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Perdiguero B, Hauser A, Gómez CE, Peterhoff D, Sideris E, Sorzano CÓS, Wilmschen S, Schaber M, Stengel L, Asbach B, Ding S, Von Laer D, Levy Y, Pantaleo G, Kimpel J, Esteban M, Wagner R. Potency and durability of T and B cell immune responses after homologous and heterologous vector delivery of a trimer-stabilized, membrane-displayed HIV-1 clade ConC Env protein. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1270908. [PMID: 38045703 PMCID: PMC10690772 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1270908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The generation of an HIV-1 vaccine able to induce long-lasting protective immunity remains a main challenge. Here, we aimed to modify next-generation soluble, prefusion-stabilized, close-to-native, glycan-engineered clade C gp140 envelope (Env) trimers (sC23v4 KIKO and ConCv5 KIKO) for optimal display on the cell surface following homologous or heterologous vector delivery. Methods A combination of the following modifications scored best regarding the preservation of closed, native-like Env trimer conformation and antigenicity when using a panel of selected broadly neutralizing (bnAb) and non-neutralizing (nnAb) monoclonal antibodies for flow cytometry: i) replacing the natural cleavage site with a native flexible linker and introducing a single amino acid substitution to prevent CD4 binding (*), ii) fusing a heterologous VSV-G-derived transmembrane moiety to the gp140 C-terminus, and iii) deleting six residues proximal to the membrane. Results When delivering membrane-tethered sC23v4 KIKO* and ConCv5 KIKO* via DNA, VSV-GP, and NYVAC vectors, the two native-like Env trimers provide differential antigenicity profiles. Whereas such patterns were largely consistent among the different vectors for either Env trimer, the membrane-tethered ConCv5 KIKO* trimer adopted a more closed and native-like structure than sC23v4 KIKO*. In immunized mice, VSV-GP and NYVAC vectors expressing the membrane-tethered ConCv5 KIKO* administered in prime/boost combination were the most effective regimens for the priming of Env-specific CD4 T cells among all tested combinations. The subsequent booster administration of trimeric ConCv5 KIKO* Env protein preserved the T cell activation levels between groups. The evaluation of the HIV-1-specific humoral responses induced in the different immunization groups after protein boosts showed that the various prime/boost protocols elicited broad and potent antibody responses, preferentially of a Th1-associated IgG2a subclass, and that the obtained antibody levels remained high at the memory phase. Discussion In summary, we provide a feasible strategy to display multiple copies of native-like Env trimers on the cell surface, which translates into efficient priming of sustained CD4+ T cell responses after vector delivery as well as broad, potent, and sustained antibody responses following booster immunizations with the homologous, prefusion-stabilized, close-to-native ConCv5 KIKO* gp140 Env trimer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Perdiguero
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alexandra Hauser
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Carmen Elena Gómez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Peterhoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Elefthéria Sideris
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Óscar S. Sorzano
- Biocomputing Unit and Computational Genomics, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sarah Wilmschen
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marion Schaber
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Laura Stengel
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Benedikt Asbach
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Song Ding
- EuroVacc Foundation, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dorothee Von Laer
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Yves Levy
- Vaccine Research Institute (VRI), Université Paris-Est Créteil, Faculté de Médicine, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) U955, Créteil, France
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) U955, Equipe 16, Créteil, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Henri-Mondor Albert-Chenevier, Service d'Immunologie Clinique et Maladies Infectieuses, Créteil, France
| | - Giuseppe Pantaleo
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Janine Kimpel
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Mariano Esteban
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ralf Wagner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Schaefer A, Yang B, Schroeder HA, Harit D, Humphry MS, Ravel J, Lai SK. Broadly neutralizing antibodies consistently trap HIV-1 in fresh cervicovaginal mucus from select individuals. Acta Biomater 2023; 169:387-397. [PMID: 37499728 PMCID: PMC10619885 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
In addition to direct neutralization and other classical effector functions, IgG possesses a little recognized and thus under-utilized effector function at mucosal surfaces: Fc-mucin bonds enable IgG to trap viruses in mucus. Due to the paucity of envelope glycoproteins that limits the number of IgG that can bind HIV, it remains poorly understood whether IgG-mucin interactions can effectively immobilize HIV in human cervicovaginal mucus (CVM). Here, we obtained 54 fresh, undiluted CVM specimens from 17 different women, and employed high-resolution multiple particle tracking to quantify the mobility of fluorescent HIV virus-like-particles in CVM treated with various HIV-specific IgG. We observed consistent and effective trapping of HIV by broadly neutralizing antibodies (VRC01, PGT121, and 2F5) in a subset of women. While trapping efficacy was not affected by the menstrual cycle, it was positively correlated with appreciable L. Crispatus populations in the microbiome, and negatively correlated with appreciable L. Iners or G. Vaginalis populations. Our work demonstrates for the first time that IgG-mucin crosslinking is capable of reinforcing the mucosal barrier against HIV, and motivates further investigation of passive immunization against vaginal transmission of STIs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: HIV transmission in women primarily occurs vaginally, yet the 3-way interactions between mucins and HIV virions mediated by HIV-binding antibodies in cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) is not well understood. While IgG-Fc possess weak affinity to mucins that trap virus/IgG complexes in mucus, the effectiveness against HIV remains unclear, due to the low number of virion-bound IgG. Here, we discovered that IgG can trap HIV consistently in CVM from select individuals regardless of their birth control status or menstrual cycle phase. IgG-mediated trapping of HIV was moderately associated with microbiome composition. These results suggest that IgG-mucin interactions could potentially reduce HIV transmission and highlight the importance of mucosal secretions in antibody-mediated prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Schaefer
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chapel Hill, NC 27519, USA
| | - Bing Yang
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27519,USA
| | - Holly A Schroeder
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27519,USA
| | - Dimple Harit
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27519,USA
| | - Mike S Humphry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Samuel K Lai
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chapel Hill, NC 27519, USA; Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27519,USA; Department of Microbiology & Immunology; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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3
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Esmaeilzadeh E, Etemad B, Lavine CL, Garneau L, Li Y, Regan J, Wong C, Sharaf R, Connick E, Volberding P, Sagar M, Seaman MS, Li JZ. Autologous neutralizing antibodies increase with early antiretroviral therapy and shape HIV rebound after treatment interruption. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eabq4490. [PMID: 37163616 PMCID: PMC10576978 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq4490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) alters viral rebound kinetics after analytic treatment interruption (ATI) and may play a role in promoting HIV-1 remission. Autologous neutralizing antibodies (aNAbs) represent a key adaptive immune response in people living with HIV-1. We aimed to investigate the role of aNAbs in shaping post-ATI HIV-1 rebound variants. We performed single-genome amplification of HIV-1 env from pre-ART and post-ATI plasma samples of 12 individuals who initiated ART early after infection. aNAb activity was quantified using pseudoviruses derived from the most common plasma variant, and the serum dilution that inhibited 50% of viral infections was determined. aNAb responses matured while participants were on suppressive ART, because on-ART plasma and purified immunoglobulin G (IgG) demonstrated improved neutralizing activity against pre-ART HIV-1 strains when compared with pre-ART plasma or purified IgG. Post-ATI aNAb responses exerted selective pressure on the rebounding viruses, because the post-ATI HIV-1 strains were more resistant to post-ATI plasma neutralization compared with the pre-ART virus. Several pre-ATI features distinguished post-treatment controllers from noncontrollers, including an infecting HIV-1 sequence that was more similar to consensus HIV-1 subtype B, more restricted proviral diversity, and a stronger aNAb response. Post-treatment control was also associated with the evolution of distinct N-glycosylation profiles in the HIV-1 envelope. In summary, aNAb responses appeared to mature after early initiation of ART and applied selective pressure on rebounding viruses. The combination of aNAb activity with select HIV-1 sequence and reservoir features identified individuals with a greater chance of post-treatment control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Behzad Etemad
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Lauren Garneau
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yijia Li
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - James Regan
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Colline Wong
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Radwa Sharaf
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Paul Volberding
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Manish Sagar
- Boston University Chobanian and Avedesian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | | | - Jonathan Z Li
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Priming with a Potent HIV-1 DNA Vaccine Frames the Quality of Immune Responses prior to a Poxvirus and Protein Boost. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.01529-18. [PMID: 30429343 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01529-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of heterologous immunization regimens and improved vector systems has led to increases in immunogenicity of HIV-1 vaccine candidates in nonhuman primates. In order to resolve interrelations between different delivery modalities, three different poxvirus boost regimens were compared. Three groups of rhesus macaques were each primed with the same DNA vaccine encoding Gag, Pol, Nef, and gp140. The groups were then boosted with either the vaccinia virus strain NYVAC or a variant with improved replication competence in human cells, termed NYVAC-KC. The latter was administered either by scarification or intramuscularly. Finally, macaques were boosted with adjuvanted gp120 protein to enhance humoral responses. The regimen elicited very potent CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in a well-balanced manner, peaking 2 weeks after the boost. T cells were broadly reactive and polyfunctional. All animals exhibited antigen-specific humoral responses already after the poxvirus boost, which further increased following protein administration. Polyclonal reactivity of IgG antibodies was highest against HIV-1 clade C Env proteins, with considerable cross-reactivity to other clades. Substantial effector functional activities (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated virus inhibition) were observed in serum obtained after the last protein boost. Notably, major differences between the groups were absent, indicating that the potent priming induced by the DNA vaccine initially framed the immune responses in such a way that the subsequent boosts with NYVAC and protein led only to an increase in the response magnitudes without skewing the quality. This study highlights the importance of selecting the best combination of vector systems in heterologous prime-boost vaccination regimens.IMPORTANCE The evaluation of HIV vaccine efficacy trials indicates that protection would most likely correlate with a polyfunctional immune response involving several effector functions from all arms of the immune system. Heterologous prime-boost regimens have been shown to elicit vigorous T cell and antibody responses in nonhuman primates that, however, qualitatively and quantitatively differ depending on the respective vector systems used. The present study evaluated a DNA prime and poxvirus and protein boost regimen and compared how two poxvirus vectors with various degrees of replication capacity and two different delivery modalities-conventional intramuscular delivery and percutaneous delivery by scarification-impact several immune effectors. It was found that despite the different poxvirus boosts, the overall immune responses in the three groups were similar, suggesting the potent DNA priming as the major determining factor of immune responses. These findings emphasize the importance of selecting optimal priming agents in heterologous prime-boost vaccination settings.
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Schroeder HA, Nunn KL, Schaefer A, Henry CE, Lam F, Pauly MH, Whaley KJ, Zeitlin L, Humphrys MS, Ravel J, Lai SK. Herpes simplex virus-binding IgG traps HSV in human cervicovaginal mucus across the menstrual cycle and diverse vaginal microbial composition. Mucosal Immunol 2018; 11:1477-1486. [PMID: 29988116 PMCID: PMC6485947 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-018-0054-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
IgG possesses an important yet little recognized effector function in mucus. IgG bound to viral surface can immobilize otherwise readily diffusive viruses to the mucin matrix, excluding them from contacting target cells and facilitating their elimination by natural mucus clearance mechanisms. Cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) is populated by a microbial community, and its viscoelastic and barrier properties can vary substantially not only across the menstrual cycle, but also in women with distinct microbiota. How these variations impact the "muco-trapping" effector function of IgGs remains poorly understood. Here we obtained multiple fresh, undiluted CVM specimens (n = 82 unique specimens) from six women over time, and employed high-resolution multiple particle tracking to quantify the mobility of fluorescent Herpes Simplex Viruses (HSV-1) in CVM treated with different HSV-1-binding IgG. The IgG trapping potency was then correlated to the menstrual cycle, and the vaginal microbial composition was determined by 16 s rRNA. In the specimens studied, both polyclonal and monoclonal HSV-1-binding IgG appeared to consistently and effectively trap HSV-1 in CVM obtained at different times of the menstrual cycle and containing a diverse spectrum of commensals, including G. vaginalis-dominant microbiota. Our findings underscore the potential broad utility of this "muco-trapping" effector function of IgG to reinforce the vaginal mucosal defense, and motivates further investigation of passive immunization of the vagina as a strategy to protect against vaginally transmitted infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly A. Schroeder
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27519, USA
| | - Kenetta L. Nunn
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27519, USA.,UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chapel Hill, NC, 27519, USA
| | - Alison Schaefer
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27519, USA
| | - Christine E. Henry
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27519, USA
| | - Felix Lam
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27519, USA
| | | | | | - Larry Zeitlin
- Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Mike S. Humphrys
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.,Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Samuel K. Lai
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27519, USA.,UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chapel Hill, NC, 27519, USA
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Abstract
Purpose of review The ability to induce broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) responses is likely essential for development of a globally effective HIV vaccine. Unfortunately, human vaccine trials conducted to date have failed to elicit broad plasma neutralization of primary virus isolates. Despite this limitation, in-depth analysis of the vaccine-induced memory B-cell repertoire can provide valuable insights into the presence and function of subdominant B-cell responses, and identify initiation of antibody lineages that may be on a path towards development of neutralization breadth. Recent findings Characterization of the functional capabilities of monoclonal antibodies isolated from a HIV-1 vaccine trial with modest efficacy has revealed mechanisms by which non-neutralizing antibodies are presumed to have mediated protection. In addition, B-cell repertoire analysis has demonstrated that vaccine boosts shifted the HIV-specific B-cell repertoire, expanding pools of cells with long third heavy chain complementarity determining regions – a characteristic of some bNAb lineages. Summary Detailed analysis of memory B-cell repertoires and evaluating the effector functions of isolated monoclonal antibodies expands what we can learn from human vaccine trails, and may provide knowledge that can enable rational design of novel approaches to drive maturation of subdominant disfavored bNAb lineages.
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