Neutralizing capacity of monoclonal antibodies that recognize peptide sequences underlying the carbohydrates on gp41 of simian immunodeficiency virus

Long-Term Delivery of an Anti-SIV Monoclonal Antibody With AAV

Long-term delivery of anti-HIV monoclonal antibodies using adeno-associated virus (AAV) holds promise for the prevention and treatment of HIV infection. We previously reported that after receiving a single administration of AAV vector coding for anti-SIV antibody 5L7, monkey 84-05 achieved high levels of AAV-delivered 5L7 IgG1 in vivo which conferred sterile protection against six successive, escalating dose, intravenous challenges with highly infectious, highly pathogenic SIVmac239, including a final challenge with 10 animal infectious doses (1). Here we report that monkey 84-05 has successfully maintained 240-350 μg/ml of anti-SIV antibody 5L7 for over 6 years. Approximately 2% of the circulating IgG in this monkey is this one monoclonal antibody. This monkey generated little or no anti-drug antibodies (ADA) to the AAV-delivered antibody for the duration of the study. Due to the nature of the high-dose challenge used and in order to rule out a potential low-level infection not detected by regular viral loads, we have used ultrasensitive techniques to detect cell-associated viral DNA and RNA in PBMCs from this animal. In addition, we have tested serum from 84-05 by ELISA against overlapping peptides spanning the whole envelope sequence for SIVmac239 (PepScan) and against recombinant p27 and gp41 proteins. No reactivity has been detected in the ELISAs indicating the absence of naturally arising anti-SIV antibodies; moreover, the ultrasensitive cell-associated viral tests yielded no positive reaction. We conclude that macaque 84-05 was effectively protected and remained uninfected. Our data show that durable, continuous antibody expression can be achieved after one single administration of AAV and support the potential for lifelong protection against HIV from a single vector administration.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Maintain High Levels of Infectivity in the Complete Absence of Mucin-Type O-Glycosylation

A highly conserved threonine near the C terminus of gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) was investigated for its contributions to envelope protein function and virion infectivity. When this highly conserved Thr residue was substituted with anything other than serine (the other amino acid that can accept O-glycosylation), the resulting virus was noninfectious. We found that this Thr was critical for the association of gp120 with the virion and that amino acid substitution increased the amount of dissociated gp120 in the cell culture supernatant. When HIV virions were generated in cells overexpressing polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 1 (GalNAcT1), viral infectivity was increased 2.5-fold compared to that of virus produced in wild-type HEK293T cells; infectivity was increased 8-fold when the Thr499Ser mutant was used. These infectivity enhancements were not observed when GalNAcT3 was used. Using HEK293T knockout cell lines totally devoid of the ability to perform O-linked glycosylation, we demonstrated production of normal levels of virions and normal levels of infectivity in the complete absence of O-linked carbohydrate. Our data indicate that O-glycosylation is not necessary for the natural replication cycle of HIV and SIV. Nonetheless, it remains theoretically possible that the repertoire of GalNAc transferase isoforms in natural target cells for HIV and SIV in vivo could result in O-glycosylation of the threonine residue in question and that this could boost the infectivity of virions beyond the levels seen in the absence of such O-glycosylation.IMPORTANCE Approximately 50% of the mass of the gp120 envelope glycoprotein of both HIV and SIV is N-linked carbohydrate. One of the contributions of this N-linked carbohydrate is to shield conserved peptide sequences from recognition by humoral immunity. This N-linked glycosylation is one of the reasons that primary isolates of HIV and SIV are so heavily resistant to antibody-mediated neutralization. Much less studied is any potential contribution from O-linked glycosylation. The literature on this topic to date is somewhat confusing and ambiguous. Our studies described in this report demonstrate unambiguously that O-linked glycosylation is not necessary for the natural replication cycle of HIV and SIV. However, the door is not totally closed because of the diversity of numerous GalNAc transferase enzymes that initiate O-linked carbohydrate attachment and the theoretical possibility that natural target cells for HIV and SIV in vivo could potentially complete such O-linked carbohydrate attachment to further increase infectivity.

Comparative Analysis of the Glycosylation Profiles of Membrane-Anchored HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein Trimers and Soluble gp140

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer, which consists of the gp120 and gp41 subunits, is the focus of multiple strategies for vaccine development. Extensive Env glycosylation provides HIV-1 with protection from the immune system, yet the glycans are also essential components of binding epitopes for numerous broadly neutralizing antibodies. Recent studies have shown that when Env is isolated from virions, its glycosylation profile differs significantly from that of soluble forms of Env (gp120 or gp140) predominantly used in vaccine discovery research. Here we show that exogenous membrane-anchored Envs, which can be produced in large quantities in mammalian cells, also display a virion-like glycan profile, where the glycoprotein is extensively decorated with high-mannose glycans. Additionally, because we characterized the glycosylation with a high-fidelity profiling method, glycopeptide analysis, an unprecedented level of molecular detail regarding membrane Env glycosylation and its heterogeneity is presented. Each glycosylation site was characterized individually, with about 500 glycoforms characterized per Env protein. While many of the sites contain exclusively high-mannose glycans, others retain complex glycans, resulting in a glycan profile that cannot currently be mimicked on soluble gp120 or gp140 preparations. These site-level studies are important for understanding antibody-glycan interactions on native Env trimers. Additionally, we report a newly observed O-linked glycosylation site, T606, and we show that the full O-linked glycosylation profile of membrane-associated Env is similar to that of soluble gp140. These findings provide new insight into Env glycosylation and clarify key molecular-level differences between membrane-anchored Env and soluble gp140.

IMPORTANCE

A vaccine that protects against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection should elicit antibodies that bind to the surface envelope glycoproteins on the membrane of the virus. The envelope glycoproteins have an extensive coat of carbohydrates (glycans), some of which are recognized by virus-neutralizing antibodies and some of which protect the virus from neutralizing antibodies. We found that the HIV-1 membrane envelope glycoproteins have a unique pattern of carbohydrates, with many high-mannose glycans and also, in some places, complex glycans. This pattern was very different from the carbohydrate profile seen for a more easily produced soluble version of the envelope glycoprotein. Our results provide a detailed characterization of the glycans on the natural membrane envelope glycoproteins of HIV-1, a carbohydrate profile that would be desirable to mimic with a vaccine.

Neutralization function affected by single amino acid replacement in the HIV-1 antibody targets

The viral envelope glycoproteins are essential for entry into their host cells and studied extensively for designing vaccines. We hypothesize that the glycosylation on the HIV-1 viral envelope glycoprotein 41(gp41) at critical residues offers viral escape from the specific immune surveillant neutralizing antibodies Z13, 4E10 and 10E8 targeted to their linear epitopes in the Membrane Proximal External Region (MPER). The glycosylation occurring on the 50th residue (Asparagine) contained in the target (NWFNIT) can mask itself to be inaccessible for these neutralizing antibodies. The glycosylation rate of the epitopes which are shared by the Z13, 4E10 and 10E8 neutralizing antibodies of HIV-1 were predicited in silico. We analyzed the reliable frequency of glycosylation on the HIV-1 envelope gp41 using prediction tools to unravel the plausibility of the glycosylation by a mannose at 50th residue in the 59 amino acid long HIV-gp41 trimer (PDBID: 2M7W and 2LP7). It is evident that the glycosylation by a mannose that masks these targets is possible only when the 50th amino-acid is N (Asparagine, Asn) which is not possible when N is mutated to D (Aspartatic acid, Asp). The additive advantage for the retrovirus is its error-prone reverse transcriptase which can choose to copy these survivable mutants with Asn N-50 that can be glycosylated as explained by the Copy-choice model. So the glycan shields varying in their intensity and patterns have to be essentially studied to understand the viral escape strategies that will give a way forward towards a successful vaccine that can elicit a neutralizing antibody response to confer protection.

Immunopathogenesis of simian immunodeficiency virus infection in nonhuman primates

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Soon after the discovery of HIV-infected humans, rhesus macaques in a colony at the New England Primate Research Center showed similar signs of a progressive immune suppression. The discovery of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-associated disease opened the door to study an AIDS-like illness in nonhuman primates (NHP). Even after 3 decades, this animal model remains an invaluable tool to provide a greater insight into HIV immunopathogenesis. In this review, recent progress in deciphering pathways of immunopathogenesis in SIV-infected NHP is discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS

The immense diversity of mutations in SIV stocks prepared at different laboratories has recently been realized. The massive expansion of the enteric virome is a key finding in SIV-induced immunopathogenesis. Defining the function of host restriction factors, like the recently discovered SAMHD1, helps to evaluate the impact of the innate immune responses on virus replication. Utilization of pyrosequencing and defining molecular mechanisms of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I restriction helps to understand how the virus evades CD8 T-cell responses. The definition of MHC class I molecules in different NHP species provides new animal models to study SIV immunopathogenesis. T follicular helper cells have gained major interest in characterizing humoral immune responses in SIV infection and AIDS vaccine strategies. The ability of natural hosts to remain disease-free despite ongoing replication of SIV is continuing to puzzle the field.

SUMMARY

The HIV research field continues to realize the immense complexity of the host virus interaction. NHP present an invaluable tool to make progress towards an effective AIDS vaccine.