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Heyndrickx L, Stewart-Jones G, Jansson M, Schuitemaker H, Bowles E, Buonaguro L, Grevstad B, Vinner L, Vereecken K, Parker J, Ramaswamy M, Biswas P, Vanham G, Scarlatti G, Fomsgaard A. Selected HIV-1 Env trimeric formulations act as potent immunogens in a rabbit vaccination model. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74552. [PMID: 24023951 PMCID: PMC3759472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ten to 30% of HIV-1 infected subjects develop broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) during chronic infection. We hypothesized that immunizing rabbits with viral envelope glycoproteins (Envs) from these patients may induce bNAbs, when formulated as a trimeric protein and in the presence of an adjuvant. Methods Based on in vitro neutralizing activity in serum, patients with bNAbs were selected for cloning of their HIV-1 Env. Seven stable soluble trimeric gp140 proteins were generated from sequences derived from four adults and two children infected with either clade A or B HIV-1. From one of the clade A Envs both the monomeric and trimeric Env were produced for comparison. Rabbits were immunized with soluble gp120 or trimeric gp140 proteins in combination with the adjuvant dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium/trehalose dibehenate (CAF01). Env binding in rabbit immune serum was determined using ELISAs based on gp120-IIIB protein. Neutralizing activity of IgG purified from rabbit immune sera was measured with the pseudovirus-TZMbl assay and a PBMC-based neutralization assay for selected experiments. Results It was initially established that gp140 trimers induce better antibody responses over gp120 monomers and that the adjuvant CAF01 was necessary for such strong responses. Gp140 trimers, based on HIV-1 variants from patients with bNAbs, were able to elicit both gp120IIIB specific IgG and NAbs to Tier 1 viruses of different subtypes. Potency of NAbs closely correlated with titers, and an gp120-binding IgG titer above a threshold of 100,000 was predictive of neutralization capability. Finally, peptide inhibition experiments showed that a large fraction of the neutralizing IgG was directed against the gp120 V3 region. Conclusions Our results indicate that the strategy of reverse immunology based on selected Env sequences is promising when immunogens are delivered as stabilized trimers in CAF01 adjuvant and that the rabbit is a valuable model for HIV vaccine studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Heyndrickx
- Biomedical Department, Virology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Guillaume Stewart-Jones
- Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marianne Jansson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hanneke Schuitemaker
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Academic Medical Center at the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emma Bowles
- Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Luigi Buonaguro
- Molecular Biology and Viral Oncogenesis Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Katleen Vereecken
- Biomedical Department, Virology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Joe Parker
- Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Meghna Ramaswamy
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Priscilla Biswas
- Viral Evolution and Transmission Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Vanham
- Biomedical Department, Virology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Biomedical Department, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gabriella Scarlatti
- Viral Evolution and Transmission Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Anders Fomsgaard
- Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Optimization of HIV-1 Envelope DNA Vaccine Candidates within Three Different Animal Models, Guinea Pigs, Rabbits and Cynomolgus Macaques. Vaccines (Basel) 2013; 1:305-27. [PMID: 26344115 PMCID: PMC4494233 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines1030305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Revised: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 DNA vaccines have many advantageous features. Evaluation of HIV-1 vaccine candidates often starts in small animal models before macaque and human trials. Here, we selected and optimized DNA vaccine candidates through systematic testing in rabbits for the induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAb). We compared three different animal models: guinea pigs, rabbits and cynomolgus macaques. Envelope genes from the prototype isolate HIV-1 Bx08 and two elite neutralizers were included. Codon-optimized genes, encoded secreted gp140 or membrane bound gp150, were modified for expression of stabilized soluble trimer gene products, and delivered individually or mixed. Specific IgG after repeated i.d. inoculations with electroporation confirmed in vivo expression and immunogenicity. Evaluations of rabbits and guinea pigs displayed similar results. The superior DNA construct in rabbits was a trivalent mix of non-modified codon-optimized gp140 envelope genes. Despite NAb responses with some potency and breadth in guinea pigs and rabbits, the DNA vaccinated macaques displayed less bNAb activity. It was concluded that a trivalent mix of non-modified gp140 genes from rationally selected clinical isolates was, in this study, the best option to induce high and broad NAb in the rabbit model, but this optimization does not directly translate into similar responses in cynomolgus macaques.
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Wegmann F, Gartlan KH, Harandi AM, Brinckmann SA, Coccia M, Hillson WR, Kok WL, Cole S, Ho LP, Lambe T, Puthia M, Svanborg C, Scherer EM, Krashias G, Williams A, Blattman JN, Greenberg PD, Flavell RA, Moghaddam AE, Sheppard NC, Sattentau QJ. Polyethyleneimine is a potent mucosal adjuvant for viral glycoprotein antigens. Nat Biotechnol 2013; 30:883-8. [PMID: 22922673 PMCID: PMC3496939 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Protection against mucosally transmitted infections probably requires immunity at the site of pathogen entry, yet there are no mucosal adjuvant formulations licensed for human use. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) represents a family of organic polycations used as nucleic acid transfection reagents in vitro and DNA vaccine delivery vehicles in vivo. Here we show that diverse PEI forms have potent mucosal adjuvant activity for viral subunit glycoprotein antigens. A single intranasal administration of influenza hemagglutinin or herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein D with PEI elicited robust antibody-mediated protection from an otherwise lethal infection, and was superior to existing experimental mucosal adjuvants. PEI formed nanoscale complexes with antigen, which were taken up by antigen-presenting cells in vitro and in vivo, promoted dendritic cell trafficking to draining lymph nodes and induced non-proinflammatory cytokine responses. PEI adjuvanticity required release of host double-stranded DNA that triggered Irf3-dependent signaling. PEI therefore merits further investigation as a mucosal adjuvant for human use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Wegmann
- The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Dal Bosco A, Rebollar P, Boiti C, Zerani M, Castellini C. Ovulation induction in rabbit does: Current knowledge and perspectives. Anim Reprod Sci 2011; 129:106-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2011] [Revised: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 11/20/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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