1
|
Skinner NE, Ogega CO, Frumento N, Clark KE, Paul H, Yegnasubramanian S, Schuebel K, Meyers J, Gupta A, Wheelan S, Cox AL, Crowe JE, Ray SC, Bailey JR. Convergent antibody responses are associated with broad neutralization of hepatitis C virus. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1135841. [PMID: 37033983 PMCID: PMC10080129 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1135841] [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: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Early development of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting the hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoprotein E2 is associated with spontaneous clearance of infection, so induction of bNAbs is a major goal of HCV vaccine development. However, the molecular antibody features important for broad neutralization are not known. Methods To identify B cell repertoire features associated with broad neutralization, we performed RNA sequencing of the B cell receptors (BCRs) of HCV E2-reactive B cells of HCV-infected individuals with either high or low plasma neutralizing breadth. We then produced a monoclonal antibody (mAb) expressed by pairing the most abundant heavy and light chains from public clonotypes identified among clearance, high neutralization subjects. Results We found distinctive BCR features associated with broad neutralization of HCV, including long heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) regions, specific VH gene usage, increased frequencies of somatic hypermutation, and particular VH gene mutations. Most intriguing, we identified many E2-reactive public BCR clonotypes (heavy and light chain clones with the same V and J-genes and identical CDR3 sequences) present only in subjects who produced highly neutralizing plasma. The majority of these public clonotypes were shared by two subjects who cleared infection. A mAb expressing the most abundant public heavy and light chains from these clearance, high neutralization subjects had features enriched in high neutralization clonotypes, such as increased somatic hypermutation frequency and usage of IGHV1-69, and was cross-neutralizing. Discussion Together, these results demonstrate distinct BCR repertoires associated with high plasma neutralizing capacity. Further characterization of the molecular features and function of these antibodies can inform HCV vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E. Skinner
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Clinton O. Ogega
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Nicole Frumento
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kaitlyn E. Clark
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Harry Paul
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Kornel Schuebel
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jennifer Meyers
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anuj Gupta
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sarah Wheelan
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Andrea L. Cox
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - James E. Crowe
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Stuart C. Ray
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Justin R. Bailey
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nadeem R, Maghraby AS, Abd-Elshafy DN, Barakat AB, Bahgat MM. Individual expression and processing of hepatitis C virus E1/E2 epitopes-based DNA vaccine candidate in healthy humans' peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2023; 12:47-59. [PMID: 36844691 PMCID: PMC9950224 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2023.12.1.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The development and study of hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine candidates' individualized responses are of great importance. Here we report on an HCV DNA vaccine candidate based on selected envelope (E1/E2) epitopes. Besides, we assessed its expression and processing in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in vivo cellular response in mice. Materials and Methods HCV E1/E2 DNA construct (EC) was designed. The antigen expression of EC was assayed in PBMCs of five HCV-uninfected donors via a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Serum samples from 20 HCV antibody-positive patients were used to detect each individual PBMCs expressed antigens via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two groups, five Swiss albino mice each, were immunized with the EC or a control construct. The absolute count of lymph nodes' CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes was assessed. Results Donors' PBMCs showed different levels of EC expression, ranging between 0.83-2.61-fold in four donors, while donor-3 showed 34.53-fold expression. The antigens expressed in PBMCs were significantly reactive to the 20 HCV antibody repertoire (all p=0.0001). All showed comparable reactivity except for donor-3 showing the lowest reactivity level. The absolute count % of the CD4+ T-cell significantly increased in four of the five EC-immunized mice compared to the control group (p=0.03). No significant difference in CD8+ T-cells % was observed (p=0.89). Conclusion The inter-individual variation in antigen expression and processing dominance was evident, showing independence in individuals' antigen expression and reactivity levels to antibodies. The described vaccine candidate might result in a promising natural immune response with a possibility of CD4+ T-cell early priming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rola Nadeem
- Department of Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.,Immune- and Bio-markers for Infection Research Group, Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amany Sayed Maghraby
- Department of Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.,Immune- and Bio-markers for Infection Research Group, Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Dina Nadeem Abd-Elshafy
- Immune- and Bio-markers for Infection Research Group, Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.,Department of Water Pollution Research, Environmental Research Institute, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Mahmoud Mohamed Bahgat
- Department of Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.,Immune- and Bio-markers for Infection Research Group, Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gobran ST, Ancuta P, Shoukry NH. A Tale of Two Viruses: Immunological Insights Into HCV/HIV Coinfection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:726419. [PMID: 34456931 PMCID: PMC8387722 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.726419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nearly 2.3 million individuals worldwide are coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Odds of HCV infection are six times higher in people living with HIV (PLWH) compared to their HIV-negative counterparts, with the highest prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) and men who have sex with men (MSM). HIV coinfection has a detrimental impact on the natural history of HCV, including higher rates of HCV persistence following acute infection, higher viral loads, and accelerated progression of liver fibrosis and development of end-stage liver disease compared to HCV monoinfection. Similarly, it has been reported that HCV coinfection impacts HIV disease progression in PLWH receiving anti-retroviral therapies (ART) where HCV coinfection negatively affects the homeostasis of CD4+ T cell counts and facilitates HIV replication and viral reservoir persistence. While ART does not cure HIV, direct acting antivirals (DAA) can now achieve HCV cure in nearly 95% of coinfected individuals. However, little is known about how HCV cure and the subsequent resolution of liver inflammation influence systemic immune activation, immune reconstitution and the latent HIV reservoir. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of HIV/HCV coinfection, the effects of HCV coinfection on HIV disease progression in the context of ART, the impact of HIV on HCV-associated liver morbidity, and the consequences of DAA-mediated HCV cure on immune reconstitution and HIV reservoir persistence in coinfected patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samaa T Gobran
- Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Petronela Ancuta
- Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Naglaa H Shoukry
- Centre de Recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Goyal A, Perelson AS, Kandathil AJ, Quinn J, Balagopal A, Ribeiro RM. HIV influences clustering and intracellular replication of hepatitis C virus. J Viral Hepat 2021; 28:334-344. [PMID: 33128322 PMCID: PMC7855861 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
HCV and HIV coinfection is common and HIV leads to increased HCV viraemia and accelerated disease progression. However, the biological basis of this interaction remains poorly understood and little is known about the impact of HIV on HCV replication at the cellular level. We analysed HCV RNA, based on single-cell laser-capture microdissection, in liver biopsies from monoinfected (n = 4) and HCV/HIV-coinfected (n = 5) participants. HCV RNA was assayed in 3200 hepatocytes with information of spatial position. We compared HCV RNA levels and clustering properties of infection between mono- and coinfected participants, and developed a mathematical model of infection. Although the median plasma HCV RNA level and the fraction of infected cells were comparable in monoinfected (7.0 log10 IU/mL and ~ 30%) and coinfected (7.3 log10 IU/mL and ~ 40%) participants, the median HCV RNA per infected hepatocyte in monoinfected (2.8IU) was significantly lower than in coinfected (8.2IU) participants (p = .03). Clustering of infected cells was more prominent in monoinfected participants (91% of samples) than in coinfected participants (~48%), p = .0045, suggesting that spatial spread may be influenced by HIV coinfection. Interestingly, when clustering does occur, the size of clusters is similar in both types of infection. A mathematical model of infection suggested that HIV allows higher intracellular accumulation of HCV RNA by impeding the export of HCV RNA. Our observations show that HIV coinfection impacts intracellular accumulation of HCV RNA and the clustering of HCV-infected cells, but to a less extent the fraction of HCV-infected cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Goyal
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM USA
| | - Alan S Perelson
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM USA
| | | | - Jeffrey Quinn
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Ashwin Balagopal
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Ruy M Ribeiro
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM USA,Laboratório de Biomatemática and Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Vigón L, Vázquez-Morón S, Berenguer J, González-García J, Jiménez-Sousa MÁ, Guardiola JM, Crespo M, de Los Santos I, Von Wichmann MA, Carrero A, Yélamos MB, Gómez J, Resino S, Martínez I. Rapid decrease in titer and breadth of neutralizing anti-HCV antibodies in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who achieved SVR. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12163. [PMID: 31434968 PMCID: PMC6704069 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48592-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The main targets for neutralizing anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (HCV-nAbs) are the E1 and E2 envelope glycoproteins. We have studied the characteristics of HCV-nAbs through a retrospective study involving 29 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) with peg-IFNα + ribavirin anti-HCV therapy. Plasma samples at baseline and week 24 after SVR were used to perform neutralization assays against five JFH1-based HCV recombinant viruses coding for E1 and E2 from genotypes 1a (H77), 1b (J4), 2a (JFH1), 3a (S52) and 4a (ED43). At baseline, the majority of plasma samples neutralized 1a, 1b, 2a, and 4a, but not 3a, genotypes. Twenty-four weeks following SVR, most neutralizing titers declined substantially. Furthermore, titers against 3a and 2a were not detected in many patients. Plasma samples with high HCV-nAb titers neutralized all genotypes, and the highest titers at the starting point correlated with the highest titers at week 24 after SVR. In conclusion, high titers of broad-spectrum HCV-nAbs were detected in HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals, however, those titers declined soon after SVR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Vigón
- Unidad de Infección Viral e Inmunidad, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Vázquez-Morón
- Unidad de Infección Viral e Inmunidad, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Berenguer
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas/VIH; Hospital General Universitario "Gregorio Marañón", Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan González-García
- Unidad de VIH, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario "La Paz", Madrid, Spain
| | - Ma Ángeles Jiménez-Sousa
- Unidad de Infección Viral e Inmunidad, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Ana Carrero
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas/VIH; Hospital General Universitario "Gregorio Marañón", Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Belén Yélamos
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julián Gómez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Resino
- Unidad de Infección Viral e Inmunidad, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Isidoro Martínez
- Unidad de Infección Viral e Inmunidad, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dustin LB. Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in Chronic HCV Infection. Curr Drug Targets 2018; 18:826-843. [PMID: 26302811 DOI: 10.2174/1389450116666150825110532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Revised: 07/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a public health problem of global importance, even in the era of potent directly-acting antiviral drugs. In this chapter, I discuss immune responses to acute and chronic HCV infection. The outcome of HCV infection is influenced by viral strategies that limit or delay the initiation of innate antiviral responses. This delay may enable HCV to establish widespread infection long before the host mounts effective T and B cell responses. HCV's genetic agility, resulting from its high rate of replication and its error prone replication mechanism, enables it to evade immune recognition. Adaptive immune responses fail to keep up with changing viral epitopes. Neutralizing antibody epitopes may be hidden by decoy structures, glycans, and lipoproteins. T cell responses fail due to changing epitope sequences and due to exhaustion, a phenomenon that may have evolved to limit immune-mediated pathology. Despite these difficulties, innate and adaptive immune mechanisms do impact HCV replication. Immune-mediated clearance of infection is possible, occurring in 20-50% of people who contract the disease. New developments raise hopes for effective immunological interventions to prevent or treat HCV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lynn B Dustin
- University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3SY, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus: Variable Transmission Bottleneck and Evidence of Midgestation In Utero Infection. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.01372-17. [PMID: 28931691 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01372-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth. However, the timing and precise biological mechanisms that are involved in this process are incompletely understood, as are the determinants that influence transmission of particular HCV variants. Here we report results of a longitudinal assessment of HCV quasispecies diversity and composition in 5 cases of vertical HCV transmission, including 3 women coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The population structure of HCV variant spectra based on E2 envelope gene sequences (nucleotide positions 1491 to 1787), including hypervariable regions 1 and 2, was characterized using next-generation sequencing and median-joining network analysis. Compatible with a loose transmission bottleneck, larger numbers of shared HCV variants were observed in the presence of maternal coinfection. Coalescent Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations revealed median times of transmission between 24.9 weeks and 36.1 weeks of gestation, with some confidence intervals ranging into the 1st trimester, considerably earlier than previously thought. Using recombinant autologous HCV pseudoparticles, differences were uncovered in HCV-specific antibody responses between coinfected mothers and mothers infected with HCV alone, in whom generalized absence of neutralization was observed. Finally, shifts in HCV quasispecies composition were seen in children around 1 year of age, compatible with the disappearance of passively transferred maternal immunoglobulins and/or the development of HCV-specific humoral immunity. Taken together, these results provide insights into the timing, dynamics, and biologic mechanisms involved in vertical HCV transmission and inform preventative strategies.IMPORTANCE Although it is well established that hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be transmitted from mother to child, the manner and the moment at which transmission operates have been the subject of conjecture. By carrying out a detailed examination of viral sequences, we showed that transmission could take place comparatively early in pregnancy. In addition, we showed that when the mother also carried human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), many more HCV variants were shared between her and her child, suggesting that the mechanism and/or the route of transmission of HCV differed in the presence of coinfection with HIV-1. These results could explain why cesarean section is ineffective in preventing vertical HCV transmission and guide the development of interventions to avert pediatric HCV infection.
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is estimated to affect 2 million individuals globally. The acceleration of HCV-associated complications, particularly hepatic fibrosis, because of HIV coinfection has been well established, whereas the impact of HCV on HIV progression remains unclear. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on the impact of coinfection on the transmission and clinical progression of each infection. We focus on the virological and immunological alterations that contribute to HIV and HCV pathogenesis in coinfection and also review the disease-modifying effects of antiretroviral therapy as they pertain to HCV.
Collapse
|
9
|
Wasilewski LN, Ray SC, Bailey JR. Hepatitis C virus resistance to broadly neutralizing antibodies measured using replication-competent virus and pseudoparticles. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:2883-2893. [PMID: 27667373 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of natural variation in neutralization resistance and fitness of diverse hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope (E1E2) variants will be critical to guide rational development of an HCV vaccine. This work has been hindered by inadequate genetic diversity in viral panels and by a lack of standardization of HCV entry assays. Neutralization assays generally use lentiviral pseudoparticles expressing HCV envelope proteins (HCVpp) or chimeric full-length viruses that are replication competent in cell culture (HCVcc). There have been few systematic comparisons of specific infectivities of E1E2-matched HCVcc and HCVpp, and to our knowledge, neutralization of E1E2-matched HCVpp and HCVcc has never been compared using a diverse panel of human broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bNAbs) targeting distinct epitopes. Here, we describe an efficient method for introduction of naturally occurring E1E2 genes into a full-length HCV genome, producing replication-competent chimeric HCVcc. We generated diverse panels of E1E2-matched HCVcc and HCVpp and measured the entry-mediating fitness of E1E2 variants using the two systems. We also compared neutralization of E1E2-matched HCVcc and HCVpp by a diverse panel of human bNAbs targeting epitopes across E1E2. We found no correlation between specific infectivities of E1E2-matched HCVcc versus HCVpp, but found a very strong positive correlation between relative neutralization resistance of these same E1E2-matched HCVcc and HCVpp variants. These results suggest that quantitative comparisons of neutralization resistance of E1E2 variants can be made with confidence using either HCVcc or HCVpp, allowing the use of either or both systems to maximize diversity of neutralization panels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa N Wasilewski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Stuart C Ray
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Justin R Bailey
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhang YH, Zhao Y, Rajapaksa US, Lawrence TM, Peng YC, Liu J, Xu K, Hu K, Qin L, Liu N, Sun H, Yan HP, Repapi E, Rowland-Jones S, Thimme R, McKeating JA, Dong T. A Comprehensive Analysis of the Impact of HIV on HCV Immune Responses and Its Association with Liver Disease Progression in a Unique Plasma Donor Cohort. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158037. [PMID: 27455208 PMCID: PMC4959707 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection is recognized as a major cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-1 infected patients. Our understanding of the impact of HIV infection on HCV specific immune responses and liver disease outcome is limited by the heterogeneous study populations with genetically diverse infecting viruses, varying duration of infection and anti-viral treatment. Methods Viral-specific immune responses in a cohort of 151 HCV mono- and HIV co-infected former plasma donors infected with a narrow source of virus were studied. HCV and HIV specific T cell responses were correlated with clinical data. Results HIV-1 accelerated liver disease progression and decreased HCV specific T cell immunity. The magnitude of HCV specific T cell responses inversely correlated with lower HCV RNA load and reduced liver injury as assessed by non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis. HIV co-infection reduced the frequency of HCV specific CD4+ T cells with no detectable effect on CD8+ T cells or neutralizing antibody levels. Conclusion Our study highlights the impact of HIV co-infection on HCV specific CD4+ T cell responses in a unique cohort of patients for both HCV and HIV and suggests a crucial role for these cells in controlling chronic HCV replication and liver disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Hong Zhang
- You’an-Oxford Centre for Clinical Research, Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- CAMS- Oxford University joint International Centre for Translational Immunology, Nuffield and Radcliffe departments of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomarkers in Infection Related Diseases (BZ0373), Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (YHZ); (TD)
| | - Yan Zhao
- You’an-Oxford Centre for Clinical Research, Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- CAMS- Oxford University joint International Centre for Translational Immunology, Nuffield and Radcliffe departments of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ushani S. Rajapaksa
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Tessa M. Lawrence
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Centre for Human Virology, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Yan-Chun Peng
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jinghua Liu
- You’an-Oxford Centre for Clinical Research, Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Keyi Xu
- Beijing Di’Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Hu
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Centre for Human Virology, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ling Qin
- You’an-Oxford Centre for Clinical Research, Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Liu
- You’an-Oxford Centre for Clinical Research, Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huanqin Sun
- You’an-Oxford Centre for Clinical Research, Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Ping Yan
- You’an-Oxford Centre for Clinical Research, Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Emmanouela Repapi
- Computational Biology Research Group, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Rowland-Jones
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Thimme
- University Hospital Freiburg, Department of Medicine II, Hugstetter Str 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jane A. McKeating
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Centre for Human Virology, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Tao Dong
- You’an-Oxford Centre for Clinical Research, Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- CAMS- Oxford University joint International Centre for Translational Immunology, Nuffield and Radcliffe departments of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (YHZ); (TD)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
[Hepatitis C during pregnancy, vertical transmission and new treatment possibilities]. Med Clin (Barc) 2016; 147:499-505. [PMID: 27209226 DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2016.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been recognised as a worldwide health problem. HCV is the most common cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation. The HCV prevalence reported in pregnant women is similar to that found among the general population and does not appear to have an adverse effect on the course of pregnancy. The vertical transmission of HCV (HCV-VT) is a major route of HCV infection in children in the developed countries (>90%). The overall rate of mother-to-child transmission and chronification is about 3%-8%; however, this rate is higher for mothers who are co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (15-20%). In this review, we analyse the course of HCV infection during gestation, the risk factors associated with HCV-VT, the diagnostic methods/clinical monitoring recommended and the new possibilities of treatment in the era of direct-acting antiviral agents, which are essential to guide future public health efforts appropriately.
Collapse
|
12
|
Liu L, Nardo D, Li E, Wang GP. CD4+ T-cell recovery with suppressive ART-induced rapid sequence evolution in hepatitis C virus envelope but not NS3. AIDS 2016; 30:691-700. [PMID: 26645605 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000000997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES CD4 T-cell depletion from HIV infection leads to a global decline in anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope neutralizing antibody (nAb) response, which may play a role in accelerating liver fibrosis. An increase in anti-HCV nAb titers has been reported during antiretroviral therapy (ART) but its impact on HCV remains poorly understood. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of ART on long-term HCV evolution. DESIGN AND METHODS We examined HCV quasispecies structure and long-term evolution in HIV/HCV coinfected patients with ART-induced CD4 T-cell recovery, and compared with patients with CD4 T-cell depletion from delayed ART. We applied a single-variant sequencing (SVS) method to construct authentic viral quasispecies and compared sequence evolution in HCV envelope, the primary target for humoral immune responses, and NS3, a target for cellular immunity, between the two cohorts. RESULTS The SVS method corrected biases known to skew the proportions of viral variants, revealing authentic HCV quasispeices structures. We observed higher rates of HCV envelope sequence evolution in patients with ART-induced CD4 T-cell recovery, compared with patients with CD4 T-cell depletion from delayed ART (P = 0.03). Evolutionary rates for NS3 were considerably lower than the rates for envelope (P < 0.01), with no significant difference observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION ART-induced CD4 T-cell recovery results in rapid sequence evolution in HCV envelope, but not in NS3. These results suggest that suppressive ART disproportionally enhances HCV-specific humoral responses more than cellular responses, resulting in rapid sequence evolution in HCV envelope but not NS3.
Collapse
|
13
|
A Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Polymorphism Confers Resistance to Neutralization by Polyclonal Sera and Broadly Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies. J Virol 2016; 90:3773-82. [PMID: 26819308 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02837-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem, with millions of chronically infected individuals at risk for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV vaccine development is vital in the effort toward disease control and eradication, an undertaking aided by an increased understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). In this study, we identified HCV codons that vary deep in a phylogenetic tree of HCV sequences and showed that a polymorphism at one of these positions renders Bole1a, a computationally derived, ancestral genotype 1a HCV strain, resistant to neutralization by both polyclonal-HCV-infected plasma and multiple broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies with unique binding epitopes. This bNAb resistance mutation reduces replicative fitness, which may explain the persistence of both neutralization-sensitive and neutralization-resistant variants in circulating viral strains. This work identifies an important determinant of bNAb resistance in an ancestral, representative HCV genome, which may inform HCV vaccine development. IMPORTANCE Worldwide, more than 170 million people are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation in the United States. Despite recent significant advances in HCV treatment, a vaccine is needed. Control of the HCV pandemic with drug treatment alone is likely to fail due to limited access to treatment, reinfections in high-risk individuals, and the potential for resistance to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) block infection by diverse HCV variants and therefore serve as a useful guide for vaccine development, but our understanding of resistance to bNAbs is incomplete. In this report, we identify a viral polymorphism conferring resistance to neutralization by both polyclonal plasma and broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, which may inform HCV vaccine development.
Collapse
|
14
|
Co-infections and transmission networks of HCV, HIV-1 and HPgV among people who inject drugs. Sci Rep 2015; 5:15198. [PMID: 26459957 PMCID: PMC4602306 DOI: 10.1038/srep15198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-infections with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human pegivirus (HPgV) are common in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals. However, analysis on the evolutionary dynamics and transmission network profiles of these viruses among individuals with multiple infections remains limited. A total of 228 injecting drug users (IDUs), either HCV- and/or HIV-1-infected, were recruited in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. HCV, HIV-1 and HPgV genes were sequenced, with epidemic growth rates assessed by the Bayesian coalescent method. Based on the sequence data, mono-, dual- and triple-infection were detected in 38.8%, 40.6% and 20.6% of the subjects, respectively. Fifteen transmission networks involving HCV (subtype 1a, 1b, 3a and 3b), HIV-1 (CRF33_01B) and HPgV (genotype 2) were identified and characterized. Genealogical estimates indicated that the predominant HCV, HIV-1 and HPgV genotypes were introduced into the IDUs population through multiple sub-epidemics that emerged as early as 1950s (HCV), 1980s (HIV-1) and 1990s (HPgV). By determining the difference in divergence times between viral lineages (ΔtMRCA), we also showed that the frequency of viral co-transmission is low among these IDUs. Despite increased access to therapy and other harm reduction interventions, the continuous emergence and coexistence of new transmission networks suggest persistent multiple viral transmissions among IDUs.
Collapse
|
15
|
Mwatelah RS, Lwembe RM, Osman S, Ogutu BR, Aman R, Kitawi RC, Wangai LN, Oloo FA, Kokwaro GO, Ochieng W. Co-Infection Burden of Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus among Injecting Heroin Users at the Kenyan Coast. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26208212 PMCID: PMC4514798 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Injection drug use is steadily rising in Kenya. We assessed the prevalence of both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among injecting heroin users (IHUs) at the Kenyan Coast. METHODS A total of 186 IHUs (mean age, 33 years) from the Omari rehabilitation center program in Malindi were consented and screened for HIV-1 and HCV by serology and PCR and their CD4 T-cells enumerated by FACS. RESULTS Prevalence of HIV-1 was 87.5%, that of HCV was 16.4%, co-infection was 17.9% and 18/152 (11.8%) were uninfected. Only 5.26% of the HIV-1 negative injectors were HCV positive. Co-infection was higher among injectors aged 30 to 40 years (20.7%) and among males (22.1%) than comparable groups. About 35% of the injectors were receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART). Co-infection was highest among injectors receiving D4T (75%) compared to those receiving AZT (21.6%) or TDF (10.5%) or those not on ART (10.5%). Mean CD4 T-cells were 404 (95% CI, 365 - 443) cells/mm3 overall, significantly lower for co-infected (mean, 146; 95% CI 114 - 179 cells/mm3) than HIV mono infected (mean, 437, 95% CI 386 - 487 cells/mm3, p<0.001) or uninfected (mean, 618, 95% CI 549 - 687 cells/mm3, p<0.001) injectors and lower for HIV mono-infected than uninfected injectors (p=0.002). By treatment arm, CD4 T-cells were lower for injectors receiving D4T (mean, 78; 95% CI, 0.4 - 156 cells/mm3) than TDF (mean 607, 95% CI, 196 - 1018 cells/mm3, p=0.005) or AZT (mean 474, 95% CI -377 - 571 cells/mm3, p=0.004). CONCLUSION Mono and dual infections with HIV-1 and HCV is high among IHUs in Malindi, but ART coverage is low. The co-infected IHUs have elevated risk of immunodeficiency due to significantly depressed CD4 T-cell numbers. Coinfection screening, treatment-as-prevention for both HIV and HCV and harm reduction should be scaled up to alleviate infection burden.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth S. Mwatelah
- Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nairobi, Kenya
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Raphael M. Lwembe
- Centre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Saida Osman
- Centre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Bernhards R. Ogutu
- Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Institute of Healthcare Management, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rashid Aman
- Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Institute of Healthcare Management, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
- African Center for Clinical Trials, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rose C. Kitawi
- Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nairobi, Kenya
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Laura N. Wangai
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Florence A. Oloo
- Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gilbert O. Kokwaro
- Institute of Healthcare Management, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Washingtone Ochieng
- Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Institute of Healthcare Management, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|