1
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Bankwitz D, Bahai A, Labuhn M, Doepke M, Ginkel C, Khera T, Todt D, Ströh LJ, Dold L, Klein F, Klawonn F, Krey T, Behrendt P, Cornberg M, McHardy AC, Pietschmann T. Hepatitis C reference viruses highlight potent antibody responses and diverse viral functional interactions with neutralising antibodies. Gut 2021; 70:1734-1745. [PMID: 33323394 PMCID: PMC8355883 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-321190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neutralising antibodies are key effectors of infection-induced and vaccine-induced immunity. Quantification of antibodies' breadth and potency is critical for understanding the mechanisms of protection and for prioritisation of vaccines. Here, we used a unique collection of human specimens and HCV strains to develop HCV reference viruses for quantification of neutralising antibodies, and to investigate viral functional diversity. DESIGN We profiled neutralisation potency of polyclonal immunoglobulins from 104 patients infected with HCV genotype (GT) 1-6 across 13 HCV strains representing five viral GTs. Using metric multidimensional scaling, we plotted HCV neutralisation onto neutralisation maps. We employed K-means clustering to guide virus clustering and selecting representative strains. RESULTS Viruses differed greatly in neutralisation sensitivity, with J6 (GT2a) being most resistant and SA13 (GT5a) being most sensitive. They mapped to six distinct neutralisation clusters, in part composed of viruses from different GTs. There was no correlation between viral neutralisation and genetic distance, indicating functional neutralisation clustering differs from sequence-based clustering. Calibrating reference viruses representing these clusters against purified antibodies from 496 patients infected by GT1 to GT6 viruses readily identified individuals with extraordinary potent and broadly neutralising antibodies. It revealed comparable antibody cross-neutralisation and diversity between specimens from diverse viral GTs, confirming well-balanced reporting of HCV cross-neutralisation across highly diverse human samples. CONCLUSION Representative isolates from six neutralisation clusters broadly reconstruct the functional HCV neutralisation space. They enable high resolution profiling of HCV neutralisation and they may reflect viral functional and antigenic properties important to consider in HCV vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Bankwitz
- Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Center of Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Akash Bahai
- Computational Biology for Infection Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maurice Labuhn
- Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Center of Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mandy Doepke
- Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Center of Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Corinne Ginkel
- Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Center of Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tanvi Khera
- Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Center of Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Center of Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Luisa J Ströh
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Leona Dold
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, Koln, Germany
| | - Florian Klein
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Virology, University Hospital Cologne, Koln, Germany
- Partner site Cologne-Bonn, German Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Frank Klawonn
- Biostatistics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute for Information Engineering, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Wolfenbuttel, Germany
| | - Thomas Krey
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Center of Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Patrick Behrendt
- Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Center of Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
- Partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, German Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Markus Cornberg
- Partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, German Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alice C McHardy
- Computational Biology for Infection Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, German Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Thomas Pietschmann
- Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Center of Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
- Partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, German Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
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2
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Abstract
Antibody responses in hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been a rather mysterious research topic for many investigators working in the field. Chronic HCV infection is often associated with dysregulation of immune functions particularly in B cells, leading to abnormal lymphoproliferation or the production of autoantibodies that exacerbate inflammation and extrahepatic diseases. When considering the antiviral function of antibody, it was difficult to endorse its role in HCV protection, whereas T-cell response has been shown unequivocally critical for natural recovery. Recent breakthroughs in the study of HCV and antigen-specific antibody responses provide important insights into viral vulnerability to antibodies and the immunogenetic and structural properties of the neutralizing antibodies. The new knowledge reinvigorates HCV vaccine research by illuminating a new path for the rational design of vaccine antigens to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies for protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansun Law
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92109, USA
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3
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Duncan JD, Urbanowicz RA, Tarr AW, Ball JK. Hepatitis C Virus Vaccine: Challenges and Prospects. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010090. [PMID: 32079254 PMCID: PMC7157504 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes both acute and chronic infection and continues to be a global problem despite advances in antiviral therapeutics. Current treatments fail to prevent reinfection and remain expensive, limiting their use to developed countries, and the asymptomatic nature of acute infection can result in individuals not receiving treatment and unknowingly spreading HCV. A prophylactic vaccine is therefore needed to control this virus. Thirty years since the discovery of HCV, there have been major gains in understanding the molecular biology and elucidating the immunological mechanisms that underpin spontaneous viral clearance, aiding rational vaccine design. This review discusses the challenges facing HCV vaccine design and the most recent and promising candidates being investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Duncan
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Richard A. Urbanowicz
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Alexander W. Tarr
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Jonathan K. Ball
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; (R.A.U.); (A.W.T.); (J.K.B.)
- NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
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4
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Wrensch F, Ligat G, Heydmann L, Schuster C, Zeisel MB, Pessaux P, Habersetzer F, King BJ, Tarr AW, Ball JK, Winkler M, Pöhlmann S, Keck ZY, Foung SK, Baumert TF. Interferon-Induced Transmembrane Proteins Mediate Viral Evasion in Acute and Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Hepatology 2019; 70:1506-1520. [PMID: 31062385 PMCID: PMC6819197 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although adaptive immune responses against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been studied in great detail, the role of innate immunity in protection against HCV infection and immune evasion is only partially understood. Interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) are innate effector proteins restricting host cell entry of many enveloped viruses, including HCV. However, the clinical impact of IFITMs on HCV immune escape remains to be determined. Here, we show that IFITMs promote viral escape from the neutralizing antibody (nAb) response in clinical cohorts of HCV-infected patients. Using pseudoparticles bearing HCV envelope proteins from acutely infected patients, we show that HCV variants isolated preseroconversion are more sensitive to the antiviral activity of IFITMs than variants from patients isolated during chronic infection postseroconversion. Furthermore, HCV variants escaping nAb responses during liver transplantation exhibited a significantly higher resistance to IFITMs than variants that were eliminated posttransplantation. Gain-of-function and mechanistic studies revealed that IFITMs markedly enhance the antiviral activity of nAbs and suggest a cooperative effect of human monoclonal antibodies and IFITMs for antibody-mediated neutralization driving the selection pressure in viral evasion. Perturbation studies with the IFITM antagonist amphotericin B revealed that modulation of membrane properties by IFITM proteins is responsible for the IFITM-mediated blockade of viral entry and enhancement of antibody-mediated neutralization. Conclusion: Our results indicate IFITM proteins as drivers of viral immune escape and antibody-mediated HCV neutralization in acute and chronic HCV infection. These findings are of clinical relevance for the design of urgently needed HCV B-cell vaccines and might help to increase the efficacy of future vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Wrensch
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Gaëtan Ligat
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Laura Heydmann
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Catherine Schuster
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Mirjam B. Zeisel
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Inserm U1052, CNRS UMR 5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), Université de Lyon (UCBL), 69373 Lyon, France
| | - Patrick Pessaux
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Pôle Hépato-digestif, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - François Habersetzer
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Pôle Hépato-digestif, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Barnabas J. King
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK,NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Alexander W. Tarr
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK,NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Jonathan K. Ball
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK,NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Michael Winkler
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center–Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center–Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany,Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Zhen-yong Keck
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Steven K.H. Foung
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Thomas F. Baumert
- Inserm, U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Pôle Hépato-digestif, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France,Institut Universitaire de France, 75231 Paris, France
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5
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Jalal PJ, Urbanowicz RA, Horncastle E, Pathak M, Goddard C, Saeed A, Mason CP, Ball JK, Irving WL, McClure CP, King BJ, Tarr AW. Expression of human ficolin-2 in hepatocytes confers resistance to infection by diverse hepatotropic viruses. J Med Microbiol 2019; 68:642-648. [PMID: 30747617 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver-expressed pattern recognition receptors mannose-binding lectin (MBL), ficolin-2 and ficolin-3 contribute to the innate immune response by activating complement. Binding of soluble ficolin-2 to viral pathogens can directly neutralize virus entry. We observed that the human hepatoma cell line HuH7.5, which is routinely used for the study of hepatotropic viruses, is deficient in expression of MBL, ficolin-2 and ficolin-3. We generated a cell line that expressed and secreted ficolin-2. This cell line (HuH7.5 [FCN2]) was more resistant to infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), ebolavirus and vesicular stomatitis virus, but surprisingly was more susceptible to infection with rabies virus. Cell-to-cell spread of HCV was also inhibited in ficolin-2 expressing cells. This illustrates that ficolin-2 expression in hepatocytes contributes to innate resistance to virus infection, but some viruses might utilize ficolin-2 to facilitate entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paywast J Jalal
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Iraq
| | - Richard A Urbanowicz
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Emma Horncastle
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Monika Pathak
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Chun Goddard
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Amanj Saeed
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, Iraq
| | - Christopher P Mason
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jonathan K Ball
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - William L Irving
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - C Patrick McClure
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Barnabas J King
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Alexander W Tarr
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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6
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King B, Urbanowicz R, Tarr AW, Ball JK, McClure CP. InFusion Cloning for the Generation of Biologically Relevant HCV Chimeric Molecular Clones. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1911:93-104. [PMID: 30593620 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8976-8_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
This chapter describes how to generate chimeric molecular cassettes that are ready to receive PCR-amplified E1/E2 genes using new DNA cloning technology. The method is divided into three sections: (1) generation of a ΔCore-NS2 cassette based upon the full-length JFH-1 molecular clone; (2) insertion of a "structural gene" fragment encoding the Core, p7, and NS2 genes of a given genotype reference sequence, to generate a ΔE1/E2 cassette; and (3) insertion of patient-isolated E1/E2 genes that are genotype-matched to the structural genes. The final assembled chimeric genomes can then be analyzed in the HCV cell culture system. These cassettes allow characterization of the extensive in vivo viral diversity without the need to isolate and clone whole virus genomes. This method can be readily applied to the study of other HCV genes and other viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barnabas King
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Richard Urbanowicz
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Alexander W Tarr
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jonathan K Ball
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - C Patrick McClure
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. .,NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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7
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Kinchen VJ, Bailey JR. Defining Breadth of Hepatitis C Virus Neutralization. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1703. [PMID: 30116237 PMCID: PMC6082923 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Extraordinary genetic diversity is a hallmark of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Therefore, accurate measurement of the breadth of antibody neutralizing activity across diverse HCV isolates is key to defining correlates of immune protection against the virus, and essential to guide vaccine development. Panels of HCV pseudoparticle (HCVpp) or replication-competent cell culture viruses (HCVcc) can be used to measure neutralizing breadth of antibodies. These in vitro assays have been used to define neutralizing breadth of antibodies in serum, to characterize broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, and to identify mechanisms of HCV resistance to antibody neutralization. Recently, larger and more diverse panels of both HCVpp and HCVcc have been described that better represent the diversity of circulating HCV strains, but further work is needed to expand and standardize these neutralization panels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie J Kinchen
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Justin R Bailey
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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8
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Ramirez S, Bukh J. Current status and future development of infectious cell-culture models for the major genotypes of hepatitis C virus: Essential tools in testing of antivirals and emerging vaccine strategies. Antiviral Res 2018; 158:264-287. [PMID: 30059723 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In this review, we summarize the relevant scientific advances that led to the development of infectious cell culture systems for hepatitis C virus (HCV) with the corresponding challenges and successes. We also provide an overview of how these systems have contributed to the study of antiviral compounds and their relevance for the development of a much-needed vaccine against this major human pathogen. An efficient infectious system to study HCV in vitro, using human hepatoma derived cells, has only been available since 2005, and was limited to a single isolate, named JFH1, until 2012. Successive developments have been slow and cumbersome, as each available system has been the result of a systematic effort for discovering adaptive mutations conferring culture replication and propagation to patient consensus clones that are inherently non-viable in vitro. High genetic heterogeneity is a paramount characteristic of this virus, and as such, it should preferably be reflected in basic, translational, and clinical studies. The limited number of efficient viral culture systems, in the context of the vast genetic diversity of HCV, continues to represent a major hindrance for the study of this virus, posing a significant barrier towards studies of antivirals (particularly of resistance) and for advancing vaccine development. Intensive research efforts, driven by isolate-specific culture adaptation, have only led to efficient full-length infectious culture systems for a few strains of HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 6. Hence research aimed at identifying novel strategies that will permit universal culture of HCV will be needed to further our understanding of this unique virus causing 400 thousand deaths annually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santseharay Ramirez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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9
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Tawar RG, Heydmann L, Bach C, Schüttrumpf J, Chavan S, King BJ, McClure CP, Ball JK, Pessaux P, Habersetzer F, Bartenschlager R, Zeisel MB, Baumert TF. Broad neutralization of hepatitis C virus-resistant variants by Civacir hepatitis C immunoglobulin. Hepatology 2016; 64:1495-1506. [PMID: 27531416 PMCID: PMC7615276 DOI: 10.1002/hep.28767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced end-stage liver disease is the major indication for liver transplantation (LT). However, reinfection of the liver graft is still common, especially in patients with detectable viral load at the time of LT. Limited data are available on direct-acting antivirals in the transplant setting for prevention of graft infection. The human hepatitis C immunoglobulin (HCIG) Civacir is an investigational drug that is currently being developed in an ongoing phase 3 clinical trial assessing its safety and efficacy at preventing HCV recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) in the United States. Using well-characterized patient-derived HCV variants selected during LT, we studied the molecular mechanism of action of Civacir. Inhibition of HCV infection was studied using infectious HCV models including HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp) and cell culture-derived HCV (HCVcc) containing patient-derived viral envelope glycoproteins from 22 HCV variants isolated from patients before and after LT. The human hepatitis C immune globulin Civacir is an investigational drug that is currently being developed in an ongoing phase 3 clinical trial assessing safety and efficacy to prevent HCV recurrence after LT in the United States. Using well-characterized patient-derived HCV variants selected during LT, we studied the molecular mechanism of action of Civacir. Inhibition of HCV infection was studied using infectious HCV models including HCV pseudoparticles and cell culture-derived HCV containing patient-derived viral envelope glycoproteins from 22 HCV variants isolated from patients before and after liver transplantation. Additionally, we studied neutralization of different HCV genotypes and of direct-acting antiviral-resistant viruses. Our results indicate that Civacir potently, broadly, and dose-dependently neutralizes all tested patient variants in HCV pseudoparticles and cell culture-derived HCV assays including variants displaying resistance to host neutralizing antibodies and antiviral monoclonal antibodies. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations were independent of the phenotype of the viral variant, indicating that virus neutralization by Civacir is not affected by viral selection. Furthermore, Civacir is equally active against tested direct-acting antiviral-resistant HCV isolates in cell culture. CONCLUSION Collectively, these results demonstrate broad neutralizing activity of Civacir against resistant viruses, likely due to synergy between anti-HCV antibodies derived from different plasma donors, and support its further clinical development for prevention of liver graft infection. (Hepatology 2016;64:1495-1506).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv G Tawar
- Inserm U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Laura Heydmann
- Inserm U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Charlotte Bach
- Inserm U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | - Barnabas J King
- School of Life Sciences and the NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - C Patrick McClure
- School of Life Sciences and the NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jonathan K Ball
- School of Life Sciences and the NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - Patrick Pessaux
- Inserm U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Hospitalo-universitaire, Pôle Hépato-digestif, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - François Habersetzer
- Inserm U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Hospitalo-universitaire, Pôle Hépato-digestif, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mirjam B Zeisel
- Inserm U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas F Baumert
- Inserm U1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Strasbourg, France.
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
- Institut Hospitalo-universitaire, Pôle Hépato-digestif, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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10
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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.
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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
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Urbanowicz RA, McClure CP, King B, Mason CP, Ball JK, Tarr AW. Novel functional hepatitis C virus glycoprotein isolates identified using an optimized viral pseudotype entry assay. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:2265-2279. [PMID: 27384448 PMCID: PMC5042129 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Retrovirus pseudotypes are a highly tractable model used to study the entry pathways of enveloped viruses. This model has been extensively applied to the study of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry pathway, preclinical screening of antiviral antibodies and for assessing the phenotype of patient-derived viruses using HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp) possessing the HCV E1 and E2 glycoproteins. However, not all patient-isolated clones produce particles that are infectious in this model. This study investigated factors that might limit phenotyping of patient-isolated HCV glycoproteins. Genetically related HCV glycoproteins from quasispecies in individual patients were discovered to behave very differently in this entry model. Empirical optimization of the ratio of packaging construct and glycoprotein-encoding plasmid was required for successful HCVpp genesis for different clones. The selection of retroviral packaging construct also influenced the function of HCV pseudoparticles. Some glycoprotein constructs tolerated a wide range of assay parameters, while others were much more sensitive to alterations. Furthermore, glycoproteins previously characterized as unable to mediate entry were found to be functional. These findings were validated using chimeric cell-cultured HCV bearing these glycoproteins. Using the same empirical approach we demonstrated that generation of infectious ebolavirus pseudoviruses (EBOVpv) was also sensitive to the amount and ratio of plasmids used, and that protocols for optimal production of these pseudoviruses are dependent on the exact virus glycoprotein construct. These findings demonstrate that it is crucial for studies utilizing pseudoviruses to conduct empirical optimization of pseudotype production for each specific glycoprotein sequence to achieve optimal titres and facilitate accurate phenotyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A. Urbanowicz
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - C. Patrick McClure
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Barnabas King
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Christopher P. Mason
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jonathan K. Ball
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Alexander W. Tarr
- School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
- Correspondence Alexander W. Tarr
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