Y, Zhou Y, Jiang S. A critical HA1 neutralizing domain of H5N1 influenza in an optimal conformation induces strong cross-protection. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53568. [PMID: 23320093 PMCID: PMC3539987 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses, especially the laboratory-generated H5N1 mutants, have demonstrated the potential to cross the species barrier and infect mammals and humans. Consequently, the design of an effective and safe anti-H5N1 vaccine is essential. We previously demonstrated that the full-length hemagglutinin 1 (HA1) could induce significant neutralizing antibody response and protection. Here, we intended to identify the critical neutralizing domain (CND) in an optimal conformation that can elicit strong cross-neutralizing antibodies and protection against divergent H5N1 strains. We thus constructed six recombinant proteins covering different regions of HA1 of A/Anhui/1/2005(H5N1), each of which was fused with foldon (Fd) and Fc of human IgG. We found that the critical fragment fused with Fd/Fc (HA-13–263-Fdc, H5 numbering) that could elicit the strongest neutralizing antibody response is located in the N-terminal region of HA1 (residues 13–263), which covers the receptor-binding domain (RBD, residues 112–263). We then constructed three additional recombinants fused with Fd plus His tag (HA-13–263-Fd-His), Fc only (HA-13–263-Fc), and His tag only (HA-13–263-His), respectively. We found that the HA-13–263-Fdc, which formed an oligomeric conformation, induced the strongest neutralizing antibody response and cross-protection against challenges of two tested H5N1 virus strains covering clade 1: A/VietNam/1194/2004 (VN/1194) or clade 2.3.4: A/Shenzhen/406H/06 (SZ/406H), while HA-13–263-Fc dimer and HA-13–263-Fd-His trimer elicited higher neutralizing antibody response and protection than HA-13–263-His monomer. These results suggest that the oligomeric form of the CND containing the RBD can be further developed as an effective and safe vaccine for cross-protection against divergent strains of H5N1 viruses.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/biosynthesis
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Viral/biosynthesis
- Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use
- Antigens, Viral/immunology
- Cross Reactions
- Female
- Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/chemistry
- Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/immunology
- Humans
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/chemistry
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/immunology
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/pathogenicity
- Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Influenza Vaccines/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neutralization Tests/methods
- Protein Conformation
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanying Du
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Guangyu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Shihui Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiujuan Zhang
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Xiaojun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ye Li
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- School of Medical Laboratory Science, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yusen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (Y. Zhou); (SJ)
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (Y. Zhou); (SJ)
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20
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Unusual biophysics of intrinsically disordered proteins. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2012; 1834:932-51. [PMID: 23269364 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2012.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 413] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2012] [Revised: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Research of a past decade and a half leaves no doubt that complete understanding of protein functionality requires close consideration of the fact that many functional proteins do not have well-folded structures. These intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and proteins with intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDPRs) are highly abundant in nature and play a number of crucial roles in a living cell. Their functions, which are typically associated with a wide range of intermolecular interactions where IDPs possess remarkable binding promiscuity, complement functional repertoire of ordered proteins. All this requires a close attention to the peculiarities of biophysics of these proteins. In this review, some key biophysical features of IDPs are covered. In addition to the peculiar sequence characteristics of IDPs these biophysical features include sequential, structural, and spatiotemporal heterogeneity of IDPs; their rough and relatively flat energy landscapes; their ability to undergo both induced folding and induced unfolding; the ability to interact specifically with structurally unrelated partners; the ability to gain different structures at binding to different partners; and the ability to keep essential amount of disorder even in the bound form. IDPs are also characterized by the "turned-out" response to the changes in their environment, where they gain some structure under conditions resulting in denaturation or even unfolding of ordered proteins. It is proposed that the heterogeneous spatiotemporal structure of IDPs/IDPRs can be described as a set of foldons, inducible foldons, semi-foldons, non-foldons, and unfoldons. They may lose their function when folded, and activation of some IDPs is associated with the awaking of the dormant disorder. It is possible that IDPs represent the "edge of chaos" systems which operate in a region between order and complete randomness or chaos, where the complexity is maximal. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The emerging dynamic view of proteins: Protein plasticity in allostery, evolution and self-assembly.
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21
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Baschieri S. Virus Glycoproteins Tagged with the Human Fc Domain as Second Generation Vaccine Candidates. INNOVATION IN VACCINOLOGY 2012. [PMCID: PMC7122206 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-4543-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Traditional vaccines such as inactivated or live attenuated vaccines, are gradually giving way to more biochemically defined vaccines that are most often based on a recombinant antigen known to possess neutralizing epitopes. Such vaccines can offer improvements in speed, safety and manufacturing process but an inevitable consequence of their high degree of purification is that immunogenicity is reduced through the lack of the innate triggering molecules present in more complex preparations. Targeting recombinant vaccines to antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells however can improve immunogenicity by ensuring that antigen processing is as efficient as possible. Immune complexes, one of a number of routes of APC targeting, are mimicked by a recombinant approach, crystallizable fragment (Fc) fusion proteins, in which the target immunogen is linked directly to an antibody effector domain capable of interaction with receptors, FcR, on the APC cell surface. A number of virus Fc fusion proteins have been expressed in insect cells using the baculovirus expression system and shown to be efficiently produced and purified. Their use for immunization next to non-Fc tagged equivalents shows that they are powerfully immunogenic in the absence of added adjuvant and that immune stimulation is the result of the Fc-FcR interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Baschieri
- Italian National Agency for New Technolo, Energy and Sustainable Economic Developm, ENEA, Via Anguillarese 301, Rome, 00123 Italy
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HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain enhances Cryptococcus neoformans binding to human brain microvascular endothelial cells via gp41 core-induced membrane activities. Biochem J 2011; 438:457-66. [PMID: 21668410 DOI: 10.1042/bj20110218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis, particularly prevalent in AIDS patients. The interrelationship between C. neoformans and HIV-1 is intriguing, as both pathogens elicit severe neuropathological complications. We have previously demonstrated that the HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain fragments gp41-I33 (amino acids 579-611) and gp41-I90 (amino acids 550-639) can enhance C. neoformans binding to HBMECs (human brain microvascular endothelial cells). Both peptides contain the loop region of gp41. In the present study, we used immunofluorescence microscopy and transmission and scanning electron microscopy to explore the underlying mechanisms. Our findings indicated that both C. neoformans and gp41-I90 up-regulated ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1) on the HBMECs and elicited membrane ruffling on the surface of HBMECs. The HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain could also induce CD44 and β-actin redistribution to the membrane lipid rafts, but it could not enhance PKCα (protein kinase Cα) phosphorylation like C. neoformans. Instead, gp41-I90 was able to induce syncytium formation on HBMECs. The results of the present study suggest HIV-1 gp41-enhanced C. neoformans binding to HBMECs via gp41 core domain-induced membrane activities, revealing a potential mechanism of invasion for this pathogenic fungus into the brain tissues of HIV-1-infected patients.
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A recombinant vaccine of H5N1 HA1 fused with foldon and human IgG Fc induced complete cross-clade protection against divergent H5N1 viruses. PLoS One 2011; 6:e16555. [PMID: 21304591 PMCID: PMC3029370 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2010] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of effective vaccines to prevent influenza, particularly highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused by influenza A virus (IAV) subtype H5N1, is a challenging goal. In this study, we designed and constructed two recombinant influenza vaccine candidates by fusing hemagglutinin 1 (HA1) fragment of A/Anhui/1/2005(H5N1) to either Fc of human IgG (HA1-Fc) or foldon plus Fc (HA1-Fdc), and evaluated their immune responses and cross-protection against divergent strains of H5N1 virus. Results showed that these two recombinant vaccines induced strong immune responses in the vaccinated mice, which specifically reacted with HA1 proteins and an inactivated heterologous H5N1 virus. Both proteins were able to cross-neutralize infections by one homologous strain (clade 2.3) and four heterologous strains belonging to clades 0, 1, and 2.2 of H5N1 pseudoviruses as well as three heterologous strains (clades 0, 1, and 2.3.4) of H5N1 live virus. Importantly, immunization with these two vaccine candidates, especially HA1-Fdc, provided complete cross-clade protection against high-dose lethal challenge of different strains of H5N1 virus covering clade 0, 1, and 2.3.4 in the tested mouse model. This study suggests that the recombinant fusion proteins, particularly HA1-Fdc, could be developed into an efficacious universal H5N1 influenza vaccine, providing cross-protection against infections by divergent strains of highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.
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