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Bell BN, Bruun TUJ, Friedland N, Kim PS. HIV-1 prehairpin intermediate inhibitors show efficacy independent of neutralization tier. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2215792120. [PMID: 36795752 PMCID: PMC9974412 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215792120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 strains are categorized into one of three neutralization tiers based on the relative ease by which they are neutralized by plasma from HIV-1-infected donors not on antiretroviral therapy; tier-1 strains are particularly sensitive to neutralization while tier-2 and tier-3 strains are increasingly difficult to neutralize. Most broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) previously described target the native prefusion conformation of HIV-1 Envelope (Env), but the relevance of the tiered categories for inhibitors targeting another Env conformation, the prehairpin intermediate, is not well understood. Here, we show that two inhibitors targeting distinct highly conserved regions of the prehairpin intermediate have strikingly consistent neutralization potencies (within ~100-fold for a given inhibitor) against strains in all three neutralization tiers of HIV-1; in contrast, best-in-class bnAbs targeting diverse Env epitopes vary by more than 10,000-fold in potency against these strains. Our results indicate that antisera-based HIV-1 neutralization tiers are not relevant for inhibitors targeting the prehairpin intermediate and highlight the potential for therapies and vaccine efforts targeting this conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin N. Bell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Theodora U. J. Bruun
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Natalia Friedland
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Peter S. Kim
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA94158
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2
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Fotooh Abadi L, Kumar P, Paknikar K, Gajbhiye V, Kulkarni S. Tenofovir-tethered gold nanoparticles as a novel multifunctional long-acting anti-HIV therapy to overcome deficient drug delivery-: an in vivo proof of concept. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:19. [PMID: 36658575 PMCID: PMC9850711 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01750-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The adoption of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) substantially extends the life expectancy and quality of HIV-infected patients. Yet, eliminating the latent reservoirs of HIV to achieve a cure remains an unmet need. The advent of nanomedicine has revolutionized the treatment of HIV/AIDS. The present study explores a unique combination of Tenofovir (TNF) with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a potential therapeutic approach to overcome several limitations of the current ART. RESULTS TNF-tethered AuNPs were successfully synthesized. Cell viability, genotoxicity, haemolysis, and histopathological studies confirmed the complete safety of the preparation. Most importantly, its anti-HIV1 reverse transcriptase activity was ~ 15 folds higher than the native TNF. In addition, it exhibited potent anti-HIV1 protease activity, a much sought-after target in anti-HIV1 therapeutics. Finally, the in vivo biodistribution studies validated that the AuNPs could reach many tissues/organs, serving as a secure nest for HIV and overcoming the problem of deficient drug delivery to HIV reservoirs. CONCLUSIONS We show that the combination of TNF and AuNPs exhibits multifunctional activity, viz. anti-HIV1 and anti-HIV1 protease. These findings are being reported for the first time and highlight the prospects of developing AuNP-TNF as a novel next-generation platform to treat HIV/AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Fotooh Abadi
- grid.419119.50000 0004 1803 003XDivision of Virology, Indian Council of Medical Research-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, 411 026 India
| | - Pramod Kumar
- grid.417727.00000 0001 0730 5817Nanobioscience Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, 411 004 India
| | - Kishore Paknikar
- grid.417727.00000 0001 0730 5817Nanobioscience Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, 411 004 India ,grid.417971.d0000 0001 2198 7527Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, 400 076 India
| | - Virendra Gajbhiye
- grid.417727.00000 0001 0730 5817Nanobioscience Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, 411 004 India
| | - Smita Kulkarni
- grid.419119.50000 0004 1803 003XDivision of Virology, Indian Council of Medical Research-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune, 411 026 India
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3
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Fernandez N, Hayes P, Makinde J, Hare J, King D, Xu R, Rehawi O, Mezzell AT, Kato L, Mugaba S, Serwanga J, Chemweno J, Nduati E, Price MA, Osier F, Ochsenbauer C, Yue L, Hunter E, Gilmour J. Assessment of a diverse panel of transmitted/founder HIV-1 infectious molecular clones in a luciferase based CD8 T-cell mediated viral inhibition assay. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1029029. [PMID: 36532063 PMCID: PMC9751811 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1029029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Immunological protection against human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection is likely to require both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, the latter involving cytotoxic CD8 T-cells. Characterisation of CD8 T-cell mediated direct anti-viral activity would provide understanding of potential correlates of immune protection and identification of critical epitopes associated with HIV-1 control. Methods The present report describes a functional viral inhibition assay (VIA) to assess CD8 T-cell-mediated inhibition of replication of a large and diverse panel of 45 HIV-1 infectious molecular clones (IMC) engineered with a Renilla reniformis luciferase reporter gene (LucR), referred to as IMC-LucR. HIV-1 IMC replication in CD4 T-cells and CD8 T-cell mediated inhibition was characterised in both ART naive subjects living with HIV-1 covering a broad human leukocyte antigen (HLA) distribution and compared with uninfected subjects. Results & discussion CD4 and CD8 T-cell lines were established from subjects vaccinated with a candidate HIV-1 vaccine and provided standard positive controls for both assay quality control and facilitating training and technology transfer. The assay was successfully established across 3 clinical research centres in Kenya, Uganda and the United Kingdom and shown to be reproducible. This IMC-LucR VIA enables characterisation of functional CD8 T-cell responses providing a tool for rational T-cell immunogen design of HIV-1 vaccine candidates and evaluation of vaccine-induced T-cell responses in HIV-1 clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Fernandez
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Natalia Fernandez, ; Peter Hayes,
| | - Peter Hayes
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Natalia Fernandez, ; Peter Hayes,
| | - Julia Makinde
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Hare
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom,IAVI, New York, NY, United States
| | - Deborah King
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rui Xu
- Emory Vaccine Center at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ola Rehawi
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | | | - Laban Kato
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda,Medical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Susan Mugaba
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda,Medical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Jennifer Serwanga
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda,Medical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - James Chemweno
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Eunice Nduati
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Matt A. Price
- IAVI, New York, NY, United States,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Faith Osier
- IAVI Human Immunology Laboratory, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ling Yue
- Emory Vaccine Center at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Eric Hunter
- Emory Vaccine Center at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jill Gilmour
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
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Miner MD, Corey L, Montefiori D. Broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies for HIV prevention. J Int AIDS Soc 2021; 24 Suppl 7:e25829. [PMID: 34806308 PMCID: PMC8606861 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The last 12 years have seen remarkable progress in the isolation and characterization of at least five different epitope classes of HIV‐specific broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). Detailed analyses of these bnAb lineages, maturation pathways and epitopes have created new opportunities for vaccine development. In addition, interest exists in passive administration of monoclonal antibodies as a viable option for HIV prevention. Discussion Recently, two antibody‐mediated prevention (AMP) trials of a passively administered monoclonal antibody targeting the HIV envelope CD4 binding site, called VRC01, provided proof‐of‐concept that monoclonal antibody infusion could offer protection against HIV acquisition. While the trials failed to show overall protection against HIV acquisition, sub‐analyses revealed that VRC01 infusion provided a 75% prevention efficacy against HIV strains that were susceptible to the antibody. The study also demonstrated that in vitro neutralizing activity, measured by the TZM‐bl/pseudovirus assay, was able to predict HIV prevention efficacy in humans. In addition, the AMP trials defined a threshold protective concentration, or neutralization titer, for the VRC01 class of bnAbs, explaining the observed low overall efficacy and serving as a benchmark for the clinical testing of new bnAbs, bnAb cocktails and neutralizing antibody‐inducing vaccines. Newer bnAbs that exhibit greater potency and breadth of neutralization in vitro than VRC01 are available for clinical testing. Combinations of best‐in‐class bnAbs with complementary magnitude, breadth and extent of complete neutralization are predicted to far exceed the prevention efficacy of VRC01. Some engineered bi‐ and trispecific mAbs exhibit similar desirable neutralizing activity and afford advantages for manufacturing and delivery. Modifications that prolong the serum half‐life and improve genital tissue persistence offer additional advantages. Conclusions Iterative phase 1 trials are acquiring safety and pharmacokinetic data on dual and triple bnAbs and bi‐ and trispecific antibodies in preparation for future AMP studies that seek to translate findings from the VRC01 efficacy trials and achieve acceptable levels of overall prevention efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurine D Miner
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lawrence Corey
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David Montefiori
- Department of Surgery and Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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5
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Breadth of CD8 T-cell mediated inhibition of replication of diverse HIV-1 transmitted-founder isolates correlates with the breadth of recognition within a comprehensive HIV-1 Gag, Nef, Env and Pol potential T-cell epitope (PTE) peptide set. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260118. [PMID: 34788349 PMCID: PMC8598018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Full characterisation of functional HIV-1-specific T-cell responses, including identification of recognised epitopes linked with functional antiviral responses, would aid development of effective vaccines but is hampered by HIV-1 sequence diversity. Typical approaches to identify T-cell epitopes utilising extensive peptide sets require subjects’ cell numbers that exceed feasible sample volumes. To address this, CD8 T-cells were polyclonally expanded from PBMC from 13 anti-retroviral naïve subjects living with HIV using CD3/CD4 bi-specific antibody. Assessment of recognition of individual peptides within a set of 1408 HIV-1 Gag, Nef, Pol and Env potential T-cell epitope peptides was achieved by sequential IFNγ ELISpot assays using peptides pooled in 3-D matrices followed by confirmation with single peptides. A Renilla reniformis luciferase viral inhibition assay assessed CD8 T-cell-mediated inhibition of replication of a cross-clade panel of 10 HIV-1 isolates, including 9 transmitted-founder isolates. Polyclonal expansion from one frozen PBMC vial provided sufficient CD8 T-cells for both ELISpot steps in 12 of 13 subjects. A median of 33 peptides in 16 epitope regions were recognised including peptides located in previously characterised HIV-1 epitope-rich regions. There was no significant difference between ELISpot magnitudes for in vitro expanded CD8 T-cells and CD8 T-cells directly isolated from PBMCs. CD8 T-cells from all subjects inhibited a median of 7 HIV-1 isolates (range 4 to 10). The breadth of CD8 T-cell mediated HIV-1 inhibition was significantly positively correlated with CD8 T-cell breadth of peptide recognition. Polyclonal CD8 T-cell expansion allowed identification of HIV-1 isolates inhibited and peptides recognised within a large peptide set spanning the major HIV-1 proteins. This approach overcomes limitations associated with obtaining sufficient cell numbers to fully characterise HIV-1-specific CD8 T-cell responses by different functional readouts within the context of extreme HIV-1 diversity. Such an approach will have useful applications in clinical development for HIV-1 and other diseases.
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6
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Rubio AA, Filsinger Interrante MV, Bell BN, Brown CL, Bruun TUJ, LaBranche CC, Montefiori DC, Kim PS. A Derivative of the D5 Monoclonal Antibody That Targets the gp41 N-Heptad Repeat of HIV-1 with Broad Tier-2-Neutralizing Activity. J Virol 2021; 95:e0235020. [PMID: 33980592 PMCID: PMC8274607 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02350-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infection is initiated by the viral glycoprotein Env, which, after interaction with cellular coreceptors, adopts a transient conformation known as the prehairpin intermediate (PHI). The N-heptad repeat (NHR) is a highly conserved region of gp41 exposed in the PHI; it is the target of the FDA-approved drug enfuvirtide and of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). However, to date, these mAbs have only been weakly effective against tier-1 HIV-1 strains, which are most sensitive to neutralizing antibodies. Here, we engineered and tested 11 IgG variants of D5, an anti-NHR mAb, by recombining previously described mutations in four of D5's six antibody complementarity-determining regions. One variant, D5_AR, demonstrated 6-fold enhancement in the 50% inhibitory dose (ID50) against lentivirus pseudotyped with HXB2 Env. D5_AR exhibited weak cross-clade neutralizing activity against a diverse set of tier-2 HIV-1 viruses, which are less sensitive to neutralizing antibodies than tier-1 viruses and are the target of current antibody-based vaccine efforts. In addition, the neutralization potency of D5_AR IgG was greatly enhanced in target cells expressing FcγRI, with ID50 values of <0.1 μg/ml; this immunoglobulin receptor is expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells, which are implicated in the early stages of HIV-1 infection of mucosal surfaces. D5 and D5_AR have equivalent neutralization potency in IgG, Fab, and single-chain variable-fragment (scFv) formats, indicating that neutralization is not impacted by steric hindrance. Taken together, these results provide support for vaccine strategies that target the PHI by eliciting antibodies against the gp41 NHR and support investigation of anti-NHR mAbs in nonhuman primate passive immunization studies. IMPORTANCE Despite advances in antiretroviral therapy, HIV remains a global epidemic and has claimed more than 32 million lives. Accordingly, developing an effective HIV vaccine remains an urgent public health need. The gp41 N-heptad repeat (NHR) of the HIV-1 prehairpin intermediate (PHI) is highly conserved (>90%) and is inhibited by the FDA-approved drug enfuvirtide, making it an attractive vaccine target. However, to date, anti-NHR antibodies have not been potent. Here, we engineered D5_AR, a more potent variant of the anti-NHR antibody D5, and established its ability to inhibit HIV-1 strains that are more difficult to neutralize and are more representative of circulating strains (tier-2 strains). The neutralizing activity of D5_AR was greatly potentiated in cells expressing FcγRI; FcγRI is expressed on cells that are implicated at the earliest stages of sexual HIV-1 transmission. Taken together, these results bolster efforts to target the gp41 NHR and the PHI for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adonis A. Rubio
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University School of Humanities & Sciences, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Maria V. Filsinger Interrante
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Stanford Biophysics Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Benjamin N. Bell
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Clayton L. Brown
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Theodora U. J. Bruun
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Celia C. LaBranche
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - David C. Montefiori
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peter S. Kim
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California, USA
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7
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The high-affinity immunoglobulin receptor FcγRI potentiates HIV-1 neutralization via antibodies against the gp41 N-heptad repeat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2018027118. [PMID: 33431684 PMCID: PMC7826338 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018027118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research, an effective HIV-1 vaccine remains elusive. One potential vaccine target is the N-heptad repeat (NHR) region of gp41, which is the target of the FDA-approved drug enfuvirtide. However, monoclonal antibodies and antisera targeting this region have only been modestly neutralizing to date. Here, we show that the neutralization potency of the well-characterized anti-NHR antibody D5 is increased >5,000-fold by expression of FcγRI (CD64) on cells. Since FcγRI is expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells, which are implicated in the early establishment of HIV-1 infection following sexual transmission, these results may be important to HIV-1 vaccine development. The HIV-1 gp41 N-heptad repeat (NHR) region of the prehairpin intermediate, which is transiently exposed during HIV-1 viral membrane fusion, is a validated clinical target in humans and is inhibited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug enfuvirtide. However, vaccine candidates targeting the NHR have yielded only modest neutralization activities in animals; this inhibition has been largely restricted to tier-1 viruses, which are most sensitive to neutralization by sera from HIV-1–infected individuals. Here, we show that the neutralization activity of the well-characterized NHR-targeting antibody D5 is potentiated >5,000-fold in TZM-bl cells expressing FcγRI compared with those without, resulting in neutralization of many tier-2 viruses (which are less susceptible to neutralization by sera from HIV-1–infected individuals and are the target of current antibody-based vaccine efforts). Further, antisera from guinea pigs immunized with the NHR-based vaccine candidate (ccIZN36)3 neutralized tier-2 viruses from multiple clades in an FcγRI-dependent manner. As FcγRI is expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells, which are present at mucosal surfaces and are implicated in the early establishment of HIV-1 infection following sexual transmission, these results may be important in the development of a prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine.
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8
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Marcelino R, Gramacho F, Martin F, Brogueira P, Janeiro N, Afonso C, Badura R, Valadas E, Mansinho K, Caldeira L, Taveira N, Marcelino JM. Antibody response against selected epitopes in the HIV-1 envelope gp41 ectodomain contributes to reduce viral burden in HIV-1 infected patients. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8993. [PMID: 33903642 PMCID: PMC8076315 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88274-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The ectodomain of gp41 is the target of potent binding and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and is being explored in new strategies for antibody-based HIV vaccines. Previous studies have suggested that the W164A-3S (3S) and EC26-2A4 (EC26) peptides located in the gp41 ectodomain may be potential HIV vaccine candidates. We assessed 3S- and EC26-specific binding antibody responses and related neutralizing activity in a large panel of chronic HIV-1-infected Portuguese individuals on ART. A similar proportion of participants had antibodies binding to 3S (9.6%) and EC26 (9.9%) peptides but the level of reactivity against 3S was significantly higher compared to EC26, except in the rare patients with double peptide reactivity. The higher antigenicity of 3S was unrelated with disease stage, as assessed by CD4+ T cell counts, but it was directly related with plasma viral load. Most patients that were tested (89.9%, N = 268) showed tier 1 neutralizing activity, the potency being inversely associated with plasma viral load. In the subset of patients that were tested for neutralization of tier 2 isolates, neutralization breadth was inversely correlated with plasma viral load and directly correlated with CD4+ T cell counts. These results are consistent with a role for neutralizing antibodies in controlling viral replication and preventing the decline of CD4+ T lymphocytes. Importantly, in patients with 3S-specific antibodies, neutralizing titers were inversely correlated with viral RNA levels and proviral DNA levels. Moreover, patients with 3S and/or EC26-specific antibodies showed a 1.9-fold higher tier 2 neutralization score than patients without antibodies suggesting that 3S and/or EC26-specific antibodies contribute to neutralization breadth and potency in HIV-1 infected patients. Overall, these results suggest that antibodies targeting the S3 and EC26 epitopes may contribute to reduce viral burden and provide further support for the inclusion of 3S and EC26 epitopes in HIV-1 vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rute Marcelino
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine-GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical-IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa-UNL, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-003, Lisboa, Portugal.,Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz (CiiEM), Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz, Monte de Caparica, 2829-511, Monte de Caparica, Portugal
| | - Filipa Gramacho
- Hospital de Santa Maria-HSM, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte-CHLN, E.P.E., Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Francisco Martin
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-003, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Brogueira
- Serviço de Doenças Infeciosas, Hospital Egas Moniz-HEM, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental-CHLO, E.P.E., Lisboa, 1349-019, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nuno Janeiro
- Hospital de Santa Maria-HSM, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte-CHLN, E.P.E., Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.,Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infeciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa-UL, Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Claudia Afonso
- Hospital de Santa Maria-HSM, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte-CHLN, E.P.E., Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.,Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infeciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa-UL, Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Robert Badura
- Hospital de Santa Maria-HSM, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte-CHLN, E.P.E., Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.,Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infeciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa-UL, Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Emília Valadas
- Hospital de Santa Maria-HSM, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte-CHLN, E.P.E., Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.,Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infeciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa-UL, Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Kamal Mansinho
- Serviço de Doenças Infeciosas, Hospital Egas Moniz-HEM, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental-CHLO, E.P.E., Lisboa, 1349-019, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luís Caldeira
- Hospital de Santa Maria-HSM, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte-CHLN, E.P.E., Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.,Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infeciosas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa-UL, Lisboa, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nuno Taveira
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-003, Lisboa, Portugal.,Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz (CiiEM), Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz, Monte de Caparica, 2829-511, Monte de Caparica, Portugal
| | - José M Marcelino
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine-GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical-IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa-UNL, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal. .,Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-003, Lisboa, Portugal. .,Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz (CiiEM), Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz, Monte de Caparica, 2829-511, Monte de Caparica, Portugal.
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9
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Neutralization Sensitivity of a Novel HIV-1 CRF01_AE Panel of Infectious Molecular Clones. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2019. [PMID: 29528942 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV-1 CRF01_AE is dominant in Thailand where RV144 vaccine trial was conducted. To study immune correlates of protection in ongoing trials, CRF01_AE-derived reagents are essential. Here, we present a panel of 14 HIV-1 infectious molecular clones (IMCs) identified from different stages of infection and characterization of their neutralization sensitivity using 2 standard assays. METHODS One full-length IMC was constructed using a transmitted-founder virus to express Renilla luciferase (LucR) reporter gene and full-length envelopes (envs) of exogenous HIV-1. A panel of IMCs was generated, expressing envs of viruses from acute (Fiebig stages I/II and I-IV) and chronic (>Fiebig VI) infection. Neutralization assays were performed using TZM-bl or A3R5 cell lines, and sera or monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Wilcoxon matched-paired test was used to assess neutralization differences between assays and reagents; correlation coefficients were evaluated by linear regression. RESULTS Neutralization potency observed was significantly higher in the A3R5 assay when testing mAbs and serum pools (P < 0.0001); the stage of infection from which env was derived did not associate with IMC neutralization sensitivity. Neutralization values from A3R5 and TZM-bl assays were strongly correlated when mAbs were tested (R = 0.7, P < 0.0001), but a weaker association was seen with serum pools (R = 0.17, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS This novel panel of CRF01_AE reporter IMC is useful for assessing vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies in multiple assays, including those using primary cell targets. The significant differences in TZM-bl and A3R5 neutralization sensitivity, as well as the poor association when using polyclonal sera indicates the need for caution in choosing one specific platform.
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10
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Zhou M, Humbert M, Mukhtar MM, Scinto HB, Vyas HK, Lakhashe SK, Byrareddy SN, Maurer G, Thorat S, Owuor J, Lai Z, Chen Y, Griffiths A, Chenine AL, Gumber S, Villinger F, Montefiori D, Ruprecht RM. Adaptation of an R5 Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Encoding an HIV Clade A Envelope with or without Ablation of Adaptive Host Immunity: Differential Selection of Viral Mutants. J Virol 2019; 93:e02267-18. [PMID: 30760566 PMCID: PMC6475780 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02267-18] [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: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) infection in rhesus macaques (RMs) resembles human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in humans and serves as a tool to evaluate candidate AIDS vaccines. HIV-1 clade A (HIV-A) predominates in parts of Africa. We constructed an R5 clade A SHIV (SHIV-A; strain SHIV-KNH1144) carrying env from a Kenyan HIV-A. SHIV-A underwent rapid serial passage through six RMs. To allow unbridled replication without adaptive immunity, we simultaneously ablated CD8+ and B cells with cytotoxic monoclonal antibodies in the next RM, resulting in extremely high viremia and CD4+ T-cell loss. Infected blood was then transferred into two non-immune-depleted RMs, where progeny SHIV-A showed increased replicative capacity and caused AIDS. We reisolated SHIV-KNH1144p4, which was replication competent in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of all RMs tested. Next-generation sequencing of early- and late-passage SHIV-A strains identified mutations that arose due to "fitness" virus optimization in the former and mutations exhibiting signatures typical for adaptive host immunity in the latter. "Fitness" mutations are best described as mutations that allow for better fit of the HIV-A Env with SIV-derived virion building blocks or host proteins and mutations in noncoding regions that accelerate virus replication, all of which result in the outgrowth of virus variants in the absence of adaptive T-cell and antibody-mediated host immunity.IMPORTANCE In this study, we constructed a simian-human immunodeficiency virus carrying an R5 Kenyan HIV-1 clade A env (SHIV-A). To bypass host immunity, SHIV-A was rapidly passaged in naive macaques or animals depleted of both CD8+ and B cells. Next-generation sequencing identified different mutations that resulted from optimization of viral replicative fitness either in the absence of adaptive immunity or due to pressure from adaptive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingkui Zhou
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael Humbert
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Muhammad M Mukhtar
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hanna B Scinto
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Hemant K Vyas
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samir K Lakhashe
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Siddappa N Byrareddy
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gregor Maurer
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- VetCore, Facility for Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Swati Thorat
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joshua Owuor
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Zhao Lai
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Yidong Chen
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | | | - Agnès-Laurence Chenine
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Military HIV Research Program, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Sanjeev Gumber
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - François Villinger
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David Montefiori
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ruth M Ruprecht
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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11
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Peptide Assembly on the Membrane Determines the HIV-1 Inhibitory Activity of Dual-Targeting Fusion Inhibitor Peptides. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3257. [PMID: 30824796 PMCID: PMC6397244 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40125-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel strategies in the design of HIV-1 fusion/entry inhibitors are based on the construction of dual-targeting fusion proteins and peptides with synergistic antiviral effects. In this work we describe the design of dual-targeting peptides composed of peptide domains of E2 and E1 envelope proteins from Human Pegivirus with the aim of targeting both the loop region and the fusion peptide domains of HIV-1 gp41. In a previous work, we described the inhibitory role of a highly conserved fragment of the E1 protein (domain 139–156) which interacts with the HIV-1 fusion peptide at the membrane level. Here, two different dual-targeting peptides, where this E1 peptide is located on the N- or the C-terminus respectively, have been chemically synthesized and their antiviral activities have been evaluated with HIV pseudotyped viruses from different clades. The study of the functional behaviour of peptides in a membranous environment attending to the peptide recognition of the target sites on gp41, the peptide conformation as well as the peptide affinity to the membrane, demonstrate that antiviral activity of the dual-targeting peptides is directly related to the peptide affinity and its subsequent assembly into the model membrane. The overall results point out to the necessity that fusion inhibitor peptides that specifically interfere with the N-terminal region of gp41 are embedded within the membrane in order to properly interact with their viral target.
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12
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Gumba H, Musyoki J, Mosobo M, Lowe B. Implementation of Good Clinical Laboratory Practice in an Immunology Basic Research Laboratory: The KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories Experience. Am J Clin Pathol 2019; 151:270-274. [PMID: 30339188 PMCID: PMC6360634 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqy138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) is a standard that ensures quality and reliability of research data by adopting the principles of Good Laboratory Practice and Good Clinical Practice. Even though implementing a quality system in a basic research laboratory is still a contentious issue, it ensures that the research data are accurate, valid, and reliable. GCLP implementation requires proper documented procedures and safety precautions to achieve this objective. Methods This article describes the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)–Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories experience in the implementation of GCLP guidelines in a laboratory conducting basic research. Results The laboratory managed to implement GCLP elements that could be applied to a basic research laboratory, such as standard operating procedures, equipment management, laboratory analytical plans, organization, and personnel. The laboratory achieved GCLP accreditation in October 2015. Conclusions The methodology, suggestions, and comments that arose from our experience in implementing GCLP guidelines can be used by other laboratories to develop a quality system using GCLP guidelines to support medical research conducted to ensure the research data are reliable and can be easily reconstructed in other research settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horace Gumba
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Moses Mosobo
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Brett Lowe
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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13
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Xie H, Nie J, Chen Q, Huang W, Wang Y. Comparison of the genotypic and phenotypic properties of HIV-1 standard subtype B and subtype B/B' env molecular clones derived from infections in China. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018; 7:90. [PMID: 29769530 PMCID: PMC5955974 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0087-0] [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: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Although a number of standardized human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) pseudoviruses have been generated to assess neutralizing antibodies, subtype B/B′ has not been comprehensively characterized either genotypically or phenotypically. Full-length env genes were isolated from plasma samples derived from B/B′-infected individuals, including former plasma donors and men who had sex with men. The neutralization properties of these pseudoviruses were determined by testing against sCD4, 16 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and 44 plasma samples, including samples from those infected with the three major prevalent clades in China. Twenty-eight pseudoviruses were successfully constructed, including 15 B′ and 13 B strains. Compared with subtype B strains from North America and Europe, the B′ strains from China showed greater variation in the V3 loop and higher susceptibility to the neutralizing antibody 2F5 and B/B′ plasma samples. The B′ strains from China showed significantly lower susceptibility to some trimer apex-binding neutralizing antibodies (PGT145, CH01, CH02, CH03, and CH04) than the B strains from Western countries. The 28 B-pseudotyped and B′-pseudotyped viruses were grouped into high, medium, and low clusters based on their overall neutralization sensitivity to plasma samples. The different genotypic and phenotypic properties of the standard subtype B from those of the Western viruses compared to the B and B′ strains from China suggest that clones from HIV-1-infected individuals in China are more suitable for the evaluation of candidate vaccines targeting the subtype B/B′ viruses circulating in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xie
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, No. 9 Dongdan Santiao, Dongcheng District,, 100730, Beijing, China.,Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 31 Huatuo Street, Daxing District,, 102629, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhui Nie
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 31 Huatuo Street, Daxing District,, 102629, Beijing, China
| | - Qingqing Chen
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 31 Huatuo Street, Daxing District,, 102629, Beijing, China
| | - Weijin Huang
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 31 Huatuo Street, Daxing District,, 102629, Beijing, China
| | - Youchun Wang
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, No. 9 Dongdan Santiao, Dongcheng District,, 100730, Beijing, China. .,Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 31 Huatuo Street, Daxing District,, 102629, Beijing, China.
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14
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Unique Phenotypic Characteristics of Recently Transmitted HIV-1 Subtype C Envelope Glycoprotein gp120: Use of CXCR6 Coreceptor by Transmitted Founder Viruses. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.00063-18. [PMID: 29491151 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00063-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adequate information on the precise molecular and biological composition of the viral strains that establish HIV infection in the human host will provide effective means of immunization against HIV infection. In an attempt to identify the transmitted founder (TF) virus and differentiate the biological properties and infectious potential of the TF virus from those of the population of the early transmitted viruses, 250 patient-derived gp120 envelope glycoproteins were cloned in pMN-K7-Luc-IRESs-NefΔgp120 to obtain chimeric viruses. Samples were obtained from eight infants who had recently become infected with HIV through mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) and two adults who acquired infection through the heterosexual route and were in the chronic stage of infection. Among the 250 clones tested, 65 chimeric viruses were infectious, and all belonged to HIV-1 subtype C. The 65 clones were analyzed for molecular features of the envelope, per-infectious-particle infectivity, coreceptor tropism, drug sensitivity, and sensitivity to broadly neutralizing antibodies. Based on genotypic and phenotypic analysis of the viral clones, we identified 10 TF viruses from the eight infants. The TF viruses were characterized by shorter V1V2 regions, a reduced number of potential N-linked glycosylation sites, and a higher infectivity titer compared to the virus variants from the adults in the chronic stage of infection. CXCR6 coreceptor usage, in addition to that of the CCR5 coreceptor, which was used by all 65 chimeric viruses, was identified in 13 viruses. The sensitivity of the TF variants to maraviroc and a standard panel of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (VRC01, PG09, PG16, and PGT121) was found to be much lower than that of the virus variants from the adults in the chronic stage of infection.IMPORTANCE Tremendous progress has been made during the last three and half decades of HIV research, but some significant gaps continue to exist. One of the frontier areas of HIV research which has not seen a breakthrough yet is vaccine research, which is because of the enormous genetic diversity of HIV-1 and the unique infectious fitness of the virus. Among the repertoire of viral variants, the virus that establishes successful infection (transmitted founder [TF] virus) has not been well characterized yet. An insight into the salient features of the TF virus would go a long way toward helping with the design of an effective vaccine against HIV. Here we studied the biological properties of recently transmitted viruses isolated from infants who acquired infection from the mother and have come up with unique characterizations for the TF virus that establishes infection in the human host.
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15
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Schultz A, Germann A, Fuss M, Sarzotti-Kelsoe M, Ozaki DA, Montefiori DC, Zimmermann H, von Briesen H. Validation of an automated system for aliquoting of HIV-1 Env-pseudotyped virus stocks. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190669. [PMID: 29300769 PMCID: PMC5754138 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The standardized assessments of HIV-specific immune responses are of main interest in the preclinical and clinical stage of HIV-1 vaccine development. In this regard, HIV-1 Env-pseudotyped viruses play a central role for the evaluation of neutralizing antibody profiles and are produced according to Good Clinical Laboratory Practice- (GCLP-) compliant manual and automated procedures. To further improve and complete the automated production cycle an automated system for aliquoting HIV-1 pseudovirus stocks has been implemented. The automation platform consists of a modified Tecan-based system including a robot platform for handling racks containing 48 cryovials, a Decapper, a tubing pump and a safety device consisting of ultrasound sensors for online liquid level detection of each individual cryovial. With the aim to aliquot the HIV-1 pseudoviruses in an automated manner under GCLP-compliant conditions a validation plan was developed where the acceptance criteria—accuracy, precision as well as the specificity and robustness—were defined and summarized. By passing the validation experiments described in this article the automated system for aliquoting has been successfully validated. This allows the standardized and operator independent distribution of small-scale and bulk amounts of HIV-1 pseudovirus stocks with a precise and reproducible outcome to support upcoming clinical vaccine trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Schultz
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Weg 1, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Anja Germann
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Weg 1, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Martina Fuss
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Weg 1, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Marcella Sarzotti-Kelsoe
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Daniel A Ozaki
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - David C Montefiori
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Heiko Zimmermann
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Weg 1, Sulzbach, Germany.,Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology/Nanotechnology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.,Marine Sciences Universidad Católica del Norte, Antafogasta/Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Hagen von Briesen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Weg 1, Sulzbach, Germany
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16
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Zhang L, Li Q, Liu Q, Huang W, Nie J, Wang Y. A bioluminescent imaging mouse model for Marburg virus based on a pseudovirus system. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2017; 13:1811-1817. [PMID: 28481728 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1325050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Marburg virus (MARV) can cause lethal hemorrhagic fever in humans. Handling of MARV is restricted to high-containment biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) facilities, which greatly impedes research into this virus. In this study, a high titer of MARV pseudovirus was generated through optimization of the HIV backbone vectors, the ratio of backbone vector to MARV glycoprotein expression vector, and the transfection reagents. An in vitro neutralization assay and an in vivo bioluminescent imaging mouse model for MARV were developed based on the pseudovirus. Protective serum against MARV was successfully induced in guinea pigs, which showed high neutralization activity in vitro and could also protect Balb/c mice from MARV pseudovirus infection in vivo. This system could be a convenient tool to enable the evaluation of vaccines and therapeutic drugs against MARV in non-BSL-4 laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- a Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually-transmitted Virus Vaccines , National Institutes for Food and Drug Control , Beijing , China
| | - Qianqian Li
- a Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually-transmitted Virus Vaccines , National Institutes for Food and Drug Control , Beijing , China
| | - Qiang Liu
- a Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually-transmitted Virus Vaccines , National Institutes for Food and Drug Control , Beijing , China
| | - Weijin Huang
- a Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually-transmitted Virus Vaccines , National Institutes for Food and Drug Control , Beijing , China
| | - Jianhui Nie
- a Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually-transmitted Virus Vaccines , National Institutes for Food and Drug Control , Beijing , China
| | - Youchun Wang
- a Division of HIV/AIDS and Sexually-transmitted Virus Vaccines , National Institutes for Food and Drug Control , Beijing , China
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17
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Nie J, Wu X, Ma J, Cao S, Huang W, Liu Q, Li X, Li Y, Wang Y. Development of in vitro and in vivo rabies virus neutralization assays based on a high-titer pseudovirus system. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42769. [PMID: 28218278 PMCID: PMC5316940 DOI: 10.1038/srep42769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudoviruses are useful virological tools because of their safety and versatility; however the low titer of these viruses substantially limits their wider applications. We developed a highly efficient pseudovirus production system capable of yielding 100 times more rabies pseudovirus than the traditional method. Employing the high-titer pseudoviruses, we have developed robust in vitro and in vivo neutralization assays for the evaluation of rabies vaccine, which traditionally relies on live-virus based assays. Compared with current rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT), our in vitro pseudovirus-based neutralization assay (PBNA) is much less labor-intensive while demonstrating better reproducibility. Moreover, the in vivo PBNA assay was also found to be superior to the live virus based assay. Following intravenous administration, the pseudovirus effectively infected the mice, with dynamic viral distributions being sequentially observed in spleen, liver and brain. Furthermore, data from in vivo PBNA showed great agreement with those generated from the live virus model but with the experimental time significantly reduced from 2 weeks to 3 days. Taken together, the effective pseudovirus production system facilitated the development of novel PBNA assays which could replace live virus-based traditional assays due to its safety, rapidity, reproducibility and high throughput capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Nie
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 2 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiaohong Wu
- Division of Arboviral Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 2 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jian Ma
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 2 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Shouchun Cao
- Division of Arboviral Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 2 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Weijin Huang
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 2 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 2 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xuguang Li
- Centre for Biologics Evaluation, Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, On K1A 0K9, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, On, Canada
| | - Yuhua Li
- Division of Arboviral Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 2 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Youchun Wang
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), No. 2 Tiantanxili, Beijing 100050, China
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18
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Detection of Broadly Neutralizing Activity within the First Months of HIV-1 Infection. J Virol 2016; 90:5231-5245. [PMID: 26984721 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00049-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED A fraction of HIV-1 patients are able to generate broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) after 2 to 4 years of infection. In rare occasions such antibodies are observed close to the first year of HIV-1 infection but never within the first 6 months. In this study, we analyzed the neutralization breadth of sera from 157 antiretroviral-naive individuals who were infected for less than 1 year. A range of neutralizing activities was observed with a previously described panel of six recombinant viruses from five different subtypes (M. Medina-Ramirez et al., J Virol 85:5804-5813, 2011, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JVI.02482-10). Some sera were broadly reactive, predominantly targeting envelope epitopes within the V2 glycan-dependent region. The neutralization breadth was positively associated with time postinfection (P = 0.0001), but contrary to what has been reported for chronic infections, no association with the viral load was observed. Notably, five individuals within the first 6 months of infection (two as early as 77 and 96 days postinfection) showed substantial cross-neutralization. This was confirmed with an extended panel of 20 Env pseudoviruses from four different subtypes (two in tier 3, 14 in tier 2, and four in tier 1). Sera from these individuals were capable of neutralizing viruses from four different subtypes with a geometric mean 50% infective dose (ID50) between 100 and 800. These results indicate that induction of cross-neutralizing responses, albeit rare, is achievable even within 6 months of HIV-1 infection. These observations encourage the search for immunogens able to elicit this kind of response in preventive HIV-1 vaccine approaches. IMPORTANCE There are very few individuals able to mount broadly neutralizing activity (bNA) close to the first year postinfection. It is not known how early in the infection cross-neutralizing responses can be induced. In the present study, we show that bNAbs, despite being rare, can be induced much earlier than previously thought. The identification of HIV-1-infected patients with these activities within the first months of infection and characterization of these responses will help in defining new immunogen designs and neutralization targets for vaccine-mediated induction of bNAbs.
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Xing L, Wang S, Hu Q, Li J, Zeng Y. Comparison of three quantification methods for the TZM-bl pseudovirus assay for screening of anti-HIV-1 agents. J Virol Methods 2016; 233:56-61. [PMID: 27016178 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2016.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The TZM-bl pseudovirus assay is commonly used to evaluate the efficacy of neutralizing antibodies and small molecular inhibitors in HIV-1 research. Here, to determine the optimal measurement method for screening anti-HIV-1 inhibitors, we compared three measurement methods based on firefly luciferase and β-galactosidase activities. The 50% tissue culture infective doses (TCID50) of the pseudoviruses were determined using the luciferase, β-galactosidase colorimetric, and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (X-gal) staining assays. Three commercial reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (azidothymidine, nevirapine, and lamivudine) were tested as reference drugs to compare the reproducibility, linear correlation, and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values determined using these methods. In the TCID50 assay, the sensitivity of β-galactosidase colorimetric assay was almost 562 times lower than that of the other two methods. Reproducible dose-response curves were obtained for the inhibitors with all methods; the IC50 values of the inhibitors were not significantly different. Linear regression analysis showed linear correlation between methods. Compared to the β-galactosidase colorimetric assay, the other two methods have the advantage of high sensitivity and are less affected by interference. In conclusion, the luciferase and X-gal staining assays, which can be applied either alone or combined, are recommended for anti-HIV-1 inhibitor screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liying Xing
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, No. 100 Pingleyuan, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Shunyi Wang
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, No. 100 Pingleyuan, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Qin Hu
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, No. 100 Pingleyuan, Beijing 100124, PR China.
| | - Jingtao Li
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, No. 100 Pingleyuan, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Yi Zeng
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, No. 100 Pingleyuan, Beijing 100124, PR China
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Montefiori DC. Importance of neutralization sieve analyses when seeking correlates of HIV-1 vaccine efficacy. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 10:2507-11. [PMID: 25424964 PMCID: PMC4896798 DOI: 10.4161/hv.28950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
This commentary describes a rationale for the use of breakthrough viruses from clinical trial participants to assess neutralizing antibodies as a correlate of HIV-1 vaccine efficacy. The rationale is based on principles of a genetic sieve analysis, where the 2 analyses may be cooperative for delineating neutralizing antibodies as a mechanistic correlate of protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Montefiori
- a Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research & Development; Department of Surgery; Duke University Medical Center; Durham, NC USA
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21
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Inhibitory Effect of Individual or Combinations of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies and Antiviral Reagents against Cell-Free and Cell-to-Cell HIV-1 Transmission. J Virol 2015; 89:7813-28. [PMID: 25995259 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00783-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED To date, most therapeutic and vaccine candidates for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are evaluated preclinically for efficacy against cell-free viral challenges. However, cell-associated HIV-1 is suggested to be a major contributor to sexual transmission by mucosal routes. To determine if neutralizing antibodies or inhibitors block cell-free and cell-associated virus transmission of diverse HIV-1 strains with different efficiencies, we tested 12 different antibodies and five inhibitors against four green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled HIV-1 envelope (Env) variants from transmitted/founder (T/F) or chronic infection isolates. We evaluated antibody/inhibitor-mediated virus neutralization using either TZM-bl target cells, in which infectivity was determined by virus-driven luciferase expression, or A3R5 lymphoblastoid target cells, in which infectivity was evaluated by GFP expression. In both the TZM-bl and A3R5 assays, cell-free virus or infected CD4+ lymphocytes were used as targets for neutralization. We further hypothesized that the combined use of specific neutralizing antibodies targeting HIV-1 Env would more effectively prevent cell-associated virus transmission than the use of individual antibodies. The tested antibody combinations included two gp120-directed antibodies, VRC01 and PG9, or VRC01 with the gp41-directed antibody 10E8. Our results demonstrated that cell-associated virus was less sensitive to neutralizing antibodies and inhibitors, particularly using the A3R5 neutralization assay, and the potencies of these neutralizing agents differed among Env variants. A combination of different neutralizing antibodies that target specific sites on gp120 led to a significant reduction in cell-associated virus transmission. These assays will help identify ideal combinations of broadly neutralizing antibodies to use for passive preventive antibody administration and further characterize targets for the most effective neutralizing antibodies/inhibitors. IMPORTANCE Prevention of the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remains a prominent goal of HIV research. The relative contribution of HIV-1 within an infected cell versus cell-free HIV-1 to virus transmission remains debated. It has been suggested that cell-associated virus is more efficient at transmitting HIV-1 and more difficult to neutralize than cell-free virus. Several broadly neutralizing antibodies and retroviral inhibitors are currently being studied as potential therapies against HIV-1 transmission. The present study demonstrates a decrease in neutralizing antibody and inhibitor efficiencies against cell-associated compared to cell-free HIV-1 transmission among different strains of HIV-1. We also observed a significant reduction in virus transmission using a combination of two different neutralizing antibodies that target specific sites on the outermost region of HIV-1, the virus envelope. Therefore, our findings support the use of antibody combinations against both cell-free and cell-associated virus in future candidate therapy regimens.
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22
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Sambor A, Garcia A, Berrong M, Pickeral J, Brown S, Rountree W, Sanchez A, Pollara J, Frahm N, Keinonen S, Kijak GH, Roederer M, Levine G, D'Souza MP, Jaimes M, Koup R, Denny T, Cox J, Ferrari G. Establishment and maintenance of a PBMC repository for functional cellular studies in support of clinical vaccine trials. J Immunol Methods 2014; 409:107-16. [PMID: 24787274 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2014.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A large repository of cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) samples was created to provide laboratories testing the specimens from human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) vaccine clinical trials the material for assay development, optimization, and validation. One hundred thirty-one PBMC samples were collected using leukapheresis procedure between 2007 and 2013 by the Comprehensive T cell Vaccine Immune Monitoring Consortium core repository. The donors included 83 human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) seronegative and 32 HIV-1 seropositive subjects. The samples were extensively characterized for the ability of T cell subsets to respond to recall viral antigens including cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, influenza virus, and HIV-1 using Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) enzyme linked immunospot (ELISpot) and IFN-γ/interleukin 2 (IL-2) intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assays. A subset of samples was evaluated over time to determine the integrity of the cryopreserved samples in relation to recovery, viability, and functionality. The principal results of our study demonstrate that viable and functional cells were consistently recovered from the cryopreserved samples. Therefore, we determined that this repository of large size cryopreserved cellular samples constitutes a unique resource for laboratories that are involved in optimization and validation of assays to evaluate T, B, and NK cellular functions in the context of clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sambor
- Foundation for National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ambrosia Garcia
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Sara Brown
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Wes Rountree
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ana Sanchez
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Nicole Frahm
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sarah Keinonen
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gustavo H Kijak
- Viral Genetics Section, US Military HIV Research Program, Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | | | - Gail Levine
- Foundation for National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Richard Koup
- Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas Denny
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Josephine Cox
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, New York, NY, USA
| | - Guido Ferrari
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
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23
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Sarzotti-Kelsoe M, Daniell X, Todd CA, Bilska M, Martelli A, LaBranche C, Perez LG, Ochsenbauer C, Kappes JC, Rountree W, Denny TN, Montefiori DC. Optimization and validation of a neutralizing antibody assay for HIV-1 in A3R5 cells. J Immunol Methods 2014; 409:147-60. [PMID: 24607608 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2014.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A3R5 is a human CD4(+) lymphoblastoid cell line that was engineered to express CCR5 and is useful for the detection of weak neutralizing antibody responses against tier 2 strains of HIV-1. Here we describe the optimization and validation of the HIV-1 neutralizing antibody assay that utilizes A3R5 cells, performed in compliance with Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) guidelines. The assay utilizes Renilla luciferase-expressing replication competent infectious molecular clones (IMC) encoding heterologous env genes from different HIV-1 clades. Key assay validation parameters tested included specificity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection and quantitation, specificity, linearity and range, and robustness. Plasma samples demonstrated higher non-specific activity than serum samples in the A3R5 assay. This assay can tolerate a wide range of virus input but is more sensitive to cell concentration. The higher sensitivity of the A3R5 assay in neutralization responses to tier 2 strains of HIV-1 makes it complementary to, but not a substitute for the TZM-bl assay. The validated A3R5 assay is employed as an endpoint immunogenicity test for vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies against tier 2 strains of HIV-1, and to identify correlates of protection in HIV-1 vaccine trials conducted globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Sarzotti-Kelsoe
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Xiaoju Daniell
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Miroslawa Bilska
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Amanda Martelli
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Celia LaBranche
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lautaro G Perez
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - John C Kappes
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Optimization and validation of the TZM-bl assay for standardized assessments of neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1. J Immunol Methods 2013; 409:131-46. [PMID: 24291345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2013.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 379] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The TZM-bl assay measures antibody-mediated neutralization of HIV-1 as a function of reductions in HIV-1 Tat-regulated firefly luciferase (Luc) reporter gene expression after a single round of infection with Env-pseudotyped viruses. This assay has become the main endpoint neutralization assay used for the assessment of pre-clinical and clinical trial samples by a growing number of laboratories worldwide. Here we present the results of the formal optimization and validation of the TZM-bl assay, performed in compliance with Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) guidelines. The assay was evaluated for specificity, accuracy, precision, limits of detection and quantitation, linearity, range and robustness. The validated manual TZM-bl assay was also adapted, optimized and qualified to an automated 384-well format.
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25
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Development of a luciferase based viral inhibition assay to evaluate vaccine induced CD8 T-cell responses. J Immunol Methods 2013; 409:161-73. [PMID: 24291126 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2013.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Emergence of SIV and HIV specific CD8 T cells has been shown to correlate with control of in vivo replication. Poor correlation between IFN-γ ELISPOT responses and in vivo control of the virus has triggered the development of more relevant assays to assess functional HIV-1 specific CD8 T-cell responses for the evaluation and prioritization of new HIV-1 vaccine candidates. We previously established a viral inhibition assay (VIA) that measures the ability of vaccine-induced CD8 T-cell responses to inhibit viral replication in autologous CD4 T cells. In this assay, viral replication is determined by measuring p24 in the culture supernatant. Here we describe the development of a novel VIA, referred to as IMC LucR VIA that exploits replication-competent HIV-1 infectious molecular clones (IMCs) in which the complete proviral genome is strain-specific and which express the Renilla luciferase (LucR) gene to determine viral growth and inhibition. The introduction of the luciferase readout does provide significant improvement of the read out time. In addition to switching to the LucR read out, changes made to the overall protocol resulted in the miniaturization of the assay from a 48 to a 96-well plate format, which preserved sample and allowed for the introduction of replicates. The overall assay time was reduced from 13 to 8 days. The assay has a high degree of specificity, and the previously observed non-specific background inhibition in cells from HIV-1 negative volunteers has been reduced dramatically. Importantly, we observed an increase in positive responses, indicating an improvement in sensitivity compared to the original VIA. Currently, only a limited number of "whole-genome" IMC-LucR viruses are available and our efforts will focus on expanding the panel to better evaluate anti-viral breadth. Overall, we believe the IMC LucR VIA provides a platform to assess functional CD8 T-cell responses in large-scale clinical trial testing, which will enhance the ability to select the most promising HIV-1 vaccine candidates capable of controlling HIV-1 replication in vivo.
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Todd CA, Sanchez AM, Garcia A, Denny TN, Sarzotti-Kelsoe M. Implementation of Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) guidelines within the External Quality Assurance Program Oversight Laboratory (EQAPOL). J Immunol Methods 2013; 409:91-8. [PMID: 24120573 PMCID: PMC4136974 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2013.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2013] [Revised: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The EQAPOL contract was awarded to Duke University to develop and manage global proficiency testing programs for flow cytometry-, ELISpot-, and Luminex bead-based assays (cytokine analytes), as well as create a genetically diverse panel of HIV-1 viral cultures to be made available to National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers. As a part of this contract, EQAPOL was required to operate under Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP) that are traditionally used for laboratories conducting endpoint assays for human clinical trials. EQAPOL adapted these guidelines to the management of proficiency testing programs while simultaneously incorporating aspects of ISO/IEC 17043 which are specifically designed for external proficiency management. Over the first two years of the contract, the EQAPOL Oversight Laboratories received training, developed standard operating procedures and quality management practices, implemented strict quality control procedures for equipment, reagents, and documentation, and received audits from the EQAPOL Central Quality Assurance Unit. GCLP programs, such as EQAPOL, strengthen a laboratory's ability to perform critical assays and provide quality assessments of future potential vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana M Sanchez
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ambrosia Garcia
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Thomas N Denny
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Marcella Sarzotti-Kelsoe
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
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Abstract
The detailed examination of the antibody repertoire from RV144 provides a unique template for understanding potentially protective antibody functions. Some potential immune correlates of protection were untested in the correlates analyses due to inherent assay limitations, as well as the need to keep the correlates analysis focused on a limited number of endpoints to achieve statistical power. In an RV144 pilot study, we determined that RV144 vaccination elicited antibodies that could bind infectious virions (including the vaccine strains HIV-1 CM244 and HIV-1 MN and an HIV-1 strain expressing transmitted/founder Env, B.WITO.c). Among vaccinees with the highest IgG binding antibody profile, the majority (78%) captured the infectious vaccine strain virus (CM244), while a smaller proportion of vaccinees (26%) captured HIV-1 transmitted/founder Env virus. We demonstrated that vaccine-elicited HIV-1 gp120 antibodies of multiple specificities (V3, V2, conformational C1, and gp120 conformational) mediated capture of infectious virions. Although capture of infectious HIV-1 correlated with other humoral immune responses, the extent of variation between these humoral responses and virion capture indicates that virion capture antibodies occupy unique immunological space.
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28
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Mehendale S, Thakar M, Sahay S, Kumar M, Shete A, Sathyamurthi P, Verma A, Kurle S, Shrotri A, Gilmour J, Goyal R, Dally L, Sayeed E, Zachariah D, Ackland J, Kochhar S, Cox JH, Excler JL, Kumaraswami V, Paranjape R, Ramanathan VD. Safety and immunogenicity of DNA and MVA HIV-1 subtype C vaccine prime-boost regimens: a phase I randomised Trial in HIV-uninfected Indian volunteers. PLoS One 2013; 8:e55831. [PMID: 23418465 PMCID: PMC3572184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 01/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Study Design A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled phase I trial. Methods The trial was conducted in 32 HIV-uninfected healthy volunteers to assess the safety and immunogenicity of prime-boost vaccination regimens with either 2 doses of ADVAX, a DNA vaccine containing Chinese HIV-1 subtype C env gp160, gag, pol and nef/tat genes, as a prime and 2 doses of TBC-M4, a recombinant MVA encoding Indian HIV-1 subtype C env gp160, gag, RT, rev, tat, and nef genes, as a boost in Group A or 3 doses of TBC-M4 alone in Group B participants. Out of 16 participants in each group, 12 received vaccine candidates and 4 received placebos. Results Both vaccine regimens were found to be generally safe and well tolerated. The breadth of anti-HIV binding antibodies and the titres of anti-HIV neutralizing antibodies were significantly higher (p<0.05) in Group B volunteers at 14 days post last vaccination. Neutralizing antibodies were detected mainly against Tier-1 subtype B and C viruses. HIV-specific IFN-γ ELISPOT responses were directed mostly to Env and Gag proteins. Although the IFN-γ ELISPOT responses were infrequent after ADVAX vaccinations, the response rate was significantly higher in group A after 1st and 2nd MVA doses as compared to the responses in group B volunteers. However, the priming effect was short lasting leading to no difference in the frequency, breadth and magnitude of IFN-γELISPOT responses between the groups at 3, 6 and 9 months post-last vaccination. Conclusions Although DNA priming resulted in enhancement of immune responses after 1st MVA boosting, the overall DNA prime MVA boost was not found to be immunologically superior to homologous MVA boosting. Trial Registration Clinical Trial Registry CTRI/2009/091/000051
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29
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Schultz A, Koch S, Fuss M, Mazzotta AS, Sarzotti-Kelsoe M, Ozaki DA, Montefiori DC, von Briesen H, Zimmermann H, Meyerhans A. An automated HIV-1 Env-pseudotyped virus production for global HIV vaccine trials. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51715. [PMID: 23300558 PMCID: PMC3531445 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Accepted: 11/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infections with HIV still represent a major human health problem worldwide and a vaccine is the only long-term option to fight efficiently against this virus. Standardized assessments of HIV-specific immune responses in vaccine trials are essential for prioritizing vaccine candidates in preclinical and clinical stages of development. With respect to neutralizing antibodies, assays with HIV-1 Env-pseudotyped viruses are a high priority. To cover the increasing demands of HIV pseudoviruses, a complete cell culture and transfection automation system has been developed. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The automation system for HIV pseudovirus production comprises a modified Tecan-based Cellerity system. It covers an area of 5×3 meters and includes a robot platform, a cell counting machine, a CO(2) incubator for cell cultivation and a media refrigerator. The processes for cell handling, transfection and pseudovirus production have been implemented according to manual standard operating procedures and are controlled and scheduled autonomously by the system. The system is housed in a biosafety level II cabinet that guarantees protection of personnel, environment and the product. HIV pseudovirus stocks in a scale from 140 ml to 1000 ml have been produced on the automated system. Parallel manual production of HIV pseudoviruses and comparisons (bridging assays) confirmed that the automated produced pseudoviruses were of equivalent quality as those produced manually. In addition, the automated method was fully validated according to Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) guidelines, including the validation parameters accuracy, precision, robustness and specificity. CONCLUSIONS An automated HIV pseudovirus production system has been successfully established. It allows the high quality production of HIV pseudoviruses under GCLP conditions. In its present form, the installed module enables the production of 1000 ml of virus-containing cell culture supernatant per week. Thus, this novel automation facilitates standardized large-scale productions of HIV pseudoviruses for ongoing and upcoming HIV vaccine trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Schultz
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, St. Ingbert, Germany
| | - Stefanie Koch
- Department of Virology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Martina Fuss
- Department of Virology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Marcella Sarzotti-Kelsoe
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Daniel A. Ozaki
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - David C. Montefiori
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Hagen von Briesen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, St. Ingbert, Germany
| | - Heiko Zimmermann
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, St. Ingbert, Germany
| | - Andreas Meyerhans
- Department of Virology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
- ICREA Infection Biology Laboratory, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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30
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Hu X, Hong K, Zhao C, Zheng Y, Ma L, Ruan Y, Gao H, Greene K, Sarzotti-Kelsoe M, Montefiori DC, Shao Y. Profiles of neutralizing antibody response in chronically human immunodeficiency virus type 1 clade B'-infected former plasma donors from China naive to antiretroviral therapy. J Gen Virol 2012; 93:2267-2278. [PMID: 22791603 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.043802-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) such as those generated in chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are considered a key component for an effective HIV-1 vaccine. Here, we measured NAb responses using a panel of 25 Env-pseudotyped viruses, including clade B, C, A, CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE strains, against plasma samples from 103 subjects in a former plasma donor cohort in central China, who were infected with HIV-1 clade B' for at least 10 years and naïve to antiretroviral therapy at the time of sampling. We found that 64 % of samples (n = 66) neutralized at least half of the viruses tested and 2 % (n = 2) neutralized all of the viruses, while 5 % (n = 5) neutralized none of the viruses tested. Strikingly, 29 % of plasma samples (n = 30) neutralized >80 % of the viral strains tested, indicating the presence of broadly reactive NAbs in these patients. When the magnitude (geometric mean ID(50) titres, GMTs) or breadth of neutralization was assessed for correlation with CD4 count or plasma viral load, the only significant positive correlations were observed between viral load and neutralization magnitude (r = 0.2189, P = 0.0263) and between viral load and neutralization breadth (r = 0.1970, P = 0.0461). A moderate difference between progressors and long-term non-progressors was observed in both the breadth (P = 0.0316) and the potency (P = 0.0300). A significant difference was found in the GMTs between intra-clade and inter-clade strains (P<0.001). Heat-map analysis based on k-means clustering of plasma determined a statistically stable cluster of plasma with cross-reactive and potent neutralizing reactivity. These samples could provide physical biomaterials for further virological and serological studies from which useful insights into rational HIV-1 vaccine development and therapeutic design might be derived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintao Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Kunxue Hong
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Chunhong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Yang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Liying Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Yuhua Ruan
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, PR China
| | - Hongmei Gao
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Kelli Greene
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Marcella Sarzotti-Kelsoe
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.,Department of Experimental Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - David C Montefiori
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yiming Shao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, PR China
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