Crystalline antigen from the influenza virus envelope

50 Years of structural immunology

Fifty years ago, the first landmark structures of antibodies heralded the dawn of structural immunology. Momentum then started to build toward understanding how antibodies could recognize the vast universe of potential antigens and how antibody-combining sites could be tailored to engage antigens with high specificity and affinity through recombination of germline genes (V, D, J) and somatic mutation. Equivalent groundbreaking structures in the cellular immune system appeared some 15 to 20 years later and illustrated how processed protein antigens in the form of peptides are presented by MHC molecules to T cell receptors. Structures of antigen receptors in the innate immune system then explained their inherent specificity for particular microbial antigens including lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, small molecules, and specific proteins. These two sides of the immune system act immediately (innate) to particular microbial antigens or evolve (adaptive) to attain high specificity and affinity to a much wider range of antigens. We also include examples of other key receptors in the immune system (cytokine receptors) that regulate immunity and inflammation. Furthermore, these antigen receptors use a limited set of protein folds to accomplish their various immunological roles. The other main players are the antigens themselves. We focus on surface glycoproteins in enveloped viruses including SARS-CoV-2 that enable entry and egress into host cells and are targets for the antibody response. This review covers what we have learned over the past half century about the structural basis of the immune response to microbial pathogens and how that information can be utilized to design vaccines and therapeutics.

Ultrastructural Aspects of Photodynamic Inactivation of Highly Pathogenic Avian H5N8 Influenza Virus

Ultrastructural studies revealing morphological differences between intact and photodynamically inactivated virions can point to inactivation mechanisms and molecular targets. Using influenza as a model system, we show that photodynamic virus inactivation is possible without total virion destruction. Indeed, irradiation with a relatively low concentration of the photosensitizer (octacationic octakis(cholinyl) zinc phthalocyanine) inactivated viral particles (the virus titer was determined in Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells) but did not destroy them. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that virion membranes kept structural integrity but lost their surface glycoproteins. Such structures are known as “bald” virions, which were first described as a result of protease treatment. At a higher photosensitizer concentration, the lipid membranes were also destroyed. Therefore, photodynamic inactivation of influenza virus initially results from surface protein removal, followed by complete virion destruction. This study suggests that photodynamic treatment can be used to manufacture “bald” virions for experimental purposes. Photodynamic inactivation is based on the production of reactive oxygen species which attack and destroy biomolecules. Thus, the results of this study can potentially apply to other enveloped viruses and sources of singlet oxygen.

Cholesterol Binding to the Transmembrane Region of a Group 2 Hemagglutinin (HA) of Influenza Virus Is Essential for Virus Replication, Affecting both Virus Assembly and HA Fusion Activity

Hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus is incorporated into cholesterol-enriched nanodomains of the plasma membrane. Phylogenetic group 2 HAs contain the conserved cholesterol consensus motif (CCM) YKLW in the transmembrane region. We previously reported that mutations in the CCM retarded intracellular transport of HA and decreased its nanodomain association. Here, we analyzed whether cholesterol interacts with the CCM. Incorporation of photocholesterol into HA was significantly reduced if the whole CCM is replaced by alanine, both using immunoprecipitated HA and when HA is embedded in the membrane. We next used reverse genetics to investigate the significance of the CCM for virus replication. No virus was rescued if the whole motif is exchanged (YKLW4A); singly (LA) or doubly (YK2A and LW2A) mutated virus showed decreased titers and a comparative fitness disadvantage. In polarized cells, transport of HA mutants to the apical membrane was not disturbed. Reduced amounts of HA and cholesterol were incorporated into the viral membrane. Mutant viruses exhibit a decrease in hemolysis, which is only partially corrected if the membrane is replenished with cholesterol. More specifically, viruses have a defect in hemifusion, as demonstrated by fluorescence dequenching. Cells expressing HA YKLW4A fuse with erythrocytes, but the number of events is reduced. Even after acidification unfused erythrocytes remain cell bound, a phenomenon not observed with wild-type HA. We conclude that cholesterol binding to a group 2 HA is essential for virus replication. It has pleiotropic effects on virus assembly and membrane fusion, mainly on lipid mixing and possibly a preceding step.IMPORTANCE The glycoprotein HA is a major pathogenicity factor of influenza viruses. Whereas the structure and function of HA's ectodomain is known in great detail, similar data for the membrane-anchoring part of the protein are missing. Here, we demonstrate that the transmembrane region of a group 2 HA interacts with cholesterol, the major lipid of the plasma membrane and the defining element of the viral budding site nanodomains of the plasma membrane. The cholesterol binding motif is essential for virus replication. Its partial removal affects various steps of the viral life cycle, such as assembly of new virus particles and their subsequent cell entry via membrane fusion. A cholesterol binding pocket in group 2 HAs might be a promising target for a small lipophilic drug that inactivates the virus.

Reference antigen-free and antibody-free LTD-IDMS assay for influenza H7N9 vaccine in vitro potency determination

Influenza vaccines are the most effective intervention to prevent the substantial public health burden of seasonal and pandemic influenza. Hemagglutinin (HA), as the main antigen in inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs), elicits functional neutralizing antibodies and largely determines IIV effectiveness. HA potency has been evaluated by single-radial immunodiffusion (SRID), the standard in vitro potency assay for IIVs, to predict vaccine immunogenicity with a correlation to protective efficacy. We previously reported that limited trypsin digestion (LTD) selectively degraded stressed HA, so that an otherwise conformationally insensitive biophysical quantification technique could specifically quantify trypsin-resistant, immunologically active HA. Here, we demonstrate that isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), a method capable of quantifying the absolute HA concentration without reference antigen use, can be further expanded by adding LTD followed with precipitation to selectively quantify the active HA. We test the LTD-IDMS assay on H7N9 vaccines stressed by low pH, raised temperature, or freeze/thaw cycles. This method, unlike SRID, has no requirement for strain-specific reference antigens or antibodies and can generate potency values that correlate with SRID. Thus, LTD-IDMS is a promising alternative in vitro potency assay for influenza vaccines to complement and potentially replace SRID in a pandemic when strain specific reagents may not be readily available.

Inactivated influenza vaccine stress can affect in vitro potency assay relationship to immunogenicity

Influenza vaccines are the most effective intervention to prevent the substantial public health burden of seasonal and pandemic influenza. The capability of hemagglutinin (HA), the main antigen in inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs), to elicit functional neutralizing antibodies determines IIV effectiveness. When HA is subjected to environmental stress during manufacturing or while stored prior to administration, such as low pH and temperature excursions, the HA immunological activity can be affected. Single-radial immunodiffusion (SRID), the standard in vitro potency assay for IIVs, is believed to specifically detect immunologically active HA and has been applied to evaluate HA stability against stress. Here we report that transient low pH treatment and freeze/thaw cycles with HA in PBS abolish SRID-quantified in vitro potency for all HAs of multiple influenza strains. Raised temperature substantially decreases in vitro potency with more extensive HA structural changes. Chemical stress and mechanical stress moderately change SRID in vitro potency values in a strain-dependent manner. Trypsin digestion, which selectively degrades stressed HA, followed by RP-HPLC quantification as a candidate alternative in vitro potency assay yields results comparable to SRID. Mouse immunogenicity studies confirm that HA stressed by transient low pH treatment does not elicit functional antibodies in vivo, nor does it have a measureable SRID value. However, HA stressed by raised temperature elicits high titers of functional antibodies in vivo despite substantial loss of SRID in vitro potency. This discrepancy between SRID in vitro potency and vaccine immunogenicity suggests that SRID may not reliably indicate IIV potency under all conditions. Further efforts to develop alternate potency assays that can better predict in vivo immunogenicity should continue along with additional studies exploring HA conformation, SRID values and consequent immunogenicity.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N2) virus-Virginia, 2002

Background

In March 2002, an outbreak of low‐pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) A(H7N2) was detected among commercial poultry operations in Virginia.

Methods

We performed a serosurvey of 80 government workers involved in efforts to control the outbreak.

Results

One study participant who assisted with disposal of infected birds tested positive for neutralizing antibodies to influenza A(H7N2) by microneutralization assay and H7‐specific IgM antibodies by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The acute infection was temporally associated with an influenza‐like illness that resolved without hospitalization.

Conclusion

This study documents the earliest evidence of human infection with an H7 influenza virus of the North American lineage.

The Power and Limitations of Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Assays

Influenza virus hemagglutinins (HAs) are surface proteins that bind to sialic acid residues at the host cell surface and ensure further virus internalization. Development of methods for the inhibition of these processes drives progress in the design of new antiviral drugs. The state of the isolated HA (i.e. combining tertiary structure and extent of oligomerization) is defined by multiple factors, like the HA source and purification method, posttranslational modifications, pH, etc. The HA state affects HA functional activity and significantly impacts the results of numerous HA assays. In this review, we analyze the power and limitations of currently used HA assays regarding the state of HA.

The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein structure: nailing down a moving target

Structure determination of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) presented a number of challenges, but several high-resolution structures have now become available. In 2013, cryo-EM and x-ray structures of soluble, cleaved SOSIP Env trimers from the clade A BG505 strain provided the first glimpses into the Env trimer fold as well as more the variable regions. A recent cryo-EM structure of a native full-length trimer without any stabilizing mutations had the same core structure, but revealed new insights and features. A more comprehensive and higher resolution understanding of the glycan shield has also emerged, enabling a more complete representation of the Env glycoprotein structure. Complexes of Env trimers with broadly neutralizing antibodies have surprisingly illustrated that most of the Env surface can be targeted in natural infection and that the neutralizing epitopes are almost all composed of both peptide and glycan components. These structures have also provided further evidence of the inherent plasticity of Env and how antibodies can exploit this flexibility by perturbing or even stabilizing the trimer to facilitate neutralization. These breakthroughs have stimulated further design and stabilization of Env trimers as well as other platforms to generate trimers that now span multiple subtypes. These Env trimers when used as immunogens, have led to the first vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies for structural and functional analyses.

A novel approach for preparation of the antisera reagent for potency determination of inactivated H7N9 influenza vaccines

Background

The potency of inactivated influenza vaccines is determined using a single‐radial immunodiffusion (SRID) assay and requires standardized reagents consisting of a Reference Antigen and an influenza strain‐specific antiserum. Timely availability of reagents is a critical step in influenza vaccine production, and the need for backup approaches for reagent preparation is an important component of pandemic preparedness.

Objectives

When novel H7N9 viruses emerged in China in 2013, candidate inactivated H7N9 influenza vaccines were developed for evaluation in clinical trials, and reagents were needed to measure vaccine potency.

Methods

We previously described an alternative approach for generating strain‐specific potency antisera, utilizing modified vaccinia virus Ankara vectors to produce influenza hemagglutinin (HA)‐containing virus‐like particles (VLPs) for immunization. Vector‐produced HA antigen is not dependent upon the success of the traditional bromelain‐digestion and HA purification.

Results

Antiserum for H7N9 vaccines, produced after immunization of sheep with preparations of bromelain‐HA (br‐HA), was not optimal for the SRID assay, and the supply of antiserum was limited. However, antiserum obtained from sheep boosted with VLPs containing H7 HA greatly improved the ring quality in the SRID assay. Importantly, this antiserum worked well with both egg‐ and cell‐derived antigen and was distributed to vaccine manufacturers.

Conclusions

Utilizing a previously developed approach for preparing vaccine potency antiserum, we have addressed a major bottleneck encountered in preparation of H7N9 vaccine reagents. The combination of br‐HA and mammalian VLPs for sequential immunization represents the first use of an alternative approach for producing an influenza vaccine potency antiserum.

Two Cytoplasmic Acylation Sites and an Adjacent Hydrophobic Residue, but No Other Conserved Amino Acids in the Cytoplasmic Tail of HA from Influenza A Virus Are Crucial for Virus Replication

Recruitment of the matrix protein M1 to the assembly site of the influenza virus is thought to be mediated by interactions with the cytoplasmic tail of hemagglutinin (HA). Based on a comprehensive sequence comparison of all sequences present in the database, we analyzed the effect of mutating conserved residues in the cytosol-facing part of the transmembrane region and cytoplasmic tail of HA (A/WSN/33 (H1N1) strain) on virus replication and morphology of virions. Removal of the two cytoplasmic acylation sites and substitution of a neighboring isoleucine by glutamine prevented rescue of infectious virions. In contrast, a conservative exchange of the same isoleucine, non-conservative exchanges of glycine and glutamine, deletion of the acylation site at the end of the transmembrane region and shifting it into the tail did not affect virus morphology and had only subtle effects on virus growth and on the incorporation of M1 and Ribo-Nucleoprotein Particles (RNPs). Thus, assuming that essential amino acids are conserved between HA subtypes we suggest that, besides the two cytoplasmic acylation sites (including adjacent hydrophobic residues), no other amino acids in the cytoplasmic tail of HA are indispensable for virus assembly and budding.

pH-Controlled two-step uncoating of influenza virus

Upon endocytosis in its cellular host, influenza A virus transits via early to late endosomes. To efficiently release its genome, the composite viral shell must undergo significant structural rearrangement, but the exact sequence of events leading to viral uncoating remains largely speculative. In addition, no change in viral structure has ever been identified at the level of early endosomes, raising a question about their role. We performed AFM indentation on single viruses in conjunction with cellular assays under conditions that mimicked gradual acidification from early to late endosomes. We found that the release of the influenza genome requires sequential exposure to the pH of both early and late endosomes, with each step corresponding to changes in the virus mechanical response. Step 1 (pH 7.5-6) involves a modification of both hemagglutinin and the viral lumen and is reversible, whereas Step 2 (pH <6.0) involves M1 dissociation and major hemagglutinin conformational changes and is irreversible. Bypassing the early-endosomal pH step or blocking the envelope proton channel M2 precludes proper genome release and efficient infection, illustrating the importance of viral lumen acidification during the early endosomal residence for influenza virus infection.

Novel antibody-independent receptor-binding SPR-based assay for rapid measurement of influenza vaccine potency

A WHO workshop organized following the 2009 H1N1 pandemic recommended development of alternative influenza vaccine potency assays as high priority that could expedite the release of vaccine lots in the face of future influenza pandemics. We have developed an antibody independent, simple, high throughput receptor-binding SPR-based potency assay, which does not require any reference antisera and could be used for rapid HA quantitation and vaccine release in pandemic scenarios. The assay utilizes synthetic glycans with sialic acid (SA) of either α-2,6 or α-2,3 linkage to galactose. Only functionally active forms of HA (trimers and oligomers) recognize the SA-glycans and are quantified in this receptor-binding SPR assay. The SA-glycan SPR assay demonstrated broad dynamic range for quantitation of HA content in influenza vaccines from different manufacturers for both seasonal (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B lineages) and pandemic influenza (A/H5N1, A/H7N9) strains with high reproducibility and low variability across multiple assays. In addition, the SA-glycan SPR assay is indicative of active HA stability, and can accurately quantify HA content in alum and oil-in-water adjuvanted influenza vaccines. Importantly, there was a good agreement between HA content determined by the SPR-based potency assay and the traditional SRID assay.

Assessment of viral replication in eggs and HA protein yield of pre-pandemic H5N1 candidate vaccine viruses

H5N1 infection and the potential for spread from human to human continue to pose a severe public health concern. Since vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent a potential H5N1 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centers (CCs) and Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs) engineered and developed a panel of H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccine viruses for pandemic vaccine preparedness as well as production of antigen potency testing reagents (reference antigen and reference anti-serum) for vaccine standardization. To develop a strategy utilizing a number of biochemical methods for the characterization of the viral growth properties and protein yield in eggs, we have selected eight H5N1 pre-pandemic viruses and determined the viral Egg Infectious Dose 50 (EID50), total protein yield, hemagglutinin (HA) to nucleoprotein (NP) ratios (HA:NP), and HA1 content of each virus. Our results showed that all the tested H5N1 vaccine viruses grew to high titers in eggs. The total viral protein yield varies within a narrow range, whereas there were greater differences in the HA:NP protein ratios among the eight viruses. The RP-HPLC based HA1 content analysis demonstrated that the viruses A/Anhui/1/2010, A/Hubei/1/2005, and A/goose/Guiyang/337/2006 contained higher HA contents than other five viruses including A/Vietnam/1203/2003. Our approach for analyzing virus growth and protein yield will allow us identify optimal vaccine virus in a timely manner. In addition, we successfully purified the HA proteins of H5N1 vaccine viruses by optimizing bromelain cleavage conditions. Our studies on the HA protein purification may improve the quality control of the production of influenza vaccine test reagent.

Effect of envelope proteins on the mechanical properties of influenza virus

The envelope of the influenza virus undergoes extensive structural change during the viral life cycle. However, it is unknown how lipid and protein components of the viral envelope contribute to its mechanical properties. Using atomic force microscopy, here we show that the lipid envelope of spherical influenza virions is ∼10 times softer (∼0.05 nanonewton nm(-1)) than a viral protein-capsid coat and sustains deformations of one-third of the virion's diameter. Compared with phosphatidylcholine liposomes, it is twice as stiff, due to membrane-attached protein components. We found that virus indentation resulted in a biphasic force-indentation response. We propose that the first phase, including a stepwise reduction in stiffness at ∼10-nm indentation and ∼100 piconewtons of force, is due to mobilization of membrane proteins by the indenting atomic force microscope tip, consistent with the glycoprotein ectodomains protruding ∼13 nm from the bilayer surface. This phase was obliterated for bromelain-treated virions with the ectodomains removed. Following pH 5 treatment, virions were as soft as pure liposomes, consistent with reinforcing proteins detaching from the lipid bilayer. We propose that the soft, pH-dependent mechanical properties of the envelope are critical for the pH-regulated life cycle and support the persistence of the virus inside and outside the host.

Generation of recombinant pandemic H1N1 influenza virus with the HA cleavable by bromelain and identification of the residues influencing HA bromelain cleavage

The proteolytic enzyme bromelain has been traditionally used to cleave the hemagglutinin (HA) protein at the C-terminus of the HA2 region to release the HA proteins from influenza virions. The bromelain cleaved HA (BHA) has been routinely used as an antigen to generate antiserum that is essential for influenza vaccine product release. The HA of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A/California/7/2009 (CA09) virus could not be cleaved efficiently by bromelain. To ensure timely delivery of BHA for antiserum production, we generated a chimeric virus that contained the HA1 region from CA09 and the HA2 region from the seasonal H1N1 A/South Dakota/6/2007 (SD07) virus that is cleavable by bromelain. The BHA from this chimeric virus was antigenically identical to CA09 and induced high levels of HA-specific antibodies and protected ferrets from wild-type H1N1 CA09 virus challenge. To determine the molecular basis of inefficient cleavage of CA09 HA by bromelain, the amino acids that differed between the HA2 of CA09 and SD07 were introduced into recombinant CA09 virus to assess their effect on bromelain cleavage. The D373N or E374G substitution in the HA2 stalk region of CA09 HA enabled efficient cleavage of CA09 HA by bromelain. Sequence analysis of the pandemic H1N1-like viruses isolated from 2010 revealed emergence of the E374K change. We found that K374 enabled the HA to be cleaved by bromelain and confirmed that the 374 residue is critical for HA bromelain cleavage.

Influenza virus hemagglutinin spike neck architectures and interaction with model enzymes evaluated by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and bioinformatics tools

Interactions between model enzymes and the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) homotrimeric spike were addressed. We digested influenza virions (naturally occurring strains and laboratory reassortants) with bromelain or subtilisin Carlsberg and analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry the resulting HA2 C-terminal segments. All cleavage sites, together with (minor) sites detected in undigested HAs, were situated in the linker region that connects the transmembrane domain to the ectodomain. In addition to cleavage at highly favorable amino acids, various alternative enzyme preferences were found that strongly depended on the HA subtype/type. We also evaluated the surface electrostatic potentials, binding cleft topographies and spatial dimensions of stem bromelain (homologically modeled) and subtilisin Carlsberg (X-ray resolved). The results show that the enzymes (∼45Å(3)) would hardly fit into the small (∼18-20Å) linker region of the HA-spike. However, the HA membrane proximal ectodomain region was predicted to be intrinsically disordered. We propose that its motions allow steric adjustment of the enzymes' active sites to the neck of the HA spike. The subtype/type-specific architectures in this region also influenced significantly the cleavage preferences of the enzymes.

Recombinant HA1 produced in E. coli forms functional oligomers and generates strain-specific SRID potency antibodies for pandemic influenza vaccines

Vaccine production and initiation of mass vaccination is a key factor in rapid response to new influenza pandemic. During the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic, several bottlenecks were identified, including the delayed availability of vaccine potency reagents. Currently, antisera for the single-radial immunodiffusion (SRID) potency assay are generated in sheep immunized repeatedly with HA released and purified after bromelain-treatment of influenza virus grown in eggs. This approach was a major bottleneck for pandemic H1N1 (H1N1pdm09) potency reagent development in 2009. Alternative approaches are needed to make HA immunogens for generation of SRID reagents in the shortest possible time. In this study, we found that properly folded recombinant HA1 globular domain (rHA1) from several type A viruses including H1N1pdm09 and two H5N1 viruses could be produced efficiently using a bacterial expression system and subsequent purification. The rHA1 proteins were shown to form functional oligomers of trimers, similar to virus derived HA, and elicited high titer of neutralizing antibodies in rabbits and sheep. Importantly, the immune sera formed precipitation rings with reference antigens in the SRID assay in a dose-dependent manner. The HA contents in multiple H1N1 vaccine products from different manufacturers (and in several lots) as determined with the rHA1-generated sheep sera were similar to the values obtained with a traditionally generated sheep serum from NIBSC. We conclude that bacterially expressed recombinant HA1 proteins can be produced rapidly and used to generate SRID potency reagents shortly after new influenza strains with pandemic potential are identified.

Linker and/or transmembrane regions of influenza A/Group-1, A/Group-2, and type B virus hemagglutinins are packed differently within trimers

Influenza virus hemagglutinin is a homotrimeric spike glycoprotein crucial for virions' attachment, membrane fusion, and assembly reactions. X-ray crystallography data are available for hemagglutinin ectodomains of various types/subtypes but not for anchoring segments. To get structural information for the linker and transmembrane regions of hemagglutinin, influenza A (H1-H16 subtypes except H8 and H15) and B viruses were digested with bromelain or subtilisin Carlsberg, either within virions or in non-ionic detergent micelles. Proteolytical fragments were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Within virions, hemagglutinins of most influenza A/Group-1 and type B virus strains were more susceptible to digestion with bromelain and/or subtilisin compared to A/Group-2 hemagglutinins. The cleavage sites were always located in the hemagglutinin linker sequence. In detergent, 1) bromelain cleaved hemagglutinin of every influenza A subtype in the linker region; 2) subtilisin cleaved Group-2 hemagglutinins in the linker region; 3) subtilisin cleaved Group-1 hemagglutinins in the transmembrane region; 4) both enzymes cleaved influenza B virus hemagglutinin in the transmembrane region. We propose that the A/Group-2 hemagglutinin linker and/or transmembrane regions are more tightly associated within trimers than type A/Group-1 and particularly type B ones. This hypothesis is underpinned by spatial trimeric structure modeling performed for transmembrane regions of both Group-1 and Group-2 hemagglutinin representatives. Differential S-acylation of the hemagglutinin C-terminal anchoring segment with palmitate/stearate residues possibly contributes to fine tuning of transmembrane trimer packing and stabilization since decreased stearate amount correlated with deeper digestion of influenza B and some A/Group-1 hemagglutinins.

Highly conserved cross-reactive CD4+ T-cell HA-epitopes of seasonal and the 2009 pandemic influenza viruses

Please cite this paper as: Duvvuri et al. (2010) Highly conserved cross‐reactive CD4+ T‐cell HA‐epitopes of seasonal and the 2009 pandemic influenza viruses. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 4(5), 249–258.

Background The relatively mild nature of the 2009 influenza pandemic (nH1N1) highlights the overriding importance of pre‐existing immune memory. The absence of cross‐reactive antibodies to nH1N1 in most individuals suggests that such attenuation may be attributed to pre‐existing cellular immune responses to epitopes shared between nH1N1 virus and previously circulating strains of inter‐pandemic influenza A viruses.

Results We sought to identify potential CD4+ T cell epitopes and predict the level of cross‐reactivity of responding T cells. By performing large‐scale major histocompatibility complex II analyses on Hemagglutinin (HA) proteins, we investigated the degree of T‐cell cross‐reactivity between seasonal influenza A (sH1N1, H3N2) from 1968 to 2009 and nH1N1 strains. Each epitope was examined against all the protein sequences that correspond to sH1N1, H3N2, and nH1N1. T‐cell cross‐reactivity was estimated to be 52%, and maximum conservancy was found between sH1N1 and nH1N1 with a significant correlation (P < 0·05).

Conclusions  Given the importance of cellular responses in kinetics of influenza infection in humans, our findings underscore the role of T‐cell assays for understanding the inter‐pandemic variability in severity and for planning treatment methods for emerging influenza viruses.

An alternative method for preparation of pandemic influenza strain-specific antibody for vaccine potency determination

The traditional assay used to measure potency of inactivated influenza vaccines is a single-radial immunodiffusion (SRID) assay that utilizes an influenza strain-specific antibody to measure the content of virus hemagglutinin (HA) in the vaccine in comparison to a homologous HA reference antigen. Since timely preparation of potency reagents by regulatory authorities is challenging and always a potential bottleneck in influenza vaccine production, it is extremely important that additional approaches for reagent development be available, particularly in the event of an emerging pandemic influenza virus. An alternative method for preparation of strain-specific antibody that can be used for SRID potency assay is described. The approach does not require the presence or purification of influenza virus, and furthermore, is not limited by the success of the traditional technique of bromelain digestion and purification of virus HA. Multiple mammalian expression vectors, including plasmid and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vectors expressing the HAs of two H5N1 influenza viruses and the HA of the recently emerging pandemic H1N1 (2009) virus, were developed. An immunization scheme was designed for the sequential immunization of animals by direct vector injection followed by protein booster immunization using influenza HA produced in vitro from MVA vector infection of cells in culture. Each HA antibody was highly specific as shown by hemagglutination inhibition assay and the ability to serve as a capture antibody in ELISA. Importantly, each H5N1 antibody and the pandemic H1N1 (2009) antibody preparation were suitable for use in SRID assays for determining the potency of pandemic influenza virus vaccines. The results demonstrate a feasible approach for addressing one of the potential bottlenecks in inactivated pandemic influenza vaccine production and are particularly important in light of the difficulties in preparation of potency reagent antibody for pandemic H1N1 (2009) virus vaccines.

Membrane Glycoproteins of Enveloped Viruses

This chapter focuses on the recent information of the glycoprotein components of enveloped viruses and points out specific findings on viral envelopes. Although enveloped viruses of different major groups vary in size and shape, as well as in the molecular weight of their structural polypeptides, there are general similarities in the types of polypeptide components present in virions. The types of structural components found in viral membranes are summarized briefly in the chapter. All the enveloped viruses studied to date possess one or more glycoprotein species and lipid as a major structural component. The presence of carbohydrate covalently linked to proteins is demonstrated by the incorporation of a radioactive precursor, such as glucosamine or fucose, into viral polypeptides, which is resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Enveloped viruses share many common features in the organization of their structural components, as indicated by several approaches, including electron microscopy, surface-labeling, and proteolytic digestion experiments, and the isolation of subviral components. The chapter summarizes the detailed structure of the glycoproteins of four virus groups: (1) influenza virus glycoproteins, (2) rhabdovirus G protein, (3) togavirus glycoprotein, and (4) paramyxovirus glycoproteins The information obtained includes the size and shape of viral glycoproteins, the number of polypeptide chains in the complete glycoprotein structure, and compositional data on the polypeptide and oligosaccharide portions of the molecules.

Influenza H2 haemagglutinin activates B cells via a MyD88-dependent pathway

Influenza viruses are serious respiratory pathogens, responsible for half a million deaths each year. The viral surface haemagglutinin (HA) protein has been shown to be an important determinant of viral pathogenicity. HA is the virion attachment and fusion protein, and the major target for neutralizing antibodies; however, it is also involved in triggering innate responses that may have an important impact on the disease course. We have examined the role of the toll-like receptor (TLR) family in innate responses to influenza virus and influenza HA. TLR7 has recently been found to mediate recognition of influenza RNA. Here, we show for the first time that influenza HA of the H2 subtype induces innate responses in murine B lymphocytes via a MyD88-dependent pathway distinct from that involved in sensing viral RNA. We also show that inactivated influenza virus induces activation of human B cells. Our findings suggest that the molecule mediating these responses may be a novel member of the TLR family.

Mass spectrometric sequencing and acylation character analysis of C-terminal anchoring segment from Influenza A hemagglutinin

Influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA) is a major envelope glycoprotein mediating viral and cell membrane fusion. HA is anchored in the viral envelope by a light HA(2) chain containing one transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail. Three cysteine residues in the C-terminal region, one in the transmembrane domain and two in the cytoplasmic tail, are highly conserved and potentially palmitoylated in all HA subtypes. The HA(2) C- terminal anchoring segments were extracted to organic phase from the bromelain-digested viruses (subviral particles) of three strains: A/X-31 (H3 subtype), A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1 subtype) and A/FPV/Weybridge/34 (H7 subtype). Their primary structures were assessed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight time-of- flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-ToF MS). Trypsin-type protease-cleaved peptides prevailed over bromelain- cleaved ones in the peptide mixtures. All of them included transmembrane domains. Several distinctive features of the C-terminal HA(2) peptides acylation character were discovered by MALDI-ToF MS: 1) the peptides isolated from the viruses, which were digested by bromelain in the absence of beta-mercaptoethanol, were predominantly triply acylated; 2) the peptides were acylated not only by palmitic, but also by stearic acid residues; 3) the palmitate/stearate ratio was different for the three strains studied; 4) the A/FPV/Weybridge/34 strain has a priority to stearate binding. This fatty acid residue was discovered at the first of three conservative cysteine residues located in the transmembrane domain. It was found that presence of thiol reagent during preparation of subviral particles led to the appearence of the C-terminal HA(2) peptides acylated to different degrees. Triply, doubly, mono- and even unacylated peptides were detected. It was demonstrated that the thioester bond in the isolated acylpeptides was extremely sensitive to thiol reagents.

Enumeration and characterization of virus-specific B cells by multicolor flow cytometry

To better characterize B cell responses induced to influenza virus, we developed an assay to directly quantify and characterize virus-specific B cells. We used purified and biotinylated whole virus as well as the major influenza virus surface antigen, hemagglutinin (HA) to label virus-specific B cells induced by immunization of mice with whole influenza virus in adjuvant. Immunization with adjuvant alone caused non-specific binding of whole virus to a large number of B cells in the draining lymph nodes as assessed by flow cytometry. This precluded the use of whole virus as a specific staining reagent. In contrast, staining with bromelain-cleaved purified and biotinylated influenza virus HA identified a small population of B cells (roughly 1%) only in the draining lymph nodes of virus-immunized mice. FACS-purification and subsequent ELISPOT analysis showed that HA-labeled B cells contained the vast majority of virus-specific antibody-secreting cells at day 10 after immunization. Overall, virus-specific antibody-secreting cells comprised roughly 10% of the HA-labeled cells. Using HA-staining in conjunction with 8-color flow cytometry we further demonstrated that close to 90% of the HA-labeled cells were CD19+ IgD- CD23- CD24high CD38low germinal center B cells, many of which had incorporated bromodeoxyuridine, indicating recent cell division in vivo. We conclude that viral HA can be used in conjunction with cell surface and intracytoplasmic stains in multicolor flow cytometry to provide detailed phenotypic and functional information on virus HA-specific B cells.

Novel mechanism of immunosuppression by influenza virus haemagglutinin: selective suppression of interleukin 12 p35 transcription in murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

Infection with influenza virus strongly predisposes an individual to bacterial superinfection, which is often the significant cause of morbidity and mortality during influenza epidemics. Little is known about the immunomodulating properties of the virus that lead to this phenomenon, but the effect of the viral components on the development of immune dendritic cells (DCs) may prove vital. In this study, activation of and cytokine secretion by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) following treatment with the influenza virus major antigen haemagglutinin (HA) were examined. HA selectively inhibits the release of LPS-induced interleukin 12 (IL12) p70, which is independent of IL10 secretion. Suppression occurs at the transcriptional level, with selective inhibition of p35- and not p40-subunit mRNA expression. The downregulation of IL12 p70 by influenza HA is a novel and unexplored pathway that may be relevant in the predisposition to bacterial superinfection associated with influenza virus infections.

Mechanism of neutralization of influenza virus infectivity by antibodies

We have determined the mechanism of neutralization of influenza virus infectivity by three antihemagglutinin monoclonal antibodies, the structures of which we have analyzed before as complexes with hemagglutinin. The antibodies differ in their sites of interaction with hemagglutinin and in their abilities to interfere in vitro with its two functions of receptor binding and membrane fusion. We demonstrate that despite these differences all three antibodies neutralize infectivity by preventing virus from binding to cells. Neutralization occurs at an average of one antibody bound per four hemagglutinins, a ratio sufficient to prevent the simultaneous receptor binding of hemagglutinins that is necessary to attach virus to cells.

An antibody that prevents the hemagglutinin low pH fusogenic transition

We have determined the structure of a complex of influenza hemagglutinin (HA) with an antibody that binds simultaneously to the membrane-distal domains of two HA monomers, effectively cross-linking them. The antibody prevents the low pH structural transition of HA that is required for its membrane fusion activity, providing evidence that a rearrangement of HA membrane-distal domains is an essential component of the transition.

Recognition of viral hemagglutinins by NKp44 but not by NKp30

Natural killer (NK) cells destroy virus-infected and tumor cells without prior antigen stimulation. The NK cell cytotoxicity is regulated in large part by the expression of NK cell receptors that are able to bind major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I glycoproteins. NK cells also express lysis triggering receptors specific for non-MHC ligands, including NKp30, NKp44, NKp46 and CD16. However, the nature of their ligands, recognized on target cells, is undefined. We have recently shown that the NKp46 protein, but not the CD16 protein, recognizes the hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus (IV) and the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) of Sendai virus (SV), and that the recognition of HA from IV requires the sialylation of NKp46 oligosaccharides. We have also demonstrated that binding of NKp46 to HA of IV is required for lysis of cells expressing the corresponding glycoproteins by a substantial subset of NK clones. Here we show that NKp44, but not NKp30, can also recognize the HA of both IV and SV and that the recognition of IV HA requires the sialylation of the NKp44 receptor in a similar way to that of NKp46. SV infection of 721.221 cells expressing MHC class I proteinsresulted in the abrogation of the inhibition by NK clones expressing high levels of NKp44. In addition, the binding of NKp44 to HA improves the ability of some NK clones to lyse IV infected cells.

The lipid-anchored ectodomain of influenza virus hemagglutinin (GPI-HA) is capable of inducing nonenlarging fusion pores

GPI-linked hemagglutinin (GPI-HA) of influenza virus was thought to induce hemifusion without pore formation. Cells expressing either HA or GPI-HA were bound to red blood cells, and their fusion was compared by patch-clamp capacitance measurements and fluorescence microscopy. It is now shown that under more optimal fusion conditions than have been used previously, GPI-HA is also able to induce fusion pore formation before lipid dye spread, although with fewer pores formed than those induced by HA. The GPI-HA pores did not enlarge substantially, as determined by the inability of a small aqueous dye to pass through them. The presence of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3, 3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate or octadecylrhodamine B in red blood cells significantly increased the probability of pore formation by GPI-HA; the dyes affected pore formation to a much lesser degree for HA. This greater sensitivity of pore formation to lipid composition suggests that lipids are a more abundant component of a GPI-HA fusion pore than of an HA pore. The finding that GPI-HA can induce pores indicates that the ectodomain of HA is responsible for all steps up to the initial membrane merger and that the transmembrane domain, although not absolutely required, ensures reliable pore formation and is essential for pore growth. GPI-HA is the minimal unit identified to date that supports fusion to the point of pore formation.

Membrane perturbation and fusion pore formation in influenza hemagglutinin-mediated membrane fusion. A new model for fusion

Low pH-induced fusion mediated by the hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus involves conformational changes in the protein that lead to the insertion of a "fusion peptide" domain of this protein into the target membrane and is thought to perturb the membrane, triggering fusion. By using whole virus, purified HA, or HA ectodomains, we found that shortly after insertion, pores of less than 26 A in diameter were formed in liposomal membranes. As measured by a novel assay, these pores stay open, or continue to close and open, for minutes to hours and persist after pH neutralization. With virus and purified HA, larger pores, allowing the leakage of dextrans, were seen at times well after insertion. For virus, dextran leakage was simultaneous with lipid mixing and the formation of "fusion pores," allowing the transfer of dextrans from the liposomal to the viral interior or vice versa. Pores did not form in the viral membrane in the absence of a target membrane. Based on these data, we propose a new model for fusion, in which HA initially forms a proteinaceous pore in the target, but not in the viral membrane, before a lipidic hemifusion intermediate is formed.

Membrane interaction of influenza virus M1 protein

The M1 protein of influenza virus is thought to make contact with the cytoplasmic tails of the glycoprotein spikes, lipid molecules in the viral membrane, and the internal ribonucleoprotein particles. Here we show electron micrographs of negatively stained virus particles in which M1 is visualized as a 60-A-long rod that touches the membrane but apparently is not membrane inserted. Photolabeling with a membrane restricted reagent resulted in labeling of the transmembrane region of haemagglutinin but not of M1, also suggesting that most of M1 is not embedded into the hydrophobic core of the viral membrane. Finally, in vitro reconstitution experiments using soluble M1 protein and synthetic liposomes or Madin-Darby canine kidney cell membranes suggest that M1 can bind to negatively charged liposomes and to the cellular membranes and that this binding can be prevented under high-salt conditions. Although none of these experiments prove that there does not exist a minor fraction of M1 that is membrane inserted, it appears that most of M1 in the virus is membrane associated through electrostatic interactions.

N- and C-terminal residues combine in the fusion-pH influenza hemagglutinin HA(2) subunit to form an N cap that terminates the triple-stranded coiled coil

The structure of a stable recombinant ectodomain of influenza hemagglutinin HA(2) subunit, EHA(2) (23-185), defined by proteolysis studies of the intact bacterial-expressed ectodomain, was determined to 1.9-A resolution by using x-ray crystallography. The structure reveals a domain composed of N- and C-terminal residues that form an N cap terminating both the N-terminal alpha-helix and the central coiled coil. The N cap is formed by a conserved sequence, and part of it is found in the neutral pH conformation of HA. The C-terminal 23 residues of the ectodomain form a 72-A long nonhelical structure ordered to within 7 residues of the transmembrane anchor. The structure implies that continuous alpha helices are not required for membrane fusion at either the N or C termini. The difference in stability between recombinant molecules with and without the N cap sequences suggests that additional free energy for membrane fusion may become available after the formation of the central triple-stranded coiled coil and insertion of the fusion peptide into the target membrane.

pH-dependent changes in photoaffinity labeling patterns of the H1 influenza virus hemagglutinin by using an inhibitor of viral fusion

The hemagglutinin (HA) protein undergoes a low-pH-induced conformational change in the acidic milieu of the endosome, resulting in fusion of viral and cellular membranes. A class of compounds that specifically interact with the HA protein of H1 and H2 subtype viruses and inhibit this conformational change was recently described (G. X. Luo et al., Virology 226:66-76, 1996, and J. Virol. 71:4062-4070, 1997). In this study, purified HA trimers (bromelain-cleaved HA [BHA]) are used to examine the properties and binding characteristics of these inhibitors. Compounds were able to inhibit the low-pH-induced change of isolated trimers, as detected by resistance to digestion with trypsin. Protection from digestion was extremely stable, as BHA-inhibitor complexes could be incubated for 24 h in low pH with almost no change in BHA structure. One inhibitor was prepared as a radiolabeled photoaffinity analog and used to probe for specific drug interactions with the HA protein. Analysis of BHA after photoaffinity analog binding and UV cross-linking revealed that the HA2 subunit of the HA was specifically radiolabeled. Cross-linking of the photoaffinity analog to BHA under neutral (native) pH conditions identified a stretch of amino acids within the alpha-helix of HA2 that interact with the inhibitor. Interestingly, cross-linking of the analog under acidic conditions identified a different region within the HA2 N terminus which interacts with the photoaffinity compound. These attachment sites help to delineate a potential binding pocket and suggest a model whereby the BHA is able to undergo a partial, reversible structural change in the presence of inhibitor compound.

pH-induced conformational changes of membrane-bound influenza hemagglutinin and its effect on target lipid bilayers

Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) has served as a paradigm for both pH-dependent and -independent viral membrane fusion. Although large conformational changes were observed by X-ray crystallography when soluble fragments of HA were subjected to fusion-pH conditions, it is not clear whether the same changes occur in membrane-bound HA, what the spatial relationship is between the conformationally changed HA and the target and viral membranes, and in what way HA perturbs the target membrane at low pH. We have taken a spectroscopic approach using an array of recently developed FTIR techniques to address these questions. Difference attenuated total reflection FTIR spectroscopy was employed to reveal reversible and irreversible components of the pH-induced conformational change of the membrane-bound bromelain fragment of HA, BHA. Additional proteolytic fragments of BHA were produced which permitted a tentative assignment of the observed changes to the HA1 and HA2 subunits, respectively. The membrane-bound HA1 subunit undergoes a reversible conformational change, which most likely involves the loss of a small proportion of beta-sheet at low pH. BHA was found to undergo a partially reversible tilting motion relative to the target membrane upon exposure to pH 5, indicating a previously undescribed hinge near the anchoring point to the target membrane. Time-resolved amide H/D exchange experiments revealed a more dynamic (tertiary) structure of membrane-bound BHA and its HA2, but not its HA1, subunit. Finally BHA and, to a lesser degree, HA1 perturbed the lipid bilayer of the target membrane at the interface, as assessed by spectral changes of the lipid ester carbonyl groups. These results are discussed in the context of a complementary study of HA that was bound to viral membranes through its transmembrane peptide (Gray C, Tamm LK, 1997, Protein Sci 6:1993-2006). A distinctive role for the HA1 subunit in the conformational change of HA becomes apparent from these combined studies.

Antigen Processing of Two H2-IEd-Restricted Epitopes Is Differentially Influenced by the Structural Changes in a Viral Glycoprotein

The factors that influence the intracellular location(s) of MHC class II-restricted epitope loading remain poorly understood. We present evidence that two I-Ed-restricted epitopes of the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) molecule, termed site 1 (S1; encompassing amino acid residues 107–119) and site 3 (S3; encompassing amino acid residues 302–313), are generated in distinct endocytic compartments. By means of an epitope-specific mAb, we show that S1 becomes detectable in late endocytic/lysosomal vesicles; using a mutant cell line, we also show that the presentation of S1 is dependent upon H2-DM expression. In contrast, S3; presentation is H2-DM-independent and appears in early endosomes as a result of acid-induced structural changes in HA. Presentation of both epitopes can be made H2-DM-independent by denaturing HA and made H2-DM-dependent by preventing the acid-induced conformational changes from occurring. These findings indicate that the structural context of a given epitope can determine where it is processed.

Macrophages Induce Cellular Immunity by Activating Th1 Cell Responses and Suppressing Th2 Cell Responses

Differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells (Th0) into Th1 or Th2 cells determines whether antigen will raise a cellular or a humoral immune response. The maturation pathway chosen by the Th0 cell is often decisive for the outcome of disease and depends among others on the (co-)stimulatory attributes of the APC and the nature and abundance of cytokines provided by the APC and the microenvironment. In this study, we used macrophages, loaded ex vivo with antigen, for inciting Th0 activation and differentiation in vivo. The macrophages were derived from a clonal, immortalized population that both functionally and phenotypically expressed features characteristic of mature macrophages. Injection into syngeneic mice of IFN-γ-treated, Ag-loaded macrophages induced a primary T cell response, indicated by the occurrence of a proliferative response in vitro after restimulation of splenocytes with Ag. Analysis of the accompanying cytokine secretion revealed high numbers of IFN-γ-producing Th1 cells and only a few IL-4-secreting Th2 cells. This dominance of Th1 cells had functional implications, reflected in the high titer of Th1 cell-dependent IgG2 Abs and the absence of IgG1, characteristic of humoral immunity. Moreover, administration of Ag-loaded macrophages to mice with an ongoing Th1/Th2 response resulted in a complete suppression of IgG1 production, whereas IgG2 levels remained unaffected. These results demonstrate that macrophages exert APC activity in the organism, strongly skew primary responses to cellular immunity, and in addition suppress an already generated Th2-dependent humoral response, thus characterizing these cells as Th1-oriented APC.

Morphological changes and fusogenic activity of influenza virus hemagglutinin

The kinetics of low-pH induced fusion of influenza virus with liposomes have been compared to changes in the morphology of influenza hemagglutinin (HA). At pH 4.9 and 30 degrees C, the fusion of influenza A/PR/8/34 virus with ganglioside-bearing liposomes was complete within 6 min. Virus preincubated at pH 4.9 and 30 degrees C in the absence of liposomes for 2 or 10 min retained most of its fusion activity. However, fusion activity was dramatically reduced after 30 min, and virtually abolished after a 60-min preincubation. Cryo-electron microscopy showed that the hemagglutinin spikes of virions exposed to pH 4.9 at 30 degrees C for 10 min underwent no major morphological changes. After 30 min, however, the spike morphology changed dramatically, and further changes occurred for up to 60 min after exposure to low pH. Because the morphological changes occur at a rate corresponding to the loss of fusion activity, and because these changes are much slower than the rate at which fusion occurs, we conclude that the morphologically altered HA is inactive with respect to fusion-promoting activity. Molecular modeling studies indicate that the formation of an extended coiled coil within the HA trimer, as proposed for HA at low pH, requires a major conformational change in HA, and that the morphological changes we observe are consistent with the formation of an extended coiled coil. These results imply that the crystallographically determined low-pH form of HA does occur in the intact virus, but that this form is not a precursor of viral fusion. It is speculated that the motion to the low-pH form may be responsible for the membrane destabilization leading to fusion.

Pores formed by influenza hemagglutinin

Low pH-induced fusion mediated by the hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus involves a conformational change in the protein that leads to the insertion of a "fusion peptide" of the protein into the target membrane. It has been suggested that this insertion, aided by the formation of a complex of multiple HA trimers, would lead to perturbation of the bilayer structure of the membrane, initiating fusion. Here we present data showing that the interaction of the bromelain released ectodomain of the protein (BHA) with liposomal membranes at low pH leads to pore formation, at least at low temperatures. Strongly temperature-dependent low pH-induced inactivation of BHA resulted in a complete lack of activity of BHA above 10 degrees C. Even at 0 degrees C, only about 5% of the BHA participated in pore formation. Viral HA was less rapidly inactivated and still induced pores at 37 degrees C. BHA-induced pore formation showed a sigmoidal time course. Once BHA had formed a pore in one liposome, it did not form a pore in a further liposome. Quantitative analysis of pore formation indicated that one single BHA trimer sufficed to produce a pore. These data indicate that fusion peptide insertion perturbs the membrane and that the formation of a complex of trimers is not a prerequisite for the perturbation.

Studies using double mutants of the conformational transitions in influenza hemagglutinin required for its membrane fusion activity

Amino acid substitutions widely distributed throughout the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) influence the pH of its membrane fusion activity. We have combined a number of these substitutions in double mutants and determined the effects on the pH of fusion and on the pH at which the refolding of HA required for fusion occurs. By analyzing combinations of mutations in three regions of the metastable neutral-pH HA that are rearranged at fusion pH we obtain evidence for both additive and nonadditive effects and for an apparent order of dominance in the effects of amino acid substitutions in particular regions on the pH of fusion. We conclude that there are at least three components in the structural transition required for membrane fusion activity and consider possible pathways for the transition in relation to the known differences between neutral and fusion pH HA structures.

Molecular and immunological characterization of soluble aggregated A/Victoria/3/75 (H3N2) influenza haemagglutinin expressed in insect cells

A/Victoria/3/75 (H3N2)-derived cDNA coding for a secreted haemagglutinin (HA0s) was cloned into the polyhedrin promoter-based pVL1392 transfer vector, and a recombinant baculovirus was isolated. 5 to 10 micrograms/ml of secreted HA were obtained following infection of Spodoptera frugiperda-9 cells. Gel filtration revealed the presence in the cell supernatant of immunoreactive HA molecules with varying M(r). The high M(r) fraction (aHA0s) could be purified by Matrex Cellufine Sulphate and Lentil-lectin affinity chromatography, followed by Sephacryl S300 HR gel filtration. aHA0s consisted of aggregated, non-covalently linked subunits which were not cleaved into HA1 and HA2 polypeptides; aHA0s was highly susceptible to trypsin treatment and reacted with two low pH-specific monoclonal antibodies, suggesting that a HA0s consists of monomeric subunits. When the expression medium was adjusted to pH 8.5, no aHA0s was observed, suggesting that aggregation occurred in the cells due to a low intracellular pH. Balb/c mice immunized with purified aHA0s developed high, aHA0s-specific antibody titres. Despite these high titres, almost no binding to trimeric viral HA was observed, and immunized mice were not protected against a challenge with homologous mouse-adapted X47 virus. However, when virus was subjected to low pH, resulting in a profound conformational rearrangement, strong binding was observed. Moreover, binding to the low pH-treated HA of different drift variants, isolated between 1968 and 1989, occurred.

Simultaneous purification of influenza haemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins by immunochromatography

A new and rapid method for co-purification of haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins from influenza A/H3N2 viruses is described. Surface glycoproteins were first solubilized using a non-ionic detergent under high ionic strength conditions, then they were separated by chromatography on sepharose previously bound to monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed either against HA (IaH-chromatography) or against NA (IaN-chromatography). Depending on the protein specificity of the MAb immobilized on the column, HA or NA was bound to sepharose and the counterpart protein was free in the flow-through volume. IaH-chromatography and IaN-chromatography proved equally efficient in term of recoveries (> 75%) and purity (> or = 99%) of both HA and NA but differences appeared when considering functional and antigenic properties of pure proteins. Those properties were highly retained in IaH- and IaN-derived HA as well as in IaH-derived NA while IaN-NA was partially degraded. IaH-chromatography allowed the co-purification of HA and NA proteins in heterologous antigen-antibody system with a 50% rate of cross reactivity. IaH-HA and IaH-NA may be suitable for immunity studies, standardization of influenza vaccine and for diagnostic purposes.

Effect of X31 influenza virus fusion on phosphatidylserine asymmetry in erythrocytes

Influenza virus fusion is mediated by its fusion protein, hemagglutinin (HA). HA undergoes a low pH dependent conformational change that results in insertion into the cell membrane bilayer, formation of a fusion pore, and merging of membrane lipids and establishment of cytoplasmic continuity. Erythrocytes, which can serve as targets of influenza virus fusion, display an asymmetric transbilayer arrangement of their phospholipids. The effect of influenza virus fusion on erythrocyte phosphatidylserine asymmetry was determined. Influenza virus were bound to erythrocytes containing the fluorescent membrane probe NBD-PS in the inner leaflet. Induction of fusion by exposure to a low pH environment resulted in movement of PS to the outer leaflet of the cell as well as hemolysis. Insertion of the fusion protein into erythrocytes and subsequent fusion can be distinguished from hemolysis by examining the interaction of a soluble form of HA (BHA) with cells and by monitoring viral fusion at low temperatures. No hemolysis was observed under either condition. BHA binding and insertion into cells did not affect the asymmetry of PS. Incubation of influenza virus fusion at pH 5, 0 degrees C resulted in complete fusion but no outward movement of PS was observed. These findings suggest the viral fusion pore does not involve a rearrangement of the transbilayer phospholipid organization of the target membrane.

A soluble domain of the membrane-anchoring chain of influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA2) folds in Escherichia coli into the low-pH-induced conformation

The extensive refolding of the membrane-anchoring chain of hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus (termed HA2) in cellular endosomes, which initiates viral entry by membrane fusion, suggests that viral HA is meta-stable. HA2 polypeptide residues 38-175 expressed in Escherichia coli are reported here to fold in vivo into a soluble trimer. The structure appears to be the same as the low-pH-induced conformation of viral HA2 by alpha-helical content, thermodynamic stability, protease dissection, electron microscopy, and antibody binding. These results provide evidence that the structure of the low-pH-induced fold of viral HA2 (TBHA2) observed crystallographically is the lowest-energy-state fold of the HA2 polypeptide. They indicate that the HA2 conformation in viral HA before low pH activation of its fusion potential is metastable and suggest that removal of the receptor-binding chain (HA1) is enough to allow HA2 to adopt the stable state. Further, they provide direct evidence that low pH is not required to form the membrane-fusion conformation but acts to make this state kinetically accessible in viral HA.

Human CD4+ T-cell repertoire of responses to influenza A virus hemagglutinin after recent natural infection

The human CD4+ T-cell repertoire of responses to hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza virus A/Beijing/32/92 was examined 3 to 6 months after natural infection by using a panel of 16-mer peptides overlapping by 11 residues. Short-term CD4+ T-cell lines were derived by using full-length HAs of virus A/Beijing/32/92 from 12 unrelated, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II haplotyped adults with a history of influenza in November and December 1993 and from 6 adults with no history of influenza during the preceding 4 years but who responded to HA. In contrast to recent murine studies, the human CD4+ T-cell repertoire of responses was dominated by the recognition of highly conserved epitopes. The HA2 subunit, widely regarded as nonimmunogenic, induced strong responses in every donor. This resulted in functional cross-reactivity among influenza A viruses. Our study included one pair of unrelated donors expressing identical HLA DRB1 and DQB1 alleles and two pairs of donors sharing low-resolution MHC class II types. These pairs responded to identical peptides; furthermore, clearly identifiable patterns of response were seen in donors sharing single class II haplotypes, irrespective of the presence of other alleles and exposure history. Two conserved regions which induced responses in 17 of 18 donors were identified (residues 295 to 328 and 407 to 442). Possible implications for cross-reactive T-cell vaccines are discussed.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of complexes between an influenza hemagglutinin and Fab fragments of two different monoclonal antibodies

Fab fragments from two different monoclonal antibodies (BH151 and HC45) which bind to the same antigenic region of the influenza hemagglutinin were crystallized as complexes with the hemagglutinin. The complexes crystallize in PEG 600, pH 6.0, and PEG 2000, pH 8.5, respectively. Both crystals belong to space group P321, with very similar unit cell dimensions.