Antigenic variation within the CD4 binding site of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120: effects on chemokine receptor utilization

Focusing the immune response on the V3 loop, a neutralizing epitope of the HIV-1 gp120 envelope

Rabbits were immunized with a novel regimen designed to focus the immune response on a single neutralizing epitope of HIV-1 gp120 and thereby preferentially induce neutralizing antibodies (Abs). Animals were primed with gp120 DNA from a clade A Env bearing the GPGR V3 motif and/or a clade C Env bearing the GPGQ V3 motif, and boosted with one or more fusion proteins containing V3 sequences from clades A, B and/or C. Immune sera neutralized three of four Tier 1 primary isolates, including strains heterologous to the immunizing strains, and potent cross-clade-neutralizing activity was demonstrated against V3 chimeric pseudoviruses carrying in a Tier 1 Env, the consensus V3 sequences from clades A1, AG, B, AE, or F. The broadest and most potent neutralizing responses were elicited with the clade C gp120 DNA and a combination of V3-fusion proteins from clades A, B and C. Neutralizing activity was primarily due to V3-specific Abs. The results demonstrate that the immune response can be focused on a neutralizing epitope and show that the anti-V3 Abs induced recognize a diverse set of V3 loops.

Hepatitis C virus continuously escapes from neutralizing antibody and T-cell responses during chronic infection in vivo

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and multispecific T-cell responses are generated during chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and yet fail to clear the virus. This study investigated the development of autologous nAb and HCV-glycoprotein-specific T-cell responses and their effects on viral sequence evolution during chronic infection in order to understand the reasons for their lack of effectiveness.

METHODS

Numerous E1E2 sequences were amplified and sequenced from serum samples collected over a 26-year period from patient H, a uniquely well-characterized, chronically infected individual. HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp) expressing the patient-derived glycoproteins were generated and tested for their sensitivity to neutralization by autologous and heterologous serum antibodies.

RESULTS

A strain-specific nAb response developed early in infection (8 weeks postinfection), whereas cross-reactive antibodies able to neutralize HCVpp-bearing heterologous glycoproteins developed late in infection (>33 wk postinfection). The humoral response continuously failed to neutralize viruses bearing autologous glycoprotein sequences that were present in the serum at a given time. The amplified glycoprotein sequences displayed high variability, particularly in regions corresponding to defined linear B-cell epitopes. Mutations in defined neutralizing epitopes were associated with a loss of recognition by monoclonal antibodies against these epitopes and with decreased neutralization of corresponding HCVpp. Viral escape from CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses also was shown for several novel epitopes throughout the glycoprotein region.

CONCLUSIONS

During chronic infection HCV is subjected to selection pressures from both humoral and cellular immunity, resulting in the continuous generation of escape variants.

Diverse hepatitis C virus glycoproteins mediate viral infection in a CD81-dependent manner

We recently reported that retroviral pseudotypes bearing the hepatitis C virus (HCV) strain H and Con1 glycoproteins, genotype 1a and 1b, respectively, require CD81 as a coreceptor for virus-cell entry and infection. Soluble truncated E2 cloned from a number of diverse HCV genotypes fail to interact with CD81, suggesting that viruses of diverse origin may utilize different receptors and display altered cell tropism. We have used the pseudotyping system to study the tropism of viruses bearing diverse HCV glycoproteins. Viruses bearing these glycoproteins showed a 150-fold range in infectivity for hepatoma cells and failed to infect lymphoid cells. The level of glycoprotein incorporation into particles varied considerably between strains, generally reflecting the E2 expression level within transfected cells. However, differences in glycoprotein incorporation were not associated with virus infectivity, suggesting that infectivity is not limited by the absolute level of glycoprotein. All HCV pseudotypes failed to infect HepG2 cells and yet infected the same cells after transduction to express human CD81, confirming the critical role of CD81 in HCV infection. Interestingly, these HCV pseudotypes differed in their ability to infect HepG2 cells expressing a panel of CD81 variants, suggesting subtle differences in the interaction of CD81 residues with diverse viral glycoproteins. Our current model of HCV infection suggests that CD81, together with additional unknown liver specific receptor(s), mediate the virus-cell entry process.

Expansion of quasispecies diversity but no evidence for adaptive evolution of SHIV during rapid serial transfers among seronegative macaques

Four successive, rapid serial passages of the nonpathogenic, CCR5-tropic simian-human immunodeficiency virus SHIV(SF162) in rhesus macaques resulted in an increase in acute plasma viremia with each passage and the emergence of a pathogenic isolate SHIV(SF162P3) in one of the passage three transfer animals (macaque T353). To explore the mechanism(s) underlying increased virulence of SHIV(SF162) upon in vivo passage, the evolution of the HIV-1 envelope gene was characterized in plasma and PBMC samples obtained from animals before (week 1) and after (week 3) the time of virus transfer. We found no evidence in support of adaptive evolution of the HIV gp120 during rapid serial passage; however, the animals which later received passage virus had more diverse quasispecies. SHIV(SF162P3)-like gp120 sequences were first detected in macaque T353 at week 6, after seroconversion. These sequence changes increased in frequency and number at later time points. The first sequence change conferred neutralization escape but not an increase in viral infectivity that could account for the apparent increase in replicative capacity of the later passage viruses. Collectively, our data argue against any host-specific adaptation of the HIV-1 envelope gp120 as the basis for the generation of more aggressive SHIV variants during rapid serial transfers in seronegative macaques, and support the model of quasispecies diversity as a predictor of pathogenesis. Envelope sequence changes accumulate principally in response to immune pressure exerted by the host, generating viral variants that can persist in the presence of a strong host immune response.

Disease progression in heterosexual patients infected with closely related subtype B strains of HIV type 1 with differing coreceptor usage properties

Previously we described a heterosexual outbreak of HIV-1 subtype B in a town in the north of England (Doncaster) where 11 of 13 infections were shown to be linked by phylogenetic analysis of the env gp120 region. The 11 infections were related to a putative index case, Don1, and further divided into two groups based on the patients' disease status, their viral sequences, and other epidemiological information. Here we describe two further findings. First, we found that viral isolates and gp120 recombinant viruses derived from patients from one group used the CCR5 coreceptor, whereas viruses from the other group could use both the CCR5 and CXCR4 coreceptors. Patients with the X4/R5 dual tropic strains were symptomatic when diagnosed and progressed rapidly, in contrast to the other patient group that has remained asymptomatic, implying a link between the tropism of the strains and disease outcome. Second, we present additional sequence data derived from the index case, demonstrating the presence of sequences from both clades, with an average interclade distance of 9.56%, providing direct evidence of a genetic link between these two groups. This new study shows that Don1 harbored both strains, implying he was either dually infected or that over time intrahost diversification from the R5 to R5/X4 phenotype occurred. These events may account for/have led to the spread of two genetically related strains with different pathogenic properties within the same heterosexual community.

Intrapatient alterations in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 V1V2 and V3 regions differentially modulate coreceptor usage, virus inhibition by CC/CXC chemokines, soluble CD4, and the b12 and 2G12 monoclonal antibodies

We studied human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) chimeric viruses altering in their gp120 V1V2 and V3 envelope regions to better map which genetic alterations are associated with specific virus phenotypes associated with HIV-1 disease progression. The V1V2 and V3 regions studied were based on viruses isolated from an individual with progressing HIV-1 disease. Higher V3 charges were linked with CXCR4 usage, but only when considered within a specific V1V2 and V3 N-linked glycosylation context. When the virus gained R5X4 dual tropism, irrespective of its V3 charge, it became highly resistant to inhibition by RANTES and highly sensitive to inhibition by SDF-1alpha. R5 viruses with higher positive V3 charges were more sensitive to inhibition by RANTES, while R5X4 dualtropic viruses with higher positive V3 charges were more resistant to inhibition by SDF-1alpha. Loss of the V3 N-linked glycosylation event rendered the virus more resistant to inhibition by SDF-1alpha. The same alterations in the V1V2 and V3 regions influenced the extent to which the viruses were neutralized with soluble CD4, as well as monoclonal antibodies b12 and 2G12, but not monoclonal antibody 2F5. These results further identify a complex set of alterations within the V1V2 and V3 regions of HIV-1 that can be selected in the host via alterations of coreceptor usage, CC/CXC chemokine inhibition, CD4 binding, and antibody neutralization.

Origin of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 quasispecies emerging after antiretroviral treatment interruption in patients with therapeutic failure

The emergence of antiretroviral (ARV) drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) quasispecies is a major cause of treatment failure. These variants are usually replaced by drug-sensitive ones when the selective pressure of the drugs is removed, as the former have reduced fitness in a drug-free environment. This was the rationale for the design of structured ARV treatment interruption (STI) studies for the management of HIV-1 patients with treatment failure. We have studied the origin of drug-sensitive HIV-1 quasispecies emerging after STI in patients with treatment failure due to ARV drug resistance. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were obtained the day of treatment interruption (day 0) and 30 and 60 days afterwards. HIV-1 pol and env were partially amplified, cloned, and sequenced. At day 60 drug-resistant variants were replaced by completely or partially sensitive quasispecies. Phylogenetic analyses of pol revealed that drug-sensitive variants emerging after STI were not related to their immediate temporal ancestors but formed a separate cluster, demonstrating that STI leads to the recrudescence and reemergence of a sequestrated viral population rather than leading to the back mutation of drug-resistant forms. No evidence for concomitant changes in viral tropism was seen, as deduced from env sequences. This study demonstrates the important role that the reemergence of quasispecies plays in HIV-1 population dynamics and points out the difficulties that may be found when recycling ARV therapies with patients with treatment failure.