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Sánchez-Martínez A, Giraldo Hoyos S, Alzate-Ángel JC, Guzmán F, Roman T, Velilla PA, Acevedo-Sáenz L. CD8 +T-cell response to mutated HLA-B*35-restricted Gag HY9 and HA9 epitopes from HIV-1 variants from Medellin, Colombia. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33143. [PMID: 39027459 PMCID: PMC11254536 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33143] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The HLA-B*35 alleles have been associated with a slow or rapid progression of HIV-1 infection. However, the mechanisms related to HIV-1 progression have yet to be entirely understood. Several reports indicate that the binding affinity between the HLA-I molecule and peptides could be associated with an increased CD8+ T-cell response. Novel HLA-B*35-restricted mutated variants have been described from HSNQVSQNY (HY9) and HPVHAGPIA (HA9) epitopes. Bioinformatic analysis has indicated that these mutated epitopes show low and high binding affinity towards HLA-B*35, respectively. However, the polyfunctionality of CD8+ T-cells stimulated with these mutated and wild-type epitopes has yet to be reported. The results suggest that the low-binding affinity H124 N/S125 N/N126S mutated peptide in the HY9 epitope induced a lower percentage of CD107a+CD8+ T-cells than the wild-type epitope. Instead, the high-binding affinity peptides I223V and I223A in the HA9 epitope induced a significantly higher frequency of polyfunctional CD8+ T-cells. Also, a higher proportion of CD8+ T-cells with two functions, with Granzyme B+ Perforin+ being the predominant profile, was observed after stimulation with mutated peptides associated with high binding affinity in the HA9 epitope. These results suggest that the high-affinity mutated peptides induced a more polyfunctional CD8+ T-cell response, which could be related to the control of viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Sánchez-Martínez
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Udea, Calle 70 No 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Sofía Giraldo Hoyos
- Unidad de Investigación Clínica, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan Carlos Alzate-Ángel
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Udea, Calle 70 No 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
- Unidad de Micología Médica y Experimental, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas – Universidad de Santander (CIB-UDES), Colombia
| | - Fanny Guzmán
- Núcleo de Biotecnología Curauma, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Tanya Roman
- Núcleo de Biotecnología Curauma, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Paula A. Velilla
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Udea, Calle 70 No 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Liliana Acevedo-Sáenz
- Grupo Cuidado Enfermería-CES, Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia
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Dross S, Venkataraman R, Patel S, Huang ML, Bollard CM, Rosati M, Pavlakis GN, Felber BK, Bar KJ, Shaw GM, Jerome KR, Mullins JI, Kiem HP, Fuller DH, Peterson CW. Efficient ex vivo expansion of conserved element vaccine-specific CD8+ T-cells from SHIV-infected, ART-suppressed nonhuman primates. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1188018. [PMID: 37207227 PMCID: PMC10189133 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1188018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-specific T cells are necessary for control of HIV-1 replication but are largely insufficient for viral clearance. This is due in part to these cells' recognition of immunodominant but variable regions of the virus, which facilitates viral escape via mutations that do not incur viral fitness costs. HIV-specific T cells targeting conserved viral elements are associated with viral control but are relatively infrequent in people living with HIV (PLWH). The goal of this study was to increase the number of these cells via an ex vivo cell manufacturing approach derived from our clinically-validated HIV-specific expanded T-cell (HXTC) process. Using a nonhuman primate (NHP) model of HIV infection, we sought to determine i) the feasibility of manufacturing ex vivo-expanded virus-specific T cells targeting viral conserved elements (CE, CE-XTCs), ii) the in vivo safety of these products, and iii) the impact of simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) challenge on their expansion, activity, and function. NHP CE-XTCs expanded up to 10-fold following co-culture with the combination of primary dendritic cells (DCs), PHA blasts pulsed with CE peptides, irradiated GM-K562 feeder cells, and autologous T cells from CE-vaccinated NHP. The resulting CE-XTC products contained high frequencies of CE-specific, polyfunctional T cells. However, consistent with prior studies with human HXTC and these cells' predominant CD8+ effector phenotype, we did not observe significant differences in CE-XTC persistence or SHIV acquisition in two CE-XTC-infused NHP compared to two control NHP. These data support the safety and feasibility of our approach and underscore the need for continued development of CE-XTC and similar cell-based strategies to redirect and increase the potency of cellular virus-specific adaptive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Dross
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Rasika Venkataraman
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shabnum Patel
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children’s National Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Meei-Li Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Catherine M. Bollard
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children’s National Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Margherita Rosati
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - George N. Pavlakis
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Barbara K. Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Katharine J. Bar
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - George M. Shaw
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Keith R. Jerome
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Division of Vaccine and Infectious Diseases, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - James I. Mullins
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Hans-Peter Kiem
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Deborah Heydenburg Fuller
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Christopher W. Peterson
- Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Yavuz A, Coiffier C, Garapon C, Gurcan S, Monge C, Exposito JY, Arruda DC, Verrier B. DLin-MC3-Containing mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles Induce an Antibody Th2-Biased Immune Response Polarization in a Delivery Route-Dependent Manner in Mice. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15031009. [PMID: 36986871 PMCID: PMC10058601 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15031009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
mRNA-based vaccines have made a leap forward since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and are currently used to develop anti-infectious therapies. If the selection of a delivery system and an optimized mRNA sequence are two key factors to reach in vivo efficacy, the optimal administration route for those vaccines remains unclear. We investigated the influence of lipid components and immunization route regarding the intensity and quality of humoral immune responses in mice. The immunogenicity of HIV-p55Gag encoded mRNA encapsulated into D-Lin-MC3-DMA or GenVoy-ionizable lipid-based LNPs was compared after intramuscular or subcutaneous routes. Three sequential mRNA vaccines were administrated followed by a heterologous boost composed of p24-HIV protein antigen. Despite equivalent IgG kinetic profiles of general humoral responses, IgG1/IgG2a ratio analysis showed a Th2/Th1 balance toward a Th1-biased cellular immune response when both LNPs were administrated via the intramuscular route. Surprisingly, a Th2-biased antibody immunity was observed when DLin-containing vaccine was injected subcutaneously. A protein-based vaccine boost appeared to reverse this balance to a cellular-biased response correlated to an increase in antibody avidity. Our finding suggests that the intrinsic adjuvant effect of ionizable lipids appears to be dependent on the delivery route used, which could be relevant to reach potent and long-lasting immunity after mRNA-based immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altan Yavuz
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, UMR 5305, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 7 Passage du Vercors, CEDEX 07, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Céline Coiffier
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, UMR 5305, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 7 Passage du Vercors, CEDEX 07, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Cynthia Garapon
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, UMR 5305, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 7 Passage du Vercors, CEDEX 07, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Serra Gurcan
- Precision NanoSystems Inc., 655 West Kent Avenue North Unit 50, Vancouver, BC V6P 6T7, Canada
| | - Claire Monge
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, UMR 5305, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 7 Passage du Vercors, CEDEX 07, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Jean-Yves Exposito
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, UMR 5305, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 7 Passage du Vercors, CEDEX 07, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Danielle Campiol Arruda
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, UMR 5305, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 7 Passage du Vercors, CEDEX 07, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Bernard Verrier
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et d'Ingénierie Thérapeutique, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, UMR 5305, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 7 Passage du Vercors, CEDEX 07, 69367 Lyon, France
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4
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Harwood OE, Balgeman AJ, Weaver AJ, Ellis-Connell AL, Weiler AM, Erickson KN, Matschke LM, Golfinos AE, Vezys V, Skinner PJ, Safrit JT, Edlefsen PT, Reynolds MR, Friedrich TC, O’Connor SL. Transient T Cell Expansion, Activation, and Proliferation in Therapeutically Vaccinated Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Macaques Treated with N-803. J Virol 2022; 96:e0142422. [PMID: 36377872 PMCID: PMC9749465 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01424-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccine strategies aimed at eliciting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific CD8+ T cells are one major target of interest in HIV functional cure strategies. We hypothesized that CD8+ T cells elicited by therapeutic vaccination during antiretroviral therapy (ART) would be recalled and boosted by treatment with the interleukin 15 (IL-15) superagonist N-803 after ART discontinuation. We intravenously immunized four simian immunodeficiency virus-positive (SIV+) Mauritian cynomolgus macaques receiving ART with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), modified vaccinia virus Ankara strain (MVA), and recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd-5) vectors all expressing SIVmac239 Gag. Immediately after ART cessation, these animals received three doses of N-803. Four control animals received no vaccines or N-803. The vaccine regimen generated a high-magnitude response involving Gag-specific CD8+ T cells that were proliferative and biased toward an effector memory phenotype. We then compared cells elicited by vaccination (Gag specific) to cells elicited by SIV infection and unaffected by vaccination (Nef specific). We found that N-803 treatment enhanced the frequencies of both bulk and proliferating antigen-specific CD8+ T cells elicited by vaccination and the antigen-specific CD8+ T cells elicited by SIV infection. In sum, we demonstrate that a therapeutic heterologous prime-boost-boost (HPBB) vaccine can elicit antigen-specific effector memory CD8+ T cells that are boosted by N-803. IMPORTANCE While antiretroviral therapy (ART) can suppress HIV replication, it is not a cure. It is therefore essential to develop therapeutic strategies to enhance the immune system to better become activated and recognize virus-infected cells. Here, we evaluated a novel therapeutic vaccination strategy delivered to SIV+ Mauritian cynomolgus macaques receiving ART. ART was then discontinued and we delivered an immunotherapeutic agent (N-803) after ART withdrawal with the goal of eliciting and boosting anti-SIV cellular immunity. Immunologic and virologic analysis of peripheral blood and lymph nodes collected from these animals revealed transient boosts in the frequency, activation, proliferation, and memory phenotype of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells following each intervention. Overall, these results are important in educating the field of the transient nature of the immunological responses to this particular therapeutic regimen and the similar effects of N-803 on boosting T cells elicited by vaccination or elicited naturally by infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia E. Harwood
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Alexis J. Balgeman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Abigail J. Weaver
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Amy L. Ellis-Connell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrea M. Weiler
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Lea M. Matschke
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Athena E. Golfinos
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Vaiva Vezys
- Center for Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Pamela J. Skinner
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Paul T. Edlefsen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Matthew R. Reynolds
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Thomas C. Friedrich
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Shelby L. O’Connor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Immunological studies of spontaneous HIV and simian virus (SIV) controllers have identified virus-specific CD8 + T cells as a key immune mechanism of viral control. The purpose of this review is to consider how knowledge about the mechanisms that are associated with CD8 + T cell control of HIV/SIV in natural infection can be harnessed in HIV remission strategies. RECENT FINDINGS We discuss characteristics of CD8 + T-cell responses that may be critical for suppressing HIV replication in spontaneous controllers comprising HIV antigen recognition including specific human leukocyte antigen types, broadly cross-reactive T cell receptors and epitope targeting, enhanced expansion and antiviral functions, and localization of virus-specific T cells near sites of reservoir persistence. We also discuss the need to better understand the timing of CD8 + T-cell responses associated with viral control of HIV/SIV during acute infection and after treatment interruption as well as the mechanisms by which HIV/SIV-specific CD8 + T cells coordinate with other immune responses to achieve control. SUMMARY We propose implications as to how this knowledge from natural infection can be applied in the design and evaluation of CD8 + T-cell-based remission strategies and offer questions to consider as these strategies target distinct CD8 + T-cell-dependent mechanisms of viral control.
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T-Cell Receptor Repertoire Sequencing and Its Applications: Focus on Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158590. [PMID: 35955721 PMCID: PMC9369427 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system is a dynamic feature of each individual and a footprint of our unique internal and external exposures. Indeed, the type and level of exposure to physical and biological agents shape the development and behavior of this complex and diffuse system. Many pathological conditions depend on how our immune system responds or does not respond to a pathogen or a disease or on how the regulation of immunity is altered by the disease itself. T-cells are important players in adaptive immunity and, together with B-cells, define specificity and monitor the internal and external signals that our organism perceives through its specific receptors, TCRs and BCRs, respectively. Today, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) applied to the TCR repertoire has opened a window of opportunity to disclose T-cell repertoire development and behavior down to the clonal level. Although TCR repertoire sequencing is easily accessible today, it is important to deeply understand the available technologies for choosing the best fit for the specific experimental needs and questions. Here, we provide an updated overview of TCR repertoire sequencing strategies, providers and applications to infectious diseases and cancer to guide researchers’ choice through the multitude of available options. The possibility of extending the TCR repertoire to HLA characterization will be of pivotal importance in the near future to understand how specific HLA genes shape T-cell responses in different pathological contexts and will add a level of comprehension that was unthinkable just a few years ago.
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Larijani MS, Pouriayevali MH, Sadat SM, Ramezani A. Production of Recombinant HIV-1 p24-Nef Protein in Two Forms as Potential Candidate Vaccines in Three Vehicles. Curr Drug Deliv 2021; 17:387-395. [PMID: 32183667 DOI: 10.2174/1567201817666200317121728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Different approaches have been investigated to develop a preventive or therapeutic vaccine, although none of them has been fully practical. Therapeutic vaccines against HIV-1 have been studied with the aim of eliminating the virus from reservoir cells with or without HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy). Fusion proteins with the most immunogenic features among conserved regions can facilitate this achievement in such a variable virus. To achieve the most immunogenic and also conserved regions, bioinformatics tools are widely used to predict antigens' features before applying them. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at the in vitro evaluation of p24 -Nef fusion protein based on the previous in silico design to achieve a potential therapeutic subunit vaccine against HIV-1. METHODS The truncated form of p24-Nef using AAY flexible linker and the full protein were expressed and evaluated in the prokaryotic system and confirmed by western blotting. We also used pcDNA3.1 to transfect Lenti-X 293T cells. Moreover, lentiviral vectors were applied to produce recombinant virions harboring the genes of interest and cell transduction. RESULTS Both fusion proteins in a truncated and a full form were expressed and confirmed by Anti Nef polyclonal antibody in western blotting. Recombinant virions were generated and transduced Lenti-X 293T cells confirming by immunofluorescence microscope and p24 ELISA assay kit. Transduced cells were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting, which resulted in approved protein expression. CONCLUSION Fusion protein of p24 and Nef is well expressed in eukaryotic cell lines according to its pre-evaluated features by bioinformatics tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Sadat Larijani
- Department of Hepatitis, AIDS and Blood Borne Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hassan Pouriayevali
- Department of Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (National Ref Lab), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mehdi Sadat
- Department of Hepatitis, AIDS and Blood Borne Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amitis Ramezani
- Department of Clinical Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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In chronic infection, HIV gag-specific CD4+ T cell receptor diversity is higher than CD8+ T cell receptor diversity and is associated with less HIV quasispecies diversity. J Virol 2021; 95:JVI.02380-20. [PMID: 33536169 PMCID: PMC8103689 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02380-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular immune responses to Gag correlate with improved HIV viral control. The full extent of cellular immune responses comprise both the number of epitopes recognized by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as well as the diversity of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire directed against each epitope. The optimal diversity of the responsive TCR repertoire is unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the TCR diversity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells responding to HIV-1 Gag to determine if TCR diversity correlates with clinical or virologic metrics. Previous studies of TCR repertoires have been limited primarily to CD8+ T cell responses directed against a small number of well-characterized T cell epitopes restricted by specific human leucocyte antigens. We stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 21chronic HIV-infected individuals overnight with a pool of HIV-1 Gag peptides, followed by sorting of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and TCR deep sequencing. We found Gag-reactive CD8+ T cells to be more oligoclonal, with a few dominant TCRs comprising the bulk of the repertoire, compared to the highly diverse TCR repertoires of Gag-reactive CD4+ T cells. HIV viral sequencing of the same donors revealed that high CD4+ T cell TCR diversity was strongly associated with lower HIV Gag genetic diversity. We conclude that the TCR repertoire of Gag-reactive CD4+ T helper cells display substantial diversity without a clearly dominant circulating TCR clonotype, in contrast to a hierarchy of dominant TCR clonotypes in the Gag-reactive CD8+ T cells, and may serve to limit HIV diversity during chronic infection.IMPORTANCE Human T cells recognize portions of viral proteins bound to host molecules (human leucocyte antigens) on the surface of infected cells. T cells recognize these foreign proteins through their T cell receptors (TCRs), which are formed by the assortment of several available V, D and J genes to create millions of combinations of unique TCRs. We measured the diversity of T cells responding to the HIV Gag protein. We found the CD8+ T cell response is primarily made up of a few dominant unique TCRs whereas the CD4+ T cell subset has a much more diverse repertoire of TCRs. We also found there was less change in the virus sequences in subjects with more diverse TCR repertoires. HIV has a high mutation rate, which allows it to evade the immune response. Our findings describe the characteristics of a virus-specific T cell response that may allow it to limit viral evolution.
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Wilson EA, Hirneise G, Singharoy A, Anderson KS. Total predicted MHC-I epitope load is inversely associated with population mortality from SARS-CoV-2. Cell Rep Med 2021; 2:100221. [PMID: 33649748 PMCID: PMC7904449 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Polymorphisms in MHC-I protein sequences across human populations significantly affect viral peptide binding capacity, and thus alter T cell immunity to infection. In the present study, we assess the relationship between observed SARS-CoV-2 population mortality and the predicted viral binding capacities of 52 common MHC-I alleles. Potential SARS-CoV-2 MHC-I peptides are identified using a consensus MHC-I binding and presentation prediction algorithm called EnsembleMHC. Starting with nearly 3.5 million candidates, we resolve a few hundred highly probable MHC-I peptides. By weighing individual MHC allele-specific SARS-CoV-2 binding capacity with population frequency in 23 countries, we discover a strong inverse correlation between predicted population SARS-CoV-2 peptide binding capacity and mortality rate. Our computations reveal that peptides derived from the structural proteins of the virus produce a stronger association with observed mortality rate, highlighting the importance of S, N, M, and E proteins in driving productive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A. Wilson
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Gabrielle Hirneise
- Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Abhishek Singharoy
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Karen S. Anderson
- Biodesign Institute, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
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Wang Y, Zhang Y, Tang T, Zhao W, Fu S, Zhang Z, Fu Y, Xu J, Ding H, Han X, Jiang Y. Natural killer cell counts in primary HIV infection predicts disease progression and immune restoration after treatment. Virology 2020; 550:89-98. [PMID: 32920454 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2020.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between NK cell counts during primary infection and disease progression or immune restoration after antiretroviral treatment (ART) was explored. We followed 462 individuals with HIV infection and measured their NK, CD4+ T, CD8+ T cell counts and viral loads. Our data showed that individuals with high NK cell counts had much lower viral loads and higher CD4+ T cell counts. NK cell counts during primary infection were negatively correlated with viral set-point and viral loads at one-year-infection point, and positively correlated with CD4+ T cell counts at one-year-infection and one-year-ART point. Moreover, the NK cell counts during primary infection can predict HIV disease progression and immune restoration after ART. In conclusion, NK cell counts during primary infection represents a potential predictive biomarker to predict HIV disease prognosis in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Yufei Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Tian Tang
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Wen Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Shuai Fu
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Zining Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Yajing Fu
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Junjie Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Haibo Ding
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Xiaoxu Han
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Yongjun Jiang
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology (China Medical University), Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of Liaoning Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China; Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, 110001, China.
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11
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Pasternak AO, Grijsen ML, Wit FW, Bakker M, Jurriaans S, Prins JM, Berkhout B. Cell-associated HIV-1 RNA predicts viral rebound and disease progression after discontinuation of temporary early ART. JCI Insight 2020; 5:134196. [PMID: 32097124 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.134196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasma viral load (VL) and CD4+ T cell count are widely used as biomarkers of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) replication, pathogenesis, and response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, the clinical potential of cell-associated (CA) HIV-1 molecular markers is much less understood. Here, we measured CA HIV-1 RNA and DNA in HIV-infected individuals treated with temporary ART initiated during primary HIV-1 infection. We demonstrate substantial predictive value of CA RNA for (a) the virological and immunological response to early ART, (b) the magnitude and time to viral rebound after discontinuation of early ART, and (c) disease progression in the absence of treatment. Remarkably, when adjusted for CA RNA, plasma VL no longer appeared as an independent predictor of any clinical endpoint in this cohort. The potential of CA RNA as an HIV-1 clinical marker, in particular as a predictive biomarker of virological control after stopping ART, should be explored in the context of HIV-1 curative interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marlous L Grijsen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ferdinand W Wit
- Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Global Health program, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,HIV Monitoring Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Margreet Bakker
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, and
| | - Suzanne Jurriaans
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan M Prins
- Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, and
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12
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Bugembe DL, Ekii AO, Ndembi N, Serwanga J, Kaleebu P, Pala P. Computational MHC-I epitope predictor identifies 95% of experimentally mapped HIV-1 clade A and D epitopes in a Ugandan cohort. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:172. [PMID: 32087680 PMCID: PMC7036183 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-4876-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Identifying immunogens that induce HIV-1-specific immune responses is a lengthy process that can benefit from computational methods, which predict T-cell epitopes for various HLA types. Methods We tested the performance of the NetMHCpan4.0 computational neural network in re-identifying 93 T-cell epitopes that had been previously independently mapped using the whole proteome IFN-γ ELISPOT assays in 6 HLA class I typed Ugandan individuals infected with HIV-1 subtypes A1 and D. To provide a benchmark we compared the predictions for NetMHCpan4.0 to MHCflurry1.2.0 and NetCTL1.2. Results NetMHCpan4.0 performed best correctly predicting 88 of the 93 experimentally mapped epitopes for a set length of 9-mer and matched HLA class I alleles. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis gave an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.928. Setting NetMHCpan4.0 to predict 11-14mer length did not improve the prediction (37–79 of 93 peptides) with an inverse correlation between the number of predictions and length set. Late time point peptides were significantly stronger binders than early peptides (Wilcoxon signed rank test: p = 0.0000005). MHCflurry1.2.0 similarly predicted all but 2 of the peptides that NetMHCpan4.0 predicted and NetCTL1.2 predicted only 14 of the 93 experimental peptides. Conclusion NetMHCpan4.0 class I epitope predictions covered 95% of the epitope responses identified in six HIV-1 infected individuals, and would have reduced the number of experimental confirmatory tests by > 80%. Algorithmic epitope prediction in conjunction with HLA allele frequency information can cost-effectively assist immunogen design through minimizing the experimental effort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lule Bugembe
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, P. O. Box 49, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda.
| | - Andrew Obuku Ekii
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, P. O. Box 49, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Jennifer Serwanga
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, P. O. Box 49, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda.,Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Pontiano Kaleebu
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, P. O. Box 49, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda.,Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Pietro Pala
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, P. O. Box 49, Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe, Uganda
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13
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Larijani MS, Sadat SM, Bolhassani A, Pouriayevali MH, Bahramali G, Ramezani A. In Silico Design and Immunologic Evaluation of HIV-1 p24-Nef Fusion Protein to Approach a Therapeutic Vaccine Candidate. Curr HIV Res 2019; 16:322-337. [PMID: 30605062 PMCID: PMC6446525 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x17666190102151717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Background: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has been a major glob-al health concern for over 38 years. No safe and effective preventive or therapeutic vaccine has been developed although many products have been investigated. Computational methods have facilitated vaccine developments in recent decades. Among HIV-1 proteins, p24 and Nef are two suitable targets to provoke the cellular immune response. However, the fusion form of these two proteins has not been analyzed in silico yet. Objective: This study aimed at the evaluation of possible fusion forms of p24 and Nef in order to achieve a potential therapeutic subunit vaccine against HIV-1. Method: In this study, various computational approaches have been applied to predict the most effec-tive fusion form of p24-Nef including CTL (Cytotoxic T lymphocytes) response, immunogenicity, conservation and population coverage. Moreover, binding to MHC (Major histocompatibility com-plex) molecules was assessed in both human and BALB/c. Results: After analyzing six possible fusion protein forms using AAY linker, we came up with the most practical form of p24 from 80 to 231 and Nef from 120 to 150 regions (according to their refer-ence sequence of HXB2 strain) using an AAY linker, based on their peptides affinity to MHC mole-cules which are located in a conserved region among different virus clades. The selected fusion protein contains seventeen MHC I antigenic epitopes, among them KRWIILGLN, YKRWIILGL, DIAG-TTSTL and FPDWQNYTP are fully conserved between the virus clades. Furthermore, analyzed class I CTL epitopes showed greater affinity binding to HLA-B 57*01, HLA-B*51:01 and HLA-B 27*02 molecules. The population coverage with the rate of >70% coverage in the Persian population supports this truncated form as an appropriate candidate against HIV-I virus. Conclusion: The predicted fusion protein, p24-AAY-Nef in a truncated form with a high rate of T cell epitopes and high conservancy rate among different clades, provides a helpful model for developing a therapeutic vaccine candidate against HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Sadat Larijani
- Hepatitis, AIDS and Bloodborne Diseases Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mehdi Sadat
- Hepatitis, AIDS and Bloodborne Diseases Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azam Bolhassani
- Hepatitis, AIDS and Bloodborne Diseases Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hassan Pouriayevali
- Department of Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (National Ref Lab), Pasteur Institute of Iran (IPI) Tehran, Iran
| | - Golnaz Bahramali
- Hepatitis, AIDS and Bloodborne Diseases Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amitis Ramezani
- Hepatitis, AIDS and Bloodborne Diseases Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Yang Y, Ganusov VV. Defining Kinetic Properties of HIV-Specific CD8⁺ T-Cell Responses in Acute Infection. Microorganisms 2019; 7:E69. [PMID: 30836625 PMCID: PMC6462943 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7030069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence indicate that CD8 + T cells are important in the control of HIV-1 (HIV) replication. However, CD8 + T cells induced by natural infection cannot eliminate the virus or reduce viral loads to acceptably low levels in most infected individuals. Understanding the basic quantitative features of CD8 + T-cell responses induced during HIV infection may therefore inform us about the limits that HIV vaccines, which aim to induce protective CD8 + T-cell responses, must exceed. Using previously published experimental data from a cohort of HIV-infected individuals with sampling times from acute to chronic infection we defined the quantitative properties of CD8 + T-cell responses to the whole HIV proteome. In contrast with a commonly held view, we found that the relative number of HIV-specific CD8 + T-cell responses (response breadth) changed little over the course of infection (first 400 days post-infection), with moderate but statistically significant changes occurring only during the first 35 symptomatic days. This challenges the idea that a change in the T-cell response breadth over time is responsible for the slow speed of viral escape from CD8 + T cells in the chronic infection. The breadth of HIV-specific CD8 + T-cell responses was not correlated with the average viral load for our small cohort of patients. Metrics of relative immunodominance of HIV-specific CD8 + T-cell responses such as Shannon entropy or the Evenness index were also not significantly correlated with the average viral load. Our mathematical-model-driven analysis suggested extremely slow expansion kinetics for the majority of HIV-specific CD8 + T-cell responses and the presence of intra- and interclonal competition between multiple CD8 + T-cell responses; such competition may limit the magnitude of CD8 + T-cell responses, specific to different epitopes, and the overall number of T-cell responses induced by vaccination. Further understanding of mechanisms underlying interactions between the virus and virus-specific CD8 + T-cell response will be instrumental in determining which T-cell-based vaccines will induce T-cell responses providing durable protection against HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiding Yang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
| | - Vitaly V Ganusov
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
- National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
- Department of Mathematics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
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15
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Tumiotto C, Alves BM, Recordon-Pinson P, Jourdain M, Bellecave P, Guidicelli GL, Visentin J, Bonnet F, Hessamfar M, Neau D, Sanchez J, Brander C, Sajadi M, Eyzaguirre L, Soares EA, Routy JP, Soares MA, Fleury H. Provir/Latitude 45 study: A step towards a multi-epitopic CTL vaccine designed on archived HIV-1 DNA and according to dominant HLA I alleles. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212347. [PMID: 30811489 PMCID: PMC6392325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the approaches by which the scientific community is seeking to cure HIV is the use of therapeutic vaccination. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of the virus-specific CD8+ T cell cytotoxic responses for the immune control of HIV and have oriented research on vaccine constructs based on CTL epitopes from circulating HIV-1 strains. The clinical trials with therapeutic vaccines to date have had limited success likely due to (i) a discrepancy between archived CTL epitopes in the viral reservoir and those in circulating viruses before antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and (ii) the lack of strong affinity between the selected CTL epitopes and the HLA grooves for presentation to CD8+ cells. To overcome these limitations, we launched the Provir/Latitude 45 study to identify conserved CTL epitopes in archived HIV-1 DNA according to the HLA class I alleles of aviremic patients, most of whom are under ART. The near full-length genomes or Gag, Pol and Nef regions of proviral DNA were sequenced by Sanger and/or Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). The HLA-A and B alleles were defined by NGS or molecular analysis. The TuTuGenetics software, which moves a sliding window of 8 to 10 amino acids through the amino acid alignment, was combined with the Immune Epitope Data Base (IEDB) to automatically calculate the theoretical binding affinity of identified epitopes to the HLA alleles for each individual. We identified 15 conserved epitopes in Pol (11), Gag (3), and Nef (1) according to their potential presentation by the dominant HLA-A and B alleles and now propose to use the corresponding conserved peptides in a multi-epitopic vaccine (HLA-fitted VAC, HFVAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Tumiotto
- University Hospital of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | | | | | - Marine Jourdain
- University Hospital of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | | | | | | | - Fabrice Bonnet
- University Hospital of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | - Mojdan Hessamfar
- University Hospital of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | - Didier Neau
- University Hospital of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jorge Sanchez
- Centro de Investigationes Technologicas, Biomedicas y Madioambiantales, Lima, Peru
| | - Christian Brander
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, Spain
- Central University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mohammad Sajadi
- Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | - Hervé Fleury
- University Hospital of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
- * E-mail:
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16
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HIV-1 capsids from B27/B57+ elite controllers escape Mx2 but are targeted by TRIM5α, leading to the induction of an antiviral state. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007398. [PMID: 30419009 PMCID: PMC6258467 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Elite controllers (ECs) are a rare subset of HIV-1 slow progressors characterized by prolonged viremia suppression. HLA alleles B27 and B57 promote the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated depletion of infected cells in ECs, leading to the emergence of escape mutations in the viral capsid (CA). Whether those mutations modulate CA detection by innate sensors and effectors is poorly known. Here, we investigated the targeting of CA from B27/B57+ individuals by cytosolic antiviral factors Mx2 and TRIM5α. Toward that aim, we constructed chimeric HIV-1 vectors using CA isolated from B27/B57+ or control subjects. HIV-1 vectors containing B27/B57+-specific CA had increased sensitivity to TRIM5α but not to Mx2. Following exposure to those vectors, cells showed increased resistance against both TRIM5α-sensitive and -insensitive HIV-1 strains. Induction of the antiviral state did not require productive infection by the TRIM5α-sensitive virus, as shown using chemically inactivated virions. Depletion experiments revealed that TAK1 and Ubc13 were essential to the TRIM5α-dependent antiviral state. Accordingly, induction of the antiviral state was accompanied by the activation of NF-κB and AP-1 in THP-1 cells. Secretion of IFN-I was involved in the antiviral state in THP-1 cells, as shown using a receptor blocking antibody. This work identifies innate activation pathways that are likely to play a role in the natural resistance to HIV-1 progression in ECs. Some HIV-1-infected individuals show a natural capacity to control viral propagation. In individuals that have the HLA B27 or B57 allele, HIV-1 control is associated with mutations in viral proteins that arise as a result of immune pressure from cytotoxic T lymphocytes. HIV-1 capsid protein mutations found in these subjects render HIV-1 more sensitive to detection by TRIM5α, a cytoplasmic innate effector that targets retroviral capsids. We show here that HIV-1 bearing such mutations is restricted by TRIM5α but not by Mx2, another capsid-targeting innate effector. As a result, cells have decreased permissiveness to subsequent HIV-1 infections, a phenomenon that could contribute to the inefficient disease progression observed in these individuals. This knowledge might find applications in the development of immune interventions to increase human cells resistance to HIV-1.
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17
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Moyo N, Vogel AB, Buus S, Erbar S, Wee EG, Sahin U, Hanke T. Efficient Induction of T Cells against Conserved HIV-1 Regions by Mosaic Vaccines Delivered as Self-Amplifying mRNA. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2018; 12:32-46. [PMID: 30547051 PMCID: PMC6258890 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Focusing T cell responses on the most vulnerable parts of HIV-1, the functionally conserved regions of HIV-1 proteins, is likely a key prerequisite for vaccine success. For a T cell vaccine to efficiently control HIV-1 replication, the vaccine-elicited individual CD8+ T cells and as a population have to display a number of critical traits. If any one of these traits is suboptimal, the vaccine is likely to fail. Fine-tuning of individual protective characteristics of T cells will require iterative stepwise improvements in clinical trials. Although the second-generation tHIVconsvX immunogens direct CD8+ T cells to predominantly protective and conserved epitopes, in the present work, we have used formulated self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) to deliver tHIVconsvX to the immune system. We demonstrated in BALB/c and outbred mice that regimens employing saRNA vaccines induced broadly specific, plurifunctional CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, which displayed structured memory subpopulations and were maintained at relatively high frequencies over at least 22 weeks post-administration. This is one of the first thorough analyses of mRNA vaccine-elicited T cell responses. The combination of tHIVconsvX immunogens and the highly versatile and easily manufacturable saRNA platform may provide a long-awaited opportunity to define and optimize induction of truly protective CD8+ T cell parameters in human volunteers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathifa Moyo
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Annette B Vogel
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Søren Buus
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Stephanie Erbar
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Edmund G Wee
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Ugur Sahin
- Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Tomáš Hanke
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK.,International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
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18
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Overcoming immunogenicity issues of HIV p24 antigen by the use of innovative nanostructured lipid carriers as delivery systems: evidences in mice and non-human primates. NPJ Vaccines 2018; 3:46. [PMID: 30302284 PMCID: PMC6167354 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-018-0086-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV is one of the deadliest pandemics of modern times, having already caused 35 million deaths around the world. Despite the huge efforts spent to develop treatments, the virus cannot yet be eradicated and continues to infect new people. Spread of the virus remains uncontrolled, thus exposing the worldwide population to HIV danger, due to the lack of efficient vaccines. The latest clinical trials describe the challenges associated with developing an effective prophylactic HIV vaccine. These immunological obstacles will only be overcome by smart and innovative solutions applied to the design of vaccine formulations. Here, we describe the use of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for the delivery of p24 protein as a model HIV antigen, with the aim of increasing its immunogenicity. We have designed vaccine formulations comprising NLC grafted with p24 antigen, together with cationic NLC optimized for the delivery of immunostimulant CpG. This tailored system significantly enhanced immune responses against p24, in terms of specific antibody production and T-cell activation in mice. More importantly, the capacity of NLC to induce specific immune responses against this troublesome HIV antigen was further supported by a 7-month study on non-human primates (NHP). This work paves the way toward the development of a future HIV vaccine, which will also require the use of envelope antigens. To date, HIV vaccines have resulted in poor or absent protection. A team led by Fabrice P. Navarro at the CEA LETI use the conserved HIV capsid protein p24 vectorized into cationic nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC-p24) along with NLC-delivered CpG. Owing to their small size, NLCs gain access to lymph nodes and deliver antigen directly to antigen presenting cells. Anti-p24 responses have been associated with effective HIV control, making them an attractive vaccine antigen, but they are poorly immunogenic. NLC-p24 shows a good safety profile while at the same time being able to elicit robust humoral and cellular immune responses in both mice and Cynomolgus macaques. NLC-mediated delivery of both p24 and CpG results in more effective immune stimulation than delivery of free antigen and adjuvant. These findings demonstrate the possibility of priming effective responses to a potent but otherwise poorly immunogenic HIV antigen.
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19
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Pol-Driven Replicative Capacity Impacts Disease Progression in HIV-1 Subtype C Infection. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.00811-18. [PMID: 29997209 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00811-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cell-mediated escape mutations in Gag can reduce HIV-1 replication capacity (RC) and alter disease progression, but less is known about immune-mediated attenuation in other HIV-1 proteins. We generated 487 recombinant viruses encoding RT-integrase from individuals with chronic (n = 406) and recent (n = 81) HIV-1 subtype C infection and measured their in vitro RC using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter T cell assay. In recently infected individuals, reverse transcriptase (RT)-integrase-driven RC correlated significantly with viral load set point (r = 0.25; P = 0.03) and CD4+ T cell decline (P = 0.013). Moreover, significant associations between RT integrase-driven RC and viral load (r = 0.28; P < 0.0001) and CD4+ T cell count (r = -0.29; P < 0.0001) remained in chronic infection. In early HIV infection, host expression of the protective HLA-B*81 allele was associated with lower RC (P = 0.05), as was expression of HLA-B*07 (P = 0.02), suggesting early immune-driven attenuation of RT-integrase by these alleles. In chronic infection, HLA-A*30:09 (in linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B*81) was significantly associated with lower RC (P = 0.05), and all 6 HLA-B alleles with the lowest RC measurements represented protective alleles, consistent with long-term effects of host immune pressures on lowering RT-integrase RC. The polymorphisms V241I, I257V, P272K, and E297K in reverse transcriptase and I201V in integrase, all relatively uncommon polymorphisms occurring in or adjacent to optimally described HLA-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes, were associated with reduced RC. Together, our data suggest that RT-integrase-driven RC is clinically relevant and provide evidence that immune-driven selection of mutations in RT-integrase can compromise RC.IMPORTANCE Identification of viral mutations that compromise HIV's ability to replicate may aid rational vaccine design. However, while certain escape mutations in Gag have been shown to reduce HIV replication and influence clinical progression, less is known about the consequences of mutations that naturally arise in other HIV proteins. Pol is a highly conserved protein, but the impact of Pol function on HIV disease progression is not well defined. Here, we generated recombinant viruses using the RT-integrase region of Pol derived from HIV-1C-infected individuals with recent and chronic infection and measured their ability to replicate in vitro We demonstrate that RT-integrase-driven replication ability significantly impacts HIV disease progression. We further show evidence of immune-mediated attenuation in RT-integrase and identify specific polymorphisms in RT-integrase that significantly decrease HIV-1 replication ability, suggesting which Pol epitopes could be explored in vaccine development.
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20
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Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Objective: HIV incidence in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, where Indigenous persons make up 80% of those infected, are among the highest on the continent. Reports of accelerated HIV progression, associated with carriage of certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles (including the typically protective HLA-B∗51) have also emerged from the region. Given that acquisition of HIV preadapted to host HLA negatively impacts clinical outcome, we hypothesized that HIV-host adaptation may be elevated in Saskatchewan. Design: Comparative analysis of population-level HIV sequence datasets from Saskatchewan and elsewhere in Canada/USA. Methods: We analyzed 1144 HIV subtype B Pol sequences collected in Saskatchewan between 2000 and 2016, comprising ∼65% of cumulative provincial HIV cases, for the presence of 70 HLA-associated Pol mutations. Sequences from British Columbia (N = 6525) and elsewhere in Canada/USA (N = 6517) were used for comparison. HIV adaptation levels to 34 HLA alleles were also computed. Putative HIV transmission clusters were identified, and the prevalence of HLA-associated adaptations within and outside these clusters was investigated. Results: Analyses confirmed significantly elevated and temporally increasing levels of HIV adaptation to commonly expressed HLA alleles, in particular B∗51. Notably, HLA-adapted HIV strains were significantly enriched among phylogenetic clusters in Saskatchewan. Conclusion: Extensive circulating HIV adaptation to HLA in Saskatchewan provides a plausible explanation for accelerated progression, while enrichment of adapted variants in phylogenetic clusters suggests they are being widely transmitted. Results highlight the utility of Pol sequences, routinely collected for drug resistance monitoring, for surveillance of HIV-host adaptation, and underscore the urgent need to expand HIV prevention and treatment programmes in Saskatchewan.
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Computational Design of Epitope-Enriched HIV-1 Gag Antigens with Preserved Structure and Function for Induction of Broad CD8 + T Cell Responses. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11264. [PMID: 30050069 PMCID: PMC6062507 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29435-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The partially protective phenotype observed in HIV-infected long-term-non-progressors is often associated with certain HLA alleles, thus indicating that cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses play a crucial role in combating virus replication. However, both the vast variability of HIV and the HLA diversity impose a challenge on elicitation of broad and effective CTL responses. Therefore, we conceived an algorithm for the enrichment of CD8+ T cell epitopes in HIV’s Gag protein, respecting functional preservation to enable cross-presentation. Experimentally identified epitopes were compared to a Gag reference sequence. Amino-acid-substitutions (AAS) were assessed for their impact on Gag’s budding-function using a trained classifier that considers structural models and sequence conservation. Experimental assessment of Gag-variants harboring selected AAS demonstrated an apparent classifier-precision of 100%. Compatible epitopes were assigned an immunological score that incorporates features such as conservation or HLA-association in a user-defined weighted manner. Using a genetic algorithm, the epitopes were incorporated in an iterative manner into novel T-cell-epitope-enriched Gag sequences (TeeGag). Computational evaluation showed that these antigen candidates harbor a higher fraction of epitopes with higher score as compared to natural Gag isolates and other artificial antigen designs. Thus, these designer sequences qualify as next-generation antigen candidates for induction of broader CTL responses.
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Hu X, Lu Z, Valentin A, Rosati M, Broderick KE, Sardesai NY, Marx PA, Mullins JI, Pavlakis GN, Felber BK. Gag and env conserved element CE DNA vaccines elicit broad cytotoxic T cell responses targeting subdominant epitopes of HIV and SIV Able to recognize virus-infected cells in macaques. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018; 14:2163-2177. [PMID: 29939820 PMCID: PMC6183272 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2018.1489949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV sequence diversity and the propensity of eliciting immunodominant responses targeting inessential variable regions are hurdles in the development of an effective AIDS vaccine. We developed a DNA vaccine comprising conserved elements (CE) of SIV p27Gag and HIV-1 Env and found that priming vaccination with CE DNA is critical to efficiently overcome the dominance imposed by Gag and Env variable regions. Here, we show that DNA vaccinated macaques receiving the CE prime/CE+full-length DNA co-delivery booster vaccine regimens developed broad, potent and durable cytotoxic T cell responses targeting conserved protein segments of SIV Gag and HIV Env. Gag CE-specific T cells showed robust anamnestic responses upon infection with SIVmac239 which led to the identification of CE-specific cytotoxic lymphocytes able to recognize epitopes covering distinct CE on the surface of SIV infected cells in vivo. Though not controlling infection overall, we found an inverse correlation between Gag CE-specific CD8+ T cell responses and peak viremia. The T cell responses induced by the HIV Env CE immunogen were recalled in some animals upon SIV infection, leading to the identification of two cross-reactive epitopes between HIV and SIV Env based in sequence homology. These data demonstrate that a vaccine combining Gag and Env CE DNA subverted the normal immunodominance patterns, eliciting immune responses that included subdominant, highly conserved epitopes. These vaccine regimens augment cytotoxic T cell responses to highly conserved epitopes in the viral proteome and maximize response breadth. The vaccine-induced CE-specific T cells were expanded upon SIV infection, indicating that the predicted CE epitopes incorporated in the DNA vaccine are processed and exposed by infected cells in their natural context within the viral proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintao Hu
- a Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Zhongyan Lu
- a Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Antonio Valentin
- b Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research , National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick, Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Margherita Rosati
- b Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research , National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick, Frederick , MD , USA
| | | | | | - Preston A Marx
- d Tulane National Primate Research Center and Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine , Tulane University , New Orleans , LA , USA
| | - James I Mullins
- e Departments of Microbiology, Medicine and Laboratory Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA
| | - George N Pavlakis
- b Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research , National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick, Frederick , MD , USA
| | - Barbara K Felber
- a Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick , MD , USA
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Hu X, Valentin A, Cai Y, Dayton F, Rosati M, Ramírez-Salazar EG, Kulkarni V, Broderick KE, Sardesai NY, Wyatt LS, Earl PL, Moss B, Mullins JI, Pavlakis GN, Felber BK. DNA Vaccine-Induced Long-Lasting Cytotoxic T Cells Targeting Conserved Elements of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Gag Are Boosted Upon DNA or Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara Vaccination. Hum Gene Ther 2018; 29:1029-1043. [PMID: 29869530 PMCID: PMC6152849 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2018.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA-based vaccines able to induce efficient cytotoxic T-cell responses targeting conserved elements (CE) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag have been developed. These CE were selected by stringent conservation, the ability to induce T-cell responses with broad human leukocyte antigen coverage, and the association between recognition of CE epitopes and viral control in HIV-infected individuals. Based on homology to HIV, a simian immunodeficiency virus p27gag CE DNA vaccine has also been developed. This study reports on the durability of the CE-specific T-cell responses induced by HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus CE DNA-based prime/boost vaccine regimens in rhesus macaques, and shows that the initially primed CE-specific T-cell responses were efficiently boosted by a single CE DNA vaccination after the long rest period (up to 2 years). In another cohort of animals, the study shows that a single inoculation with non-replicating recombinant Modified Vaccinia Ankara (rMVA62B) also potently boosted CE-specific responses after around 1.5 years of rest. Both CE DNA and rMVA62B booster vaccinations increased the magnitude and cytotoxicity of the CE-specific responses while maintaining the breadth of CE recognition. Env produced by rMVA62B did not negatively interfere with the recall of the Gag CE responses. rMVA62B could be beneficial to further boosting the immune response to Gag in humans. Vaccine regimens that employ CE DNA as a priming immunogen hold promise for application in HIV prevention and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintao Hu
- 1 Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Antonio Valentin
- 2 Human Retrovirus Section, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Yanhui Cai
- 1 Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Frances Dayton
- 1 Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Margherita Rosati
- 2 Human Retrovirus Section, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | | | - Viraj Kulkarni
- 1 Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | | | | | - Linda S Wyatt
- 4 Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Bernard Moss
- 4 Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - George N Pavlakis
- 2 Human Retrovirus Section, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Barbara K Felber
- 1 Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
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Munson P, Liu Y, Bratt D, Fuller JT, Hu X, Pavlakis GN, Felber BK, Mullins JI, Fuller DH. Therapeutic conserved elements (CE) DNA vaccine induces strong T-cell responses against highly conserved viral sequences during simian-human immunodeficiency virus infection. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018; 14:1820-1831. [PMID: 29648490 PMCID: PMC6067903 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2018.1448328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-specific T-cell responses play a key role in controlling HIV infection, and therapeutic vaccines for HIV that aim to improve viral control will likely need to improve on the T-cell responses induced by infection. However, in the setting of chronic infection, an effective therapeutic vaccine must overcome the enormous viral genetic diversity and the presence of pre-existing T-cell responses that are biased toward immunodominant T-cell epitopes that can readily mutate to evade host immunity and thus potentially provide inferior protection. To address these issues, we investigated a novel, epidermally administered DNA vaccine expressing SIV capsid (p27Gag) homologues of highly conserved elements (CE) of the HIV proteome in macaques experiencing chronic but controlled SHIV infection. We assessed the ability to boost or induce de novo T-cell responses against the conserved but immunologically subdominant CE epitopes. Two groups of animals were immunized with either the CE DNA vaccine or a full-length SIV p57gag DNA vaccine. Prior to vaccination, CE responses were similar in both groups. The full-length p57gag DNA vaccine, which contains the CE, increased overall Gag-specific responses but did not increase CE responses in any animals (0/4). In contrast, the CE DNA vaccine increased CE responses in all (4/4) vaccinated macaques. In SIV infected but unvaccinated macaques, those that developed stronger CE-specific responses during acute infection exhibited lower viral loads. We conclude that CE DNA vaccination can re-direct the immunodominance hierarchy towards CE in the setting of attenuated chronic infection and that induction of these responses by therapeutic vaccination may improve immune control of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Munson
- a Departments of Microbiology, Medicine, Global Health, and Laboratory Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , US.,b Washington National Primate Research Center , Seattle , WA , US
| | - Yi Liu
- a Departments of Microbiology, Medicine, Global Health, and Laboratory Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , US
| | - Debra Bratt
- b Washington National Primate Research Center , Seattle , WA , US
| | - James T Fuller
- a Departments of Microbiology, Medicine, Global Health, and Laboratory Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , US
| | - Xintao Hu
- c Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section and Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick , MD , US
| | - George N Pavlakis
- d Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research , National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick , MD , US
| | - Barbara K Felber
- c Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section and Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick , Frederick , MD , US
| | - James I Mullins
- a Departments of Microbiology, Medicine, Global Health, and Laboratory Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , US.,e Department of Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , US.,f Department of Global Health , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , US.,g Department of Laboratory Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , US
| | - Deborah Heydenburg Fuller
- a Departments of Microbiology, Medicine, Global Health, and Laboratory Medicine , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , US.,b Washington National Primate Research Center , Seattle , WA , US
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Preferential Targeting of Conserved Gag Regions after Vaccination with a Heterologous DNA Prime-Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Boost HIV-1 Vaccine Regimen. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.00730-17. [PMID: 28701395 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00730-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prime-boost vaccination strategies against HIV-1 often include multiple variants for a given immunogen for better coverage of the extensive viral diversity. To study the immunologic effects of this approach, we characterized breadth, phenotype, function, and specificity of Gag-specific T cells induced by a DNA-prime modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)-boost vaccination strategy, which uses mismatched Gag immunogens in the TamoVac 01 phase IIa trial. Healthy Tanzanian volunteers received three injections of the DNA-SMI vaccine encoding a subtype B and AB-recombinant Gagp37 and two vaccinations with MVA-CMDR encoding subtype A Gagp55 Gag-specific T-cell responses were studied in 42 vaccinees using fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells. After the first MVA-CMDR boost, vaccine-induced gamma interferon-positive (IFN-γ+) Gag-specific T-cell responses were dominated by CD4+ T cells (P < 0.001 compared to CD8+ T cells) that coexpressed interleukin-2 (IL-2) (66.4%) and/or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (63.7%). A median of 3 antigenic regions were targeted with a higher-magnitude median response to Gagp24 regions, more conserved between prime and boost, compared to those of regions within Gagp15 (not primed) and Gagp17 (less conserved; P < 0.0001 for both). Four regions within Gagp24 each were targeted by 45% to 74% of vaccinees upon restimulation with DNA-SMI-Gag matched peptides. The response rate to individual antigenic regions correlated with the sequence homology between the MVA- and DNA Gag-encoded immunogens (P = 0.04, r2 = 0.47). In summary, after the first MVA-CMDR boost, the sequence-mismatched DNA-prime MVA-boost vaccine strategy induced a Gag-specific T-cell response that was dominated by polyfunctional CD4+ T cells and that targeted multiple antigenic regions within the conserved Gagp24 protein.IMPORTANCE Genetic diversity is a major challenge for the design of vaccines against variable viruses. While including multiple variants for a given immunogen in prime-boost vaccination strategies is one approach that aims to improve coverage for global virus variants, the immunologic consequences of this strategy have been poorly defined so far. It is unclear whether inclusion of multiple variants in prime-boost vaccination strategies improves recognition of variant viruses by T cells and by which mechanisms this would be achieved, either by improved cross-recognition of multiple variants for a given antigenic region or through preferential targeting of antigenic regions more conserved between prime and boost. Engineering vaccines to induce adaptive immune responses that preferentially target conserved antigenic regions of viral vulnerability might facilitate better immune control after preventive and therapeutic vaccination for HIV and for other variable viruses.
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Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Bottleneck Selects for Consensus Virus with Lower Gag-Protease-Driven Replication Capacity. J Virol 2017. [PMID: 28637761 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00518-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In the large majority of cases, HIV infection is established by a single variant, and understanding the characteristics of successfully transmitted variants is relevant to prevention strategies. Few studies have investigated the viral determinants of mother-to-child transmission. To determine the impact of Gag-protease-driven viral replication capacity on mother-to-child transmission, the replication capacities of 148 recombinant viruses encoding plasma-derived Gag-protease from 53 nontransmitter mothers, 48 transmitter mothers, and 47 infected infants were assayed in an HIV-1-inducible green fluorescent protein reporter cell line. All study participants were infected with HIV-1 subtype C. There was no significant difference in replication capacities between the nontransmitter (n = 53) and transmitter (n = 44) mothers (P = 0.48). Infant-derived Gag-protease NL4-3 recombinant viruses (n = 41) were found to have a significantly lower Gag-protease-driven replication capacity than that of viruses derived from the mothers (P < 0.0001 by a paired t test). High percent similarities to consensus subtype C Gag, p17, p24, and protease sequences were also found in the infants (n = 28) in comparison to their mothers (P = 0.07, P = 0.002, P = 0.03, and P = 0.02, respectively, as determined by a paired t test). These data suggest that of the viral quasispecies found in mothers, the HIV mother-to-child transmission bottleneck favors the transmission of consensus-like viruses with lower viral replication capacities.IMPORTANCE Understanding the characteristics of successfully transmitted HIV variants has important implications for preventative interventions. Little is known about the viral determinants of HIV mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). We addressed the role of viral replication capacity driven by Gag, a major structural protein that is a significant determinant of overall viral replicative ability and an important target of the host immune response, in the MTCT bottleneck. This study advances our understanding of the genetic bottleneck in MTCT by revealing that viruses transmitted to infants have a lower replicative ability as well as a higher similarity to the population consensus (in this case HIV subtype C) than those of their mothers. Furthermore, the observation that "consensus-like" virus sequences correspond to lower in vitro replication abilities yet appear to be preferentially transmitted suggests that viral characteristics favoring transmission are decoupled from those that enhance replicative capacity.
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Tarosso LF, Vieira VA, Sauer MM, Tomiyama HI, Kalil J, Kallas EG. Conserved HIV-1 Gag p24 Epitopes Elicit Cellular Immune Responses That Impact Disease Outcome. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2017; 33:832-842. [PMID: 28594230 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2016.0168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the breadth of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific cellular immune response and its impact on the control of viral replication have already been addressed, reported data have proven controversial. We hypothesize that the nature of targeted epitopes, rather than the simple breadth or magnitude of responses, correlates with disease outcome. In this study, we explore the occurrence of patterns of Gag p24 recognition among untreated HIV-1-infected patients by identifying the epitopes that compose such patterns and how they distinctly associate with disease progression. Utilizing enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) interferon gamma (IFN-γ), we screened cellular responses of 27 HIV-1-infected subjects against 15-mer peptides encompassing the whole Gag p24 protein. Obtained data were used to develop a clustering analysis that allowed definition of two groups of individuals with totally distinct patterns of recognition. Although targeted Gag p24 peptides were completely different between the two groups, the breadth and magnitude of the responses were not. Interestingly, viral control and preservation of CD4+ T cells were increased in one group. In addition, we compared genetic conservation of amino acid sequences of the recognized peptides, as well as of the human leucocyte antigen class I (HLA-I)-restricted epitopes within them. Subjects presenting higher control of HIV-1 replication targeted more conserved epitopes, and higher genetic variation was present mainly in anchor residues for HLA-I molecules. We strengthen the existing evidence from cases of HIV-1 infection in humans that, cellular immune responses targeting conserved epitopes, rather than the magnitude and breadth of responses, associate with a better control of viral replication and maintenance of peripheral CD4+ T cell counts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro F. Tarosso
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vinicius A. Vieira
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana M. Sauer
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Helena I. Tomiyama
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jorge Kalil
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Esper G. Kallas
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
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Moyo N, Borthwick NJ, Wee EG, Capucci S, Crook A, Dorrell L, Hanke T. Long-term follow up of human T-cell responses to conserved HIV-1 regions elicited by DNA/simian adenovirus/MVA vaccine regimens. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181382. [PMID: 28719652 PMCID: PMC5515449 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Durability of vaccine-elicited immune responses is one of the key determinants for vaccine success. Our aim is to develop a vaccination strategy against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), which induces protective and durable CD8+ T-cell responses. The central theorem of our approach is to focus T cells on highly conserved regions of the HIV-1 proteome and this is achieved through the use of the first-generation conserved vaccine immunogen HIVconsv. This immunogen vectored by plasmid DNA, simian adenovirus and poxvirus MVA was tested in healthy, HIV-1-negative adults in UK and induced high magnitudes of HIVconsv-specific plurifunctional CD8+ T cells capable of in vitro HIV-1 inhibition. Here, we assessed the durability of these responses. METHODS Vaccine recipients in trial HIV-CORE 002 were invited to provide a blood sample at 1 and 2 years after vaccination. Their PBMCs were tested in IFN-γ ELISPOT, 25-analyte Luminex, CFSE proliferation and intracellular cytokine staining assays, the last enhanced by HLA-peptide dextramer analysis. RESULTS 12/12 (1 year) and 8/8 (2 years) returning subjects had median (range) of 990 (150-2495) and 763 (70-1745) IFN-γ SFU/106 PBMC specific for HIVconsv, respectively, and recognized 5 (1-6) out of 6 peptide pools at 2 years. Over one-half of the HIVconsv-specific cells expressed at least 3 functions IFN-γ, TNF-α and CD107a, and were capable of proliferation. Among dextramer-reactive cells, naïve, transitional, effector and terminally differentiated memory subsets were similarly represented. CONCLUSIONS First generation HIVconsv vaccine induced human T cells, which were plurifunctional and persisted for at least 2 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01151319.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathifa Moyo
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Borthwick
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Edmund G Wee
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Capucci
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alison Crook
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Dorrell
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NDM Research Building, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tomáš Hanke
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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Abstract
The ancestral progenitor of common chimpanzees and bonobos experienced a selective sweep that ravaged its major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I repertoire. The causative agent was probably an ancestral retrovirus, highly related to the contemporary HIV-1 strain, which initiated the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome pandemic in the human population. As a direct result, MHC class I allotypes with the capability of targeting conserved retroviral elements were enriched in the ancestral progenitor. Even today, the impact can be traced back by studying the functional capacities of the contemporary MHC class I allotypes of common chimpanzees. Viruses, however, have developed several strategies to manipulate the cell-surface expression of MHC class I genes. Monitoring the presence and absence of the MHC class I allotypes on the cell surface is conducted, for instance, by the hosts' gene products of the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) complex. Hence, one may wonder whether-in the future-any clues with regard to the signature of the MHC class I selective sweep might be unearthed for the KIR genes as well.
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Preclinical evaluation of an mRNA HIV vaccine combining rationally selected antigenic sequences and adjuvant signals (HTI-TriMix). AIDS 2017; 31:321-332. [PMID: 27677160 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000001276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of a prophylactic vaccine against HIV-1 has so far not been successful. Therefore, attention has shifted more and more toward the development of novel therapeutic vaccines. Here, we evaluated a new mRNA-based therapeutic vaccine against HIV-1-encoding activation signals (TriMix: CD40L + CD70 + caTLR4) combined with rationally selected antigenic sequences [HIVACAT T-cell immunogen (HTI)] sequence: comprises 16 joined fragments from Gag, Pol, Vif, and Nef). METHODS For this purpose, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-1-infected individuals on cART, lymph node explants from noninfected humans, and splenocytes from immunized mice were collected and several immune functions were measured. RESULTS Electroporation of immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells from HIV-infected patients with mRNA encoding HTI + TriMix potently activated dendritic cells which resulted in upregulation of maturation markers and cytokine production and T-cell stimulation, as evidenced by enhanced proliferation and cytokine secretion (IFN-γ). Responses were HIV specific and were predominantly targeted against the sequences included in HTI. These findings were confirmed in human lymph node explants exposed to HTI + TriMix mRNA. Intranodal immunizations with HTI mRNA in a mouse model increased antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses. The addition of TriMix further enhanced cytotoxic responses. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that uptake of mRNA, encoding strong activation signals and a potent HIV antigen, confers a T-cell stimulatory capacity to dendritic cells and enhances their ability to stimulate antigen-specific immunity. These findings may pave the way for therapeutic HIV vaccine strategies based on antigen-encoding RNA to specifically target antigen-presenting cells.
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31
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Hu X, Valentin A, Dayton F, Kulkarni V, Alicea C, Rosati M, Chowdhury B, Gautam R, Broderick KE, Sardesai NY, Martin MA, Mullins JI, Pavlakis GN, Felber BK. DNA Prime-Boost Vaccine Regimen To Increase Breadth, Magnitude, and Cytotoxicity of the Cellular Immune Responses to Subdominant Gag Epitopes of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus and HIV. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 197:3999-4013. [PMID: 27733554 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
HIV sequence diversity and the propensity of eliciting immunodominant responses targeting variable regions of the HIV proteome are hurdles in the development of an effective AIDS vaccine. An HIV-derived conserved element (CE) p24gag plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccine is able to redirect immunodominant responses to otherwise subdominant and often more vulnerable viral targets. By homology to the HIV immunogen, seven CE were identified in SIV p27Gag Analysis of 31 rhesus macaques vaccinated with full-length SIV gag pDNA showed inefficient induction (58% response rate) of cellular responses targeting these CE. In contrast, all 14 macaques immunized with SIV p27CE pDNA developed robust T cell responses recognizing CE. Vaccination with p27CE pDNA was also critical for the efficient induction and increased the frequency of Ag-specific T cells with cytotoxic potential (granzyme B+ CD107a+) targeting subdominant CE epitopes, compared with the responses elicited by the p57gag pDNA vaccine. Following p27CE pDNA priming, two booster regimens, gag pDNA or codelivery of p27CE+gag pDNA, significantly increased the levels of CE-specific T cells. However, the CE+gag pDNA booster vaccination elicited significantly broader CE epitope recognition, and thus, a more profound alteration of the immunodominance hierarchy. Vaccination with HIV molecules showed that CE+gag pDNA booster regimen further expanded the breadth of HIV CE responses. Hence, SIV/HIV vaccine regimens comprising CE pDNA prime and CE+gag pDNA booster vaccination significantly increased cytotoxic T cell responses to subdominant highly conserved Gag epitopes and maximized response breadth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintao Hu
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Antonio Valentin
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Frances Dayton
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Viraj Kulkarni
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Candido Alicea
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Margherita Rosati
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Bhabadeb Chowdhury
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Rajeev Gautam
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | | | | | - Malcolm A Martin
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - James I Mullins
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195; and.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
| | - George N Pavlakis
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702;
| | - Barbara K Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702;
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Mutua G, Farah B, Langat R, Indangasi J, Ogola S, Onsembe B, Kopycinski JT, Hayes P, Borthwick NJ, Ashraf A, Dally L, Barin B, Tillander A, Gilmour J, De Bont J, Crook A, Hannaman D, Cox JH, Anzala O, Fast PE, Reilly M, Chinyenze K, Jaoko W, Hanke T, HIV-CORE 004 study group T. Broad HIV-1 inhibition in vitro by vaccine-elicited CD8(+) T cells in African adults. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2016; 3:16061. [PMID: 27617268 PMCID: PMC5006719 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2016.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We are developing a pan-clade HIV-1 T-cell vaccine HIVconsv, which could complement Env vaccines for prophylaxis and be a key to HIV cure. Our strategy focuses vaccine-elicited effector T-cells on functionally and structurally conserved regions (not full-length proteins and not only epitopes) of the HIV-1 proteome, which are common to most global variants and which, if mutated, cause a replicative fitness loss. Our first clinical trial in low risk HIV-1-negative adults in Oxford demonstrated the principle that naturally mostly subdominant epitopes, when taken out of the context of full-length proteins/virus and delivered by potent regimens involving combinations of simian adenovirus and poxvirus modified vaccinia virus Ankara, can induce robust CD8(+) T cells of broad specificities and functions capable of inhibiting in vitro HIV-1 replication. Here and for the first time, we tested this strategy in low risk HIV-1-negative adults in Africa. We showed that the vaccines were well tolerated and induced high frequencies of broadly HIVconsv-specific plurifunctional T cells, which inhibited in vitro viruses from four major clades A, B, C, and D. Because sub-Saharan Africa is globally the region most affected by HIV-1/AIDS, trial HIV-CORE 004 represents an important stage in the path toward efficacy evaluation of this highly rational and promising vaccine strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaudensia Mutua
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Bashir Farah
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Robert Langat
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Simon Ogola
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Brian Onsembe
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jakub T Kopycinski
- Human Immunology Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Peter Hayes
- Human Immunology Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Imperial College, London, UK
| | | | - Ambreen Ashraf
- Human Immunology Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Len Dally
- Emmes Corporation, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Burc Barin
- Emmes Corporation, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jill Gilmour
- Human Immunology Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Jan De Bont
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative-New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alison Crook
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Drew Hannaman
- ICHOR Medical Systems, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Josephine H Cox
- Human Immunology Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Omu Anzala
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Patricia E Fast
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative-New York, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Kundai Chinyenze
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative-New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Walter Jaoko
- KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Tomáš Hanke
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Japan
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33
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Perera SS, Wang B, Damian A, Dyer W, Zhou L, Conceicao V, Saksena NK. Retrospective Proteomic Analysis of Cellular Immune Responses and Protective Correlates of p24 Vaccination in an HIV Elite Controller Using Antibody Arrays. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 5:microarrays5020014. [PMID: 27600080 PMCID: PMC5003490 DOI: 10.3390/microarrays5020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Background: HIV p24 is an extracellular HIV antigen involved in viral replication. Falling p24 antibody responses are associated with clinical disease progression and their preservation with non-progressive disease. Stimulation of p24 antibody production by immunization to delay progression was the basis of discontinued p24 vaccine. We studied a therapy-naive HIV+ man from Sydney, Australia, infected in 1988. He received the HIV-p24-virus like particle (VLP) vaccine in 1993, and continues to show vigorous p24 antigen responses (>4% p24-specific CD4+ T cells), coupled with undetectable plasma viremia. We defined immune-protective correlates of p24 vaccination at the proteomic level through parallel retrospective analysis of cellular immune responses to p24 antigen in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and CD14+ monocytes at viremic and aviremic phases using antibody-array. We found statistically significant coordinated up-regulation by all three cell-types with high fold-changes in fractalkine, ITAC, IGFBP-2, and MIP-1α in the aviremic phase. TECK and TRAIL-R4 were down-regulated in the viremic phase and up-regulated in the aviremic phase. The up-regulation of fractalkine in all three cell-types coincided with protective effect, whereas the dysfunction in anti-apoptotic chemokines with the loss of immune function. This study highlights the fact that induction of HIV-1-specific helper cells together with coordinated cellular immune response (p < 0.001) might be important in immunotherapeutic interventions and HIV vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suneth S Perera
- Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney 2000, Australia.
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney 2000, Australia.
| | - Arturo Damian
- Department of Cytogenetics, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney 2000, Australia.
| | - Wayne Dyer
- Australian Red Cross Blood Service, 17 O'Riordan Street, Alexandria NSW 2015 and School of Medical Sciences, (Faculty of Medicine) University of Sydney, Sydney 2000, Australia.
| | - Li Zhou
- Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney 2000, Australia.
| | - Viviane Conceicao
- Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney 2000, Australia.
| | - Nitin K Saksena
- Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney 2000, Australia.
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34
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Effective Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Targeting of Persistent HIV-1 during Antiretroviral Therapy Requires Priming of Naive CD8+ T Cells. mBio 2016; 7:mBio.00473-16. [PMID: 27247230 PMCID: PMC4895106 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00473-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Curing HIV-1 infection will require elimination of persistent cellular reservoirs that harbor latent virus in the face of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Proposed immunotherapeutic strategies to cure HIV-1 infection include enhancing lysis of these infected cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). A major challenge in this strategy is overcoming viral immune escape variants that have evaded host immune control. Here we report that naive CD8+ T cells from chronic HIV-1-infected participants on long-term cART can be primed by dendritic cells (DC). These DC must be mature, produce high levels of interleukin 12p70 (IL-12p70), be responsive to CD40 ligand (CD40L), and be loaded with inactivated, autologous HIV-1. These DC-primed CD8+ T cell responders produced high levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in response to a broad range of both conserved and variable regions of Gag and effectively killed CD4+ T cell targets that were either infected with the autologous latent reservoir-associated virus or loaded with autologous Gag peptides. In contrast, HIV-1-specific memory CD8+ T cells stimulated with autologous HIV-1-loaded DC produced IFN-γ in response to a narrow range of conserved and variable Gag peptides compared to the primed T cells and most notably, displayed significantly lower cytolytic function. Our findings highlight the need to selectively induce new HIV-1-specific CTL from naive precursors while avoiding activation of existing, dysfunctional memory T cells in potential curative immunotherapeutic strategies for HIV-1 infection. Current immunotherapeutic approaches aim to enhance antiviral immunity against the HIV-1 reservoir; however, it has yet to be shown whether T cells from persons on cART can recognize and eliminate virus-infected cells. We show that in persons on cART a personalized medicine approach using their dendritic cells to stimulate their naive T cells induces potent effector CTL in vitro that recognize and eradicate HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cells. Additionally, we show that the same stimulation of existing memory T cells results in cytokine secretion but limited effector function. Our study demonstrates that the naive T cell repertoire can recognize persistent HIV-1 during cART and supports immunotherapy strategies for an HIV-1 cure that targets naive T cells, rather than existing, dysfunctional, memory T cells.
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35
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Andersen AN, Landsverk OJ, Simonsen A, Bogen B, Corthay A, Øynebråten I. Coupling of HIV-1 Antigen to the Selective Autophagy Receptor SQSTM1/p62 Promotes T-Cell-Mediated Immunity. Front Immunol 2016; 7:167. [PMID: 27242780 PMCID: PMC4861724 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines aiming to promote T-cell-mediated immune responses have so far showed limited efficacy, and there is a need for novel strategies. Studies indicate that autophagy plays an inherent role in antigen processing and presentation for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Here, we report a novel vaccine strategy based on fusion of antigen to the selective autophagy receptor sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1)/p62. We hypothesized that redirection of vaccine antigen from proteasomal degradation into the autophagy pathway would increase the generation of antigen-specific T cells. A hybrid vaccine construct was designed in which the antigen is fused to the C-terminus of p62, a signaling hub, and a receptor that naturally delivers ubiquitinated cargo for autophagic degradation. Fusion of the human immunodeficiency virus-1 antigen Gagp24 to p62 resulted in efficient antigen delivery into the autophagy pathway. Intradermal immunization of mice revealed that, in comparison to Gagp24 delivered alone, fusion to p62 enhanced the number of Gagp24-specific interferon-γ-producing T cells, including CD8+ T cells. The strategy may also have the potential to modulate the antigenic peptide repertoire. Because p62 and autophagy are highly conserved between species, we anticipate this strategy to be a candidate for the development of T-cell-based vaccines in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aram Nikolai Andersen
- Tumor Immunology Group, Department of Pathology, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Immunology, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole Jørgen Landsverk
- Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; LIIPAT, Department of Pathology, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Simonsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway
| | - Bjarne Bogen
- Department of Immunology, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; K. G. Jebsen Centre for Influenza Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alexandre Corthay
- Tumor Immunology Group, Department of Pathology, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway
| | - Inger Øynebråten
- Tumor Immunology Group, Department of Pathology, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Immunology, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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36
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Valentin A, Li J, Rosati M, Kulkarni V, Patel V, Jalah R, Alicea C, Reed S, Sardesai N, Berkower I, Pavlakis GN, Felber BK. Dose-dependent inhibition of Gag cellular immunity by Env in SIV/HIV DNA vaccinated macaques. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 11:2005-11. [PMID: 26125521 PMCID: PMC4635869 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1016671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The induction of a balanced immune response targeting the major structural proteins, Gag and Env of HIV, is important for the development of an efficacious vaccine. The use of DNA plasmids expressing different antigens offers the opportunity to test in a controlled manner the influence of different vaccine components on the magnitude and distribution of the vaccine-induced cellular and humoral immune responses. Here, we show that increasing amounts of env DNA results in greatly enhanced Env antibody titers without significantly affecting the levels of anti-Env cellular immune responses. Co-immunization with Env protein further increased antibody levels, indicating that vaccination with DNA only is not sufficient for eliciting maximal humoral responses against Env. In contrast, under high env:gag DNA plasmid ratio, the development of Gag cellular responses was significantly reduced by either SIV or HIV Env, whereas Gag humoral responses were not affected. Our data indicate that a balanced ratio of the 2 key HIV/SIV vaccine components, Gag and Env, is important to avoid immunological interference and to achieve both maximal humoral responses against Env to prevent virus acquisition and maximal cytotoxic T cell responses against Gag to prevent virus spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Valentin
- a Human Retrovirus Section; Vaccine Branch; Center for Cancer Research; National Cancer Institute at Frederick ; Frederick , MD USA
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37
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Ondondo B, Murakoshi H, Clutton G, Abdul-Jawad S, Wee EGT, Gatanaga H, Oka S, McMichael AJ, Takiguchi M, Korber B, Hanke T. Novel Conserved-region T-cell Mosaic Vaccine With High Global HIV-1 Coverage Is Recognized by Protective Responses in Untreated Infection. Mol Ther 2016; 24:832-42. [PMID: 26743582 PMCID: PMC4886941 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2016.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An effective human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine is the best solution for halting the acquired immune deficiency syndrome epidemic. Here, we describe the design and preclinical immunogenicity of T-cell vaccine expressing novel immunogens tHIVconsvX, vectored by DNA, simian (chimpanzee) adenovirus, and poxvirus modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA), a combination highly immunogenic in humans. The tHIVconsvX immunogens combine the three leading strategies for elicitation of effective CD8(+) T cells: use of regions of HIV-1 proteins functionally conserved across all M group viruses (to make HIV-1 escape costly on viral fitness), inclusion of bivalent complementary mosaic immunogens (to maximize global epitope matching and breadth of responses, and block common escape paths), and inclusion of epitopes known to be associated with low viral load in infected untreated people (to induce field-proven protective responses). tHIVconsvX was highly immunogenic in two strains of mice. Furthermore, the magnitude and breadth of CD8(+) T-cell responses to tHIVconsvX-derived peptides in treatment-naive HIV-1(+) patients significantly correlated with high CD4(+) T-cell count and low viral load. Overall, the tHIVconsvX design, combining the mosaic and conserved-region approaches, provides an indisputably better coverage of global HIV-1 variants than previous T-cell vaccines. These immunogens delivered in a highly immunogenic framework of adenovirus prime and MVA boost are ready for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Ondondo
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Genevieve Clutton
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
- Current address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Edmund G-T Wee
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Hiroyuki Gatanaga
- Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- AIDS Clinical Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinichi Oka
- Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- AIDS Clinical Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Masafumi Takiguchi
- Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Bette Korber
- Los Alamo National Laboratory, Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
- The New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - Tomáš Hanke
- The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
- International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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38
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Ahmed T, Borthwick NJ, Gilmour J, Hayes P, Dorrell L, Hanke T. Control of HIV-1 replication in vitro by vaccine-induced human CD8(+) T cells through conserved subdominant Pol epitopes. Vaccine 2016; 34:1215-24. [PMID: 26784683 PMCID: PMC4769096 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Objective The specificity of CD8+ T cells is critical for early control of founder/transmitted and reactivated HIV-1. To tackle HIV-1 variability and escape, we designed vaccine immunogen HIVconsv assembled from 14 highly conserved regions of mainly Gag and Pol proteins. When administered to HIV-1-negative human volunteers in trial HIV-CORE 002, HIVconsv vaccines elicited CD8+ effector T cells which inhibited replication of up to 8 HIV-1 isolates in autologous CD4+ cells. This inhibition correlated with interferon-γ production in response to Gag and Pol peptide pools, but direct evidence of the inhibitory specificity was missing. Here, we aimed to define through recognition of which epitopes these effectors inhibit HIV-1 replication. Design CD8+ T-cells from the 3 broadest HIV-1 inhibitors out of 23 vaccine recipients were expanded in culture by Gag or Pol peptide restimulation and tested in viral inhibition assay (VIA) using HIV-1 clade B and A isolates. Methods Frozen PBMCs were expanded first using peptide pools from Gag or Pol conserved regions and tested on HIV-1-infected cells in VIA or by individual peptides for their effector functions. Single peptide specificities responsible for inhibition of HIV-1 replication were then confirmed by single-peptide expanded effectors tested on HIV-1-infected cells. Results We formally demonstrated that the vaccine-elicited inhibitory human CD8+ T cells recognized conserved epitopes of both Pol and Gag proteins. We defined 7 minimum epitopes, of which 3 were novel, presumably naturally subdominant. The effectors were oligofunctional producing several cytokines and chemokines and killing peptide-pulsed target cells. Conclusions These results implicate the use of functionally conserved regions of Pol in addition to the widely used Gag for T-cell vaccine design. Proportion of volunteers developing these effectors and their frequency in circulating PBMC are separate issues, which can be addressed, if needed, by more efficient vector and regimen delivery of conserved immunogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Ahmed
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Borthwick
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Jill Gilmour
- Human Immunology Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom; Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Hayes
- Human Immunology Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Dorrell
- Human Immunology Laboratory, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom; Nuffield Department of Medicine, NDM Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom; Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tomáš Hanke
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom; International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Japan.
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39
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Williamson AL, Rybicki EP. Justification for the inclusion of Gag in HIV vaccine candidates. Expert Rev Vaccines 2015; 15:585-98. [PMID: 26645951 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2016.1129904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
It is widely accepted that effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccines need to elicit a range of responses, including neutralising antibodies and T-cells. In natural HIV infections, immune responses to Gag are associated with lower viral load in infected individuals, and these responses can be measured against infected cells before the replication of HIV. Priming immune responses to Gag with DNA or recombinant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines, and boosting with Gag virus-like particles as subunit vaccines or Gag produced in vivo by other vaccine vectors, elicits high-magnitude, broad polyfunctional responses, with memory T-cell responses appropriate for virus control. This review provides justification for the inclusion of HIV Gag in vaccine regimens, either as a transgene expressing protein that may assemble to form budded particles, or as purified virus-like particles. Possible benefits would include early control via CD8(+) T-cells at the site of infection, control of spread from the entry portal, and control of viraemia if infection is established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lise Williamson
- a Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.,b National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town and Department of Pathology , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa
| | - Edward P Rybicki
- a Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.,c Biopharming Research Unit, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa
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40
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Ternette N, Yang H, Partridge T, Llano A, Cedeño S, Fischer R, Charles PD, Dudek NL, Mothe B, Crespo M, Fischer WM, Korber BTM, Nielsen M, Borrow P, Purcell AW, Brander C, Dorrell L, Kessler BM, Hanke T. Defining the HLA class I-associated viral antigen repertoire from HIV-1-infected human cells. Eur J Immunol 2015; 46:60-9. [PMID: 26467324 PMCID: PMC4737398 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201545890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recognition and eradication of infected cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes is a key defense mechanism against intracellular pathogens. High‐throughput definition of HLA class I‐associated immunopeptidomes by mass spectrometry is an increasingly important analytical tool to advance our understanding of the induction of T‐cell responses against pathogens such as HIV‐1. We utilized a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry workflow including de novo‐assisted database searching to define the HLA class I‐associated immunopeptidome of HIV‐1‐infected human cells. We here report for the first time the identification of 75 HIV‐1‐derived peptides bound to HLA class I complexes that were purified directly from HIV‐1‐infected human primary CD4+ T cells and the C8166 human T‐cell line. Importantly, one‐third of eluted HIV‐1 peptides had not been previously known to be presented by HLA class I. Over 82% of the identified sequences originated from viral protein regions for which T‐cell responses have previously been reported but for which the precise HLA class I‐binding sequences have not yet been defined. These results validate and expand the current knowledge of virus‐specific antigenic peptide presentation during HIV‐1 infection and provide novel targets for T‐cell vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Ternette
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hongbing Yang
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas Partridge
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anuska Llano
- HIVACAT, Irsicaixa AIDS Research Institute, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Samandhy Cedeño
- HIVACAT, Irsicaixa AIDS Research Institute, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Roman Fischer
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Philip D Charles
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nadine L Dudek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Beatriz Mothe
- HIVACAT, Irsicaixa AIDS Research Institute, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Spain.,Lluita contra la Sida' Foundation, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain.,Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, Vic, Spain
| | - Manuel Crespo
- HIV Unit, Hospital de la Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona, Spain
| | - William M Fischer
- Group T-6, Theoretical Biology, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Bette T M Korber
- Group T-6, Theoretical Biology, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Morten Nielsen
- Department of Systems Biology, Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Persephone Borrow
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anthony W Purcell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christian Brander
- HIVACAT, Irsicaixa AIDS Research Institute, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Spain.,Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, Vic, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucy Dorrell
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tomáš Hanke
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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41
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Comparison of HIV-1 nef and gag Variations and Host HLA Characteristics as Determinants of Disease Progression among HIV-1 Vertically Infected Kenyan Children. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137140. [PMID: 26317223 PMCID: PMC4552823 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Disease progression varies among HIV-1-infected individuals. The present study aimed to explore possible viral and host factors affecting disease progression in HIV-1-infected children. METHODS Since 2000, 102 HIV-1 vertically-infected children have been followed-up in Kenya. Here we studied 29 children (15 male/14 female) who started antiretroviral treatment at <5 years of age (rapid progressors; RP), and 32 (17 male/15 female) who started at >10 years of age (slow progressors; SP). Sequence variations in the HIV-1 gag and nef genes and the HLA class I-related epitopes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS Based on nef sequences, HIV-1 subtypes A1/D were detected in 62.5%/12.5% of RP and 66.7%/20% of SP, with no significant difference in subtype distribution between groups (p = 0.8). In the ten Nef functional domains, only the PxxP3 region showed significantly greater variation in RP (33.3%) than SP (7.7%, p = 0.048). Gag sequences did not significantly differ between groups. The reportedly protective HLA-A alleles, A*74:01, A*32:01 and A*26, were more commonly observed in SP (50.0%) than RP (11.1%, p = 0.010), whereas the reportedly disease-susceptible HLA-B*45:01 was more common in RP (33.3%) than SP (7.4%, p = 0.045). Compared to RP, SP showed a significantly higher median number of predicted HLA-B-related 12-mer epitopes in Nef (3 vs. 2, p = 0.037), HLA-B-related 11-mer epitopes in Gag (2 vs. 1, p = 0.029), and HLA-A-related 9-mer epitopes in Gag (4 vs. 1, p = 0.051). SP also had fewer HLA-C-related epitopes in Nef (median 4 vs. 5, p = 0.046) and HLA-C-related 11-mer epitopes in Gag (median 1 vs. 1.5, p = 0.044) than RP. CONCLUSIONS Compared to rapid progressors, slow progressors had more protective HLA-A alleles and more HLA-B-related epitopes in both the Nef and Gag proteins. These results suggest that the host factor HLA plays a stronger role in disease progression than the Nef and Gag sequence variations in HIV-1-infected Kenyan children.
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Fitness-Balanced Escape Determines Resolution of Dynamic Founder Virus Escape Processes in HIV-1 Infection. J Virol 2015. [PMID: 26223634 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01876-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED To understand the interplay between host cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses and the mechanisms by which HIV-1 evades them, we studied viral evolutionary patterns associated with host CTL responses in six linked transmission pairs. HIV-1 sequences corresponding to full-length p17 and p24 gag were generated by 454 pyrosequencing for all pairs near the time of transmission, and seroconverting partners were followed for a median of 847 days postinfection. T-cell responses were screened by gamma interferon/interleukin-2 (IFN-γ/IL-2) FluoroSpot using autologous peptide sets reflecting any Gag variant present in at least 5% of sequence reads in the individual's viral population. While we found little evidence for the occurrence of CTL reversions, CTL escape processes were found to be highly dynamic, with multiple epitope variants emerging simultaneously. We found a correlation between epitope entropy and the number of epitope variants per response (r = 0.43; P = 0.05). In cases in which multiple escape mutations developed within a targeted epitope, a variant with no fitness cost became fixed in the viral population. When multiple mutations within an epitope achieved fitness-balanced escape, these escape mutants were each maintained in the viral population. Additional mutations found to confer escape but undetected in viral populations incurred high fitness costs, suggesting that functional constraints limit the available sites tolerable to escape mutations. These results further our understanding of the impact of CTL escape and reversion from the founder virus in HIV infection and contribute to the identification of immunogenic Gag regions most vulnerable to a targeted T-cell attack. IMPORTANCE Rapid diversification of the viral population is a hallmark of HIV-1 infection, and understanding the selective forces driving the emergence of viral variants can provide critical insight into the interplay between host immune responses and viral evolution. We used deep sequencing to comprehensively follow viral evolution over time in six linked HIV transmission pairs. We then mapped T-cell responses to explore if mutations arose due to adaption to the host and found that escape processes were often highly dynamic, with multiple mutations arising within targeted epitopes. When we explored the impact of these mutations on replicative capacity, we found that dynamic escape processes only resolve with the selection of mutations that conferred escape with no fitness cost to the virus. These results provide further understanding of the complicated viral-host interactions that occur during early HIV-1 infection and may help inform the design of future vaccine immunogens.
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Quigley KJ, Reynolds CJ, Goudet A, Raynsford EJ, Sergeant R, Quigley A, Worgall S, Bilton D, Wilson R, Loebinger MR, Maillere B, Altmann DM, Boyton RJ. Chronic Infection by Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa Associated with Dysregulation in T-Cell Immunity to Outer Membrane Porin F. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2015; 191:1250-64. [PMID: 25789411 PMCID: PMC4476516 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201411-1995oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is an environmental pathogen that commonly infects individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis, impacting morbidity and mortality. To understand the pathobiology of interactions between the bacterium and host adaptive immunity and to inform rational vaccine design, it is important to understand the adaptive immune correlates of disease. OBJECTIVES To characterize T-cell immunity to the PA antigen outer membrane porin F (OprF) by analyzing immunodominant epitopes in relation to infection status. METHODS Patients with non-CF bronchiectasis were stratified by frequency of PA isolation. T-cell IFN-γ immunity to OprF and its immunodominant epitopes was characterized. Patterns of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) restriction of immunodominant epitopes were defined using HLA class II transgenic mice. Immunity was characterized with respect to cytokine and chemokine secretion, antibody response, and T-cell activation transcripts. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Patients were stratified according to whether PA was never, sometimes (<50%), or frequently (≥50%) isolated from sputum. Patients with frequent PA sputum-positive isolates were more likely to be infected by mucoid PA, and they showed a narrow T-cell epitope response and a relative reduction in Th1 polarizing transcription factors but enhanced immunity with respect to antibody production, innate cytokines, and chemokines. CONCLUSIONS We have defined the immunodominant, HLA-restricted T-cell epitopes of OprF. Our observation that chronic infection is associated with a response of narrowed specificity, despite strong innate and antibody immunity, may help to explain susceptibility in these individuals and pave the way for better vaccine design to achieve protective immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn J. Quigley
- Lung Immunology Group, Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council and Asthma United Kingdom Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Centre for Respiratory Infection, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine J. Reynolds
- Lung Immunology Group, Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council and Asthma United Kingdom Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Centre for Respiratory Infection, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Amelie Goudet
- CEA-Saclay, Institute of Biology and Technologies, SIMOPRO, Labex LERMIT, Labex VRI, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Eleanor J. Raynsford
- Lung Immunology Group, Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council and Asthma United Kingdom Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Centre for Respiratory Infection, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ruhena Sergeant
- H & I Laboratory, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, National Health Service Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Quigley
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Worgall
- Department of Genetic Medicine and
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; and
| | - Diana Bilton
- Host Defence Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton and Harefield National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Wilson
- Host Defence Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton and Harefield National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael R. Loebinger
- Host Defence Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton and Harefield National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bernard Maillere
- CEA-Saclay, Institute of Biology and Technologies, SIMOPRO, Labex LERMIT, Labex VRI, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Daniel M. Altmann
- Lung Immunology Group, Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council and Asthma United Kingdom Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Centre for Respiratory Infection, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemary J. Boyton
- Lung Immunology Group, Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council and Asthma United Kingdom Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Centre for Respiratory Infection, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
- Host Defence Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton and Harefield National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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Papasavvas E, Foulkes A, Yin X, Joseph J, Ross B, Azzoni L, Kostman JR, Mounzer K, Shull J, Montaner LJ. Plasmacytoid dendritic cell and functional HIV Gag p55-specific T cells before treatment interruption can inform set-point plasma HIV viral load after treatment interruption in chronically suppressed HIV-1(+) patients. Immunology 2015; 145:380-90. [PMID: 25684333 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of immune correlates of HIV control is important for the design of immunotherapies that could support cure or antiretroviral therapy (ART) intensification-related strategies. ART interruptions may facilitate this task through exposure of an ART partially reconstituted immune system to endogenous virus. We investigated the relationship between set-point plasma HIV viral load (VL) during an ART interruption and innate/adaptive parameters before or after interruption. Dendritic cell (DC), natural killer (NK) cell and HIV Gag p55-specific T-cell functional responses were measured in paired cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained at the beginning (on ART) and at set-point of an open-ended interruption from 31 ART-suppressed chronically HIV-1(+) patients. Spearman correlation and linear regression modeling were used. Frequencies of plasmacytoid DC (pDC), and HIV Gag p55-specific CD3(+) CD4(-) perforin(+) IFN-γ(+) cells at the beginning of interruption associated negatively with set-point plasma VL. Inclusion of both variables with interaction into a model resulted in the best fit (adjusted R(2) = 0·6874). Frequencies of pDC or HIV Gag p55-specific CD3(+) CD4(-) CSFE(lo) CD107a(+) cells at set-point associated negatively with set-point plasma VL. The dual contribution of pDC and anti-HIV T-cell responses to viral control, supported by our models, suggests that these variables may serve as immune correlates of viral control and could be integrated in cure or ART-intensification strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Foulkes
- School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Brian Ross
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Jay R Kostman
- Presbyterian Hospital-University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Karam Mounzer
- Philadelphia Field Initiating Group for HIV-1 Trials, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jane Shull
- Philadelphia Field Initiating Group for HIV-1 Trials, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Tansiri Y, Rowland-Jones SL, Ananworanich J, Hansasuta P. Clinical outcome of HIV viraemic controllers and noncontrollers with normal CD4 counts is exclusively determined by antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell-mediated HIV suppression. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118871. [PMID: 25764310 PMCID: PMC4357381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In this cross-sectional study we evaluated T-cell responses using several assays to determine immune correlates of HIV control that distinguish untreated viraemic controllers (VC) from noncontrollers (NC) with similar CD4 counts. Samples were taken from 65 ART-naïve chronically HIV-infected VC and NC from Thailand with matching CD4 counts in the normal range (>450 cells/μl). We determined HIVp24-specific T-cell responses using standard Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) ELISpot assays, and compared the functional quality of HIVp24-specific CD8+ T-cell responses using polychromatic flow cytometry. Finally, in vitro HIV suppression assays were performed to evaluate directly the activity of CD8+ T cells in HIV control. Autologous CD4+ T cells were infected with primary patient-derived HIV isolates and the HIV suppressive activity of CD8+ T cells was determined after co-culture, measuring production of HIVp24 Ag by ELISA. The HIVp24-specific T-cell responses of VC and NC could not completely be differentiated through measurement of IFNγ-producing cells using ELISpot assays, nor by the absolute cell numbers of polyfunctional HIVp24-specific CD8+ T cells. However, in vitro HIV suppression assays showed clear differences between VC and NC. HIV suppressive activity, mediated by either ex vivo unstimulated CD8+ T cells or HIVp24-specific T-cell lines, was significantly greater using cells from VC than NC cells. Additionally, we were able to demonstrate a significant correlation between the level of HIV suppressive activity mediated by ex vivo unstimulated CD8+ T cells and plasma viral load (pVL) (Spearman r = -0.7345, p = 0.0003). This study provides evidence that in vitro HIV suppression assays are the most informative in the functional evaluation of CD8+ T-cell responses and can distinguish between VC and NC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yada Tansiri
- Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sarah L. Rowland-Jones
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, NDM Research Building, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, OX3 7FZ, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pokrath Hansasuta
- Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
An effective human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine is expected to have the greatest impact on HIV-1 spread and remains a global scientific priority. Only one candidate vaccine has significantly reduced HIV-1 acquisition, yet at a limited efficacy of 31%, and none have delayed disease progression in vaccinated individuals. Thus, the challenge remains to develop HIV-1 immunogens that will elicit protective immunity. A combination of two independent approaches - namely the elicitation of broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAb) to prevent or reduce acquisition of infection and stimulation of effective cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to slow disease progression in breakthrough infections (recent evidence suggests that CTLs could also block HIV-1 from establishing persistent infection) - is the current ideal. The purpose of this review is to summarise strategies and progress in the design and testing of HIV-1 immunogens to elicit bNAb and protective CTL immune responses. Recent advances in mimicking the functional native envelope trimer structure and in designing structurally-stabilised bNAb epitope forms to drive development of germline precursors to mature bNAb are highlighted. Systematic or computational approaches to T cell immunogen design aimed at covering viral diversity, increasing the breadth of immune responses and/or reducing viable viral escape are discussed. We also discuss a recent novel vaccine vector approach shown to induce extremely broad and persistent T cell responses that could clear highly pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) early after infection in the monkey model. While in vitro and animal model data are promising, Phase II and III human clinical trials are ultimately needed to determine the efficacy of immunogen design approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn K Mann
- />HIV Pathogenesis Programme, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
- />KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001 South Africa
| | - Thumbi Ndung’u
- />HIV Pathogenesis Programme, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001 South Africa
- />KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001 South Africa
- />Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
- />Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Chariteplatz, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
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Optimizing parallel induction of HIV type 1-specific antibody and T-cell responses by multicomponent subunit vaccines. AIDS 2014; 28:2495-504. [PMID: 25229267 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000000468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Protection against HIV type 1 (HIV-1) infection/AIDS will likely require concerted actions of protective CD8(+) killer T cells and protective antibodies. The challenges in inducing such effectors by active immunization are such that the T-cell and antibody vaccine components require separate development. Here, a rational attempt is taken to combine two separately optimized heterologous regimens into a single T-cell-inducing and antibody-inducing vaccination schedule with minimal induction of unprotective Env-specific T cells. DESIGN Clade A BG505 Env-derived uncleaved gp140 (BG505u) and conserved region tHIVc immunogens were utilized and presented to the immune system using non-replicating simian (chimpanzee) adenovirus ChAdV-63 (C) and poxvirus-modified vaccinia virus Ankara MVA (M). In addition, purified BG505 gp120 (P) was used for antibody induction. METHODS BALB/c mice were vaccinated to elicit Env antibodies alone using ChAdV63.BG505u. MVA.BG505u and BG505 gp120 in regimens CMP, CPP and PPP, and in combination with the ChAdV63.tHIVc and MVA.tHIVc components in regimens CMP+CMM, CPP+CMM and PPP+CMM. Antibody and T-cell responses to BG505 Env and conserved regions of the HIV-1 proteome were determined. RESULTS Although all three regimens delivering BG505 Env induced similar levels of antibodies, BG505-specific T cells were induced in the CMP>CPP>PPP hierarchy, which was maintained during coinduction of tHIVc-specific T cells. Adjuvanted BG505 PPP decreased induction of tHIVc-specific T cells and tHIVc T-cell induction decreased induction of BG505 Ab. As expected, the antibodies that were induced neutralized tier 1 HIV-1 strains. CONCLUSION These results inform designs of initial human studies combining separately optimized T-cell and B-cell HIV-1 vaccines into a single regimen.
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Pereyra F, Heckerman D, Carlson JM, Kadie C, Soghoian DZ, Karel D, Goldenthal A, Davis OB, DeZiel CE, Lin T, Peng J, Piechocka A, Carrington M, Walker BD. HIV control is mediated in part by CD8+ T-cell targeting of specific epitopes. J Virol 2014; 88:12937-48. [PMID: 25165115 PMCID: PMC4249072 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01004-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED We investigated the hypothesis that the correlation between the class I HLA types of an individual and whether that individual spontaneously controls HIV-1 is mediated by the targeting of specific epitopes by CD8(+) T cells. By measuring gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay responses to a panel of 257 optimally defined epitopes in 341 untreated HIV-infected persons, including persons who spontaneously control viremia, we found that the correlation between HLA types and control is mediated by the targeting of specific epitopes. Moreover, we performed a graphical model-based analysis that suggested that the targeting of specific epitopes is a cause of such control--that is, some epitopes are protective rather than merely associated with control--and identified eight epitopes that are significantly protective. In addition, we use an in silico analysis to identify protein regions where mutations are likely to affect the stability of a protein, and we found that the protective epitopes identified by the ELISPOT analysis correspond almost perfectly to such regions. This in silico analysis thus suggests a possible mechanism for control and could be used to identify protective epitopes that are not often targeted in natural infection but that may be potentially useful in a vaccine. Our analyses thus argue for the inclusion (and exclusion) of specific epitopes in an HIV vaccine. IMPORTANCE Some individuals naturally control HIV replication in the absence of antiretroviral therapy, and this ability to control is strongly correlated with the HLA class I alleles that they express. Here, in a large-scale experimental study, we provide evidence that this correlation is mediated largely by the targeting of specific CD8(+) T-cell epitopes, and we identify eight epitopes that are likely to cause control. In addition, we provide an in silico analysis indicating that control occurs because mutations within these epitopes change the stability of the protein structures. This in silico analysis also identified additional epitopes that are not typically targeted in natural infection but may lead to control when included in a vaccine, provided that other epitopes that would otherwise distract the immune system from targeting them are excluded from the vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Pereyra
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Carl Kadie
- Microsoft Research, Redmond, Washington, USA
| | | | - Daniel Karel
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ariel Goldenthal
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Oliver B Davis
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Tienho Lin
- Microsoft Research, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jian Peng
- Microsoft Research, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alicja Piechocka
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mary Carrington
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Cancer and Inflammation Program, Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Bruce D Walker
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
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CD8 and CD4 epitope predictions in RV144: no strong evidence of a T-cell driven sieve effect in HIV-1 breakthrough sequences from trial participants. PLoS One 2014; 9:e111334. [PMID: 25350851 PMCID: PMC4211711 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The modest protection afforded by the RV144 vaccine offers an opportunity to evaluate its mechanisms of protection. Differences between HIV-1 breakthrough viruses from vaccine and placebo recipients can be attributed to the RV144 vaccine as this was a randomized and double-blinded trial. CD8 and CD4 T cell epitope repertoires were predicted in HIV-1 proteomes from 110 RV144 participants. Predicted Gag epitope repertoires were smaller in vaccine than in placebo recipients (p = 0.019). After comparing participant-derived epitopes to corresponding epitopes in the RV144 vaccine, the proportion of epitopes that could be matched differed depending on the protein conservation (only 36% of epitopes in Env vs 84–91% in Gag/Pol/Nef for CD8 predicted epitopes) or on vaccine insert subtype (55% against CRF01_AE vs 7% against subtype B). To compare predicted epitopes to the vaccine, we analyzed predicted binding affinity and evolutionary distance measurements. Comparisons between the vaccine and placebo arm did not reveal robust evidence for a T cell driven sieve effect, although some differences were noted in Env-V2 (0.022≤p-value≤0.231). The paucity of CD8 T cell responses identified following RV144 vaccination, with no evidence for V2 specificity, considered together both with the association of decreased infection risk in RV 144 participants with V-specific antibody responses and a V2 sieve effect, lead us to hypothesize that this sieve effect was not T cell specific. Overall, our results did not reveal a strong differential impact of vaccine-induced T cell responses among breakthrough infections in RV144 participants.
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Hill BJ, Darrah PA, Ende Z, Ambrozak DR, Quinn KM, Darko S, Gostick E, Wooldridge L, van den Berg HA, Venturi V, Larsen M, Davenport MP, Seder RA, Price DA, Douek DC. Epitope specificity delimits the functional capabilities of vaccine-induced CD8 T cell populations. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:5626-36. [PMID: 25348625 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite progress toward understanding the correlates of protective T cell immunity in HIV infection, the optimal approach to Ag delivery by vaccination remains uncertain. We characterized two immunodominant CD8 T cell populations generated in response to immunization of BALB/c mice with a replication-deficient adenovirus serotype 5 vector expressing the HIV-derived Gag and Pol proteins at equivalent levels. The Gag-AI9/H-2K(d) epitope elicited high-avidity CD8 T cell populations with architecturally diverse clonotypic repertoires that displayed potent lytic activity in vivo. In contrast, the Pol-LI9/H-2D(d) epitope elicited motif-constrained CD8 T cell repertoires that displayed lower levels of physical avidity and lytic activity despite equivalent measures of overall clonality. Although low-dose vaccination enhanced the functional profiles of both epitope-specific CD8 T cell populations, greater polyfunctionality was apparent within the Pol-LI9/H-2D(d) specificity. Higher proportions of central memory-like cells were present after low-dose vaccination and at later time points. However, there were no noteworthy phenotypic differences between epitope-specific CD8 T cell populations across vaccine doses or time points. Collectively, these data indicate that the functional and phenotypic properties of vaccine-induced CD8 T cell populations are sensitive to dose manipulation, yet constrained by epitope specificity in a clonotype-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna J Hill
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Patricia A Darrah
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Zachary Ende
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - David R Ambrozak
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Kylie M Quinn
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Sam Darko
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Emma Gostick
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Wooldridge
- Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Hugo A van den Berg
- Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Vanessa Venturi
- Computational Biology Group, Centre for Vascular Research, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Martin Larsen
- INSERM, U1135, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, F-75013 Paris, France; and Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Université Paris 06), CR7, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Miles P Davenport
- Computational Biology Group, Centre for Vascular Research, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Robert A Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - David A Price
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom;
| | - Daniel C Douek
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892;
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