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Peterhoff D, Thalhauser S, Sobczak JM, Mohsen MO, Voigt C, Seifert N, Neckermann P, Hauser A, Ding S, Sattentau Q, Bachmann MF, Breunig M, Wagner R. Augmenting the Immune Response against a Stabilized HIV-1 Clade C Envelope Trimer by Silica Nanoparticle Delivery. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:642. [PMID: 34208059 PMCID: PMC8230641 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9060642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The delivery of HIV-1 envelope (Env) trimer-based immunogens on the surface of nanoparticles holds promise to promote immunogenicity with the aim of inducing a potent, durable and broad neutralizing antibody (bnAb) response. Towards that goal, we examined the covalent conjugation of Env to 100 nm and 200 nm silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) to optimize conjugation density and attachment stability. Env was redesigned to enable site-specific cysteine-mediated covalent conjugation while maintaining its structural integrity and antigenicity. Env was anchored to different sized SiNPs with a calculated spacing of 15 nm between adjacent trimers. Both particle sizes exhibited high in vitro stability over a seven-day period. After attachment, 100 nm particles showed better colloidal stability compared to 200 nm particles. Importantly, the antigenic profile of Env was not impaired by surface attachment, indicating that the quaternary structure was maintained. In vitro Env uptake by dendritic cells was significantly enhanced when Env was delivered on the surface of nanoparticles compared to soluble Env. Furthermore, multivalent Env displayed efficiently activated B cells even at Env concentrations in the low nanomolar range. In mice, antibody responses to nanoparticle-coupled Env were stronger compared to the free protein and had equivalent effects at lower doses and without adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Peterhoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Molecular Microbiology (Virology), University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (C.V.); (N.S.); (P.N.); (A.H.)
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Thalhauser
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (S.T.); (M.B.)
| | - Jan M. Sobczak
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (J.M.S.); (M.O.M.); (M.F.B.)
- Department of Immunology RI, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mona O. Mohsen
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (J.M.S.); (M.O.M.); (M.F.B.)
- Department of Immunology RI, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Voigt
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Molecular Microbiology (Virology), University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (C.V.); (N.S.); (P.N.); (A.H.)
| | - Nicole Seifert
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Molecular Microbiology (Virology), University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (C.V.); (N.S.); (P.N.); (A.H.)
| | - Patrick Neckermann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Molecular Microbiology (Virology), University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (C.V.); (N.S.); (P.N.); (A.H.)
| | - Alexandra Hauser
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Molecular Microbiology (Virology), University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (C.V.); (N.S.); (P.N.); (A.H.)
| | - Song Ding
- EuroVacc Foundation, 1002 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Quentin Sattentau
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK;
| | - Martin F. Bachmann
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (J.M.S.); (M.O.M.); (M.F.B.)
- Department of Immunology RI, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Miriam Breunig
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (S.T.); (M.B.)
| | - Ralf Wagner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Molecular Microbiology (Virology), University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (C.V.); (N.S.); (P.N.); (A.H.)
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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