Dynamic HIV-1 spike motion creates vulnerability for its membrane-bound tripod to antibody attack

Nanodiscs for the study of membrane proteins

Nanodiscs represent a versatile tool for studies of membrane proteins and protein-membrane interactions under native-like conditions. Multiple variations of the Nanodisc platform, as well as new experimental methods, have been recently developed to understand various aspects of structure, dynamics and functional properties of systems involved in signaling, transport, blood coagulation and many other critically important processes. In this mini-review, we focus on some of these exciting recent developments that utilize the Nanodisc platform.

Neutralizing antibodies to block viral entry and for identification of entry inhibitors

Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are naturally produced by our immune system to combat viral infections. Clinically, neutralizing antibodies with potent efficacy and high specificity have been extensively used to prevent and treat a wide variety of viral infections, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Dengue Virus (DENV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). An overwhelmingly large subset of clinically effective NAbs operates by targeting viral envelope proteins to inhibit viral entry into the host cell. Binding of viral envelope protein to the host receptor is a critical rate limiting step triggering a cascade of downstream events, including endocytosis, membrane fusion and pore formation to allow viral entry. In recent years, improved structural knowledge on these processes have allowed researchers to also leverage NAbs as an indispensable tool in guiding discovery of novel antiviral entry inhibitors, providing drug candidates with high efficacy and pan-genus specificity. This review will summarize the latest progresses on the applications of NAbs as effective entry inhibitors and as important tools to develop antiviral therapeutics by high-throughput drug screenings, rational design of peptidic entry inhibitor mimicking NAbs and in silico computational modeling approaches.

Preservation of memory B cell homeostasis in an individual producing broadly neutralising antibodies against HIV-1

Immunological determinants favouring emergence of broadly neutralising antibodies are crucial to the development of HIV-1 vaccination strategies. Here, we combined RNAseq and B cell cloning approaches to isolate a broadly neutralising antibody (bnAb) ELC07 from an individual living with untreated HIV-1. Using single particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we show that the antibody recognises a conformational epitope at the gp120-gp41 interface. ELC07 binds the closed state of the viral glycoprotein causing considerable perturbations to the gp41 trimer core structure. Phenotypic analysis of memory B cell subsets from the ELC07 bnAb donor revealed a lack of expected HIV-1-associated dysfunction, specifically no increase in CD21-/CD27- cells was observed whilst the resting memory (CD21+/CD27+) population appeared preserved despite uncontrolled HIV-1 viraemia. Moreover, single cell transcriptomes of memory B cells from this bnAb donor showed a resting memory phenotype irrespective of the epitope they targeted or their ability to neutralise diverse strains of HIV-1. Strikingly, single memory B cells from the ELC07 bnAb donor were transcriptionally similar to memory B cells from HIV-negative individuals. Our results demonstrate that potent bnAbs can arise without the HIV-1-induced dysregulation of the memory B cell compartment and suggest that sufficient levels of antigenic stimulation with a strategically designed immunogen could be effective in HIV-negative vaccine recipients.

Designing nanodiscs as versatile platforms for on-demand therapy

Nowadays, there has been an increasing utilization of nanomedicines for disease treatment. Nanodiscs (NDs) have emerged as a novel platform technology that garners significant attention in biomedical research and drug discovery. NDs are nanoscale phospholipid bilayer discs capable of incorporating membrane proteins and lipids within a native-like environment. They are assembled using amphiphilic biomacromolecular materials, such as apolipoprotein A1 or membrane scaffold proteins (MSPs), peptides, and styrene-maleic acid polymers (SMAs). NDs possess well-defined sizes and shapes, offering a stable, homogeneous, and biologically relevant environment for studying membrane proteins and lipids. Their unique properties have made them highly desirable for diverse applications, including cancer immunotherapy, vaccine development, antibacterial and antiviral therapy, and treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) and diabetes-related conditions. This review discusses the classifications, advantages, and applications of NDs in disease therapy.

Inadequate structural constraint on Fab approach rather than paratope elicitation limits HIV-1 MPER vaccine utility

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against HIV-1 target conserved envelope (Env) epitopes to block viral replication. Here, using structural analyses, we provide evidence to explain why a vaccine targeting the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 elicits antibodies with human bnAb-like paratopes paradoxically unable to bind HIV-1. Unlike in natural infection, vaccination with MPER/liposomes lacks a necessary structure-based constraint to select for antibodies with an adequate approach angle. Consequently, the resulting Abs cannot physically access the MPER crawlspace on the virion surface. By studying naturally arising Abs, we further reveal that flexibility of the human IgG3 hinge mitigates the epitope inaccessibility and additionally facilitates Env spike protein crosslinking. Our results suggest that generation of IgG3 subtype class-switched B cells is a strategy for anti-MPER bnAb induction. Moreover, the findings illustrate the need to incorporate topological features of the target epitope in immunogen design.

Inadequate structural constraint on Fab approach rather than paratope elicitation limits HIV-1 MPER vaccine utility

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against HIV-1 target conserved epitopes, thereby inhibiting viral entry. Yet surprisingly, those recognizing linear epitopes in the HIV-1 gp41 membrane proximal external region (MPER) are elicited neither by peptide nor protein scaffold vaccines. Here, we observe that while Abs generated by MPER/liposome vaccines may exhibit human bnAb-like paratopes, B-cell programming without constraints imposed by the gp160 ectodomain selects Abs unable to access the MPER within its native "crawlspace". During natural infection, the flexible hinge of IgG3 partially mitigates steric occlusion of less pliable IgG1 subclass Abs with identical MPER specificity, until affinity maturation refines entry mechanisms. The IgG3 subclass maintains B-cell competitiveness, exploiting bivalent ligation resulting from greater intramolecular Fab arm length, offsetting weak antibody affinity. These findings suggest future immunization strategies.