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Lende SSF, Barnkob NM, Hansen RW, Bansia H, Vestergaard M, Rothemejer FH, Worsaae A, Brown D, Pedersen ML, Rahimic AHF, Juhl AK, Gjetting T, Østergaard L, Georges AD, Vuillard LM, Schleimann MH, Koefoed K, Tolstrup M. Discovery of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies enriched in a unique antigen specific B cell cluster. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291131. [PMID: 37729215 PMCID: PMC10511142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite development of effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, a sub-group of vaccine non-responders depends on therapeutic antibodies or small-molecule drugs in cases of severe disease. However, perpetual viral evolution has required continuous efficacy monitoring as well as exploration of new therapeutic antibodies, to circumvent resistance mutations arising in the viral population. We performed SARS-CoV-2-specific B cell sorting and subsequent single-cell sequencing on material from 15 SARS-CoV-2 convalescent participants. Through screening of 455 monoclonal antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 variant binding and virus neutralization, we identified a cluster of activated B cells highly enriched for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. Epitope binning and Cryo-EM structure analysis identified the majority of neutralizing antibodies having epitopes overlapping with the ACE2 receptor binding motif (class 1 binders). Extensive functional antibody characterization identified two potent neutralizing antibodies, one retaining SARS-CoV-1 neutralizing capability, while both bind major common variants of concern and display prophylactic efficacy in vivo. The transcriptomic signature of activated B cells harboring broadly binding neutralizing antibodies with therapeutic potential identified here, may be a guide in future efforts of rapid therapeutic antibody discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Sofie Frank Lende
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | - Harsh Bansia
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | | | - Frederik Holm Rothemejer
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Deijona Brown
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Maria Lange Pedersen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Anna Karina Juhl
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark
| | - Torben Gjetting
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY, United States of America
- Antibody Technology, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Lars Østergaard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Amédée Des Georges
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, New York, NY, United States of America
- PhD Programs in Biochemistry, and Chemistry, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Martin Tolstrup
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Rothemejer FH, Lauritsen NP, Søgaard OS, Tolstrup M. Strategies for enhancing CAR T cell expansion and persistence in HIV infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1253395. [PMID: 37671164 PMCID: PMC10475529 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1253395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapies are tremendously successful in hematological malignancies and show great promise as treatment and curative strategy for HIV. A major determinant for effective CAR T cell therapy is the persistence of CAR T cells. Particularly, antigen density and target cell abundance are crucial for the engagement, engraftment, and persistence of CAR T cells. The success of HIV-specific CAR T cells is challenged by limited antigen due to low cell surface expression of viral proteins and the scarcity of chronically infected cells during antiretroviral therapy. Several strategies have been explored to increase the efficacy of CAR T cells by enhancing expansion and persistence of the engineered cells. This review highlights the challenges of designing CAR T cells against HIV and other chronic viral infections. We also discuss potential strategies to enhance CAR T cell expansion and persistence in the setting of low antigen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Holm Rothemejer
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nanna Pi Lauritsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ole Schmeltz Søgaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Martin Tolstrup
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Rothemejer FH, Lauritsen NP, Juhl AK, Schleimann MH, König S, Søgaard OS, Bak RO, Tolstrup M. Development of HIV-Resistant CAR T Cells by CRISPR/Cas-Mediated CAR Integration into the CCR5 Locus. Viruses 2023; 15:202. [PMID: 36680242 PMCID: PMC9862650 DOI: 10.3390/v15010202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has been highly successful in treating B cell malignancies and holds great potential as a curative strategy for HIV infection. Recent advances in the use of anti-HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) have provided vital information for optimal antigen targeting of CAR T cells. However, CD4+ CAR T cells are susceptible to HIV infection, limiting their therapeutic potential. In the current study, we engineered HIV-resistant CAR T cells using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated integration of a CAR cassette into the CCR5 locus. We used a single chain variable fragment (scFv) of the clinically potent bNAb 10-1074 as the antigen-targeting domain in our anti-HIV CAR T cells. Our anti-HIV CAR T cells showed specific lysis of HIV-infected cells in vitro. In a PBMC humanized mouse model of HIV infection, the anti-HIV CAR T cells expanded and transiently limited HIV infection. In conclusion, this study provides proof-of-concept for developing HIV-resistant CAR T cells using CRISPR/Cas9 targeted integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Holm Rothemejer
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nanna Pi Lauritsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anna Karina Juhl
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mariane Høgsbjerg Schleimann
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Saskia König
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ole Schmeltz Søgaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Rasmus O. Bak
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Martin Tolstrup
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
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