Limitations of the anti-idiotype strategy for an HIV vaccine

Antigenicity and Immunogenicity in HIV-1 Antibody-Based Vaccine Design

Neutralizing antibodies can protect from infection by immunodeficiency viruses. However, the induction by active vaccination of antibodies that can potently neutralize a broad range of circulating virus strains is a goal not yet achieved, despite more than 2 decades of research. Here we review progress made in the field, from early empirical studies to today's rational structure-based vaccine antigen design. We discuss the existence of broadly neutralizing antibodies, their implications for epitope discovery and recent progress made in antigen design. Finally, we consider the relationship between antigenicity and immunogenicity for B cell recognition and antibody production, a major hurdle for rational vaccine design to overcome.

Idiotype cascades associated with the CD4-HIV glycoprotein 120 interaction: immunization with anti-idiotypic antibodies induces anti-anti-idiotypic responses with anti-CD4 specificity and in vitro neutralizing activity

Anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab-2), which were generated in baboons against a mouse monoclonal antibody specific for the CD4 molecule expressed on human T cells, were used to produce anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab-3) in mice. This response induced by Ab-2 immunization of BALB/c mice was classified as anti-anti-idiotype (Ab-3) on the basis of the ability of the mouse Ab-3 to (1) specifically bind the baboon Ab-2 preparation, but not irrelevant baboon IgG preparations, (2) inhibit the binding of the anti-CD4 Ab-1 preparation to the baboon Ab-2, and (3) recognize a second baboon Ab-2, along with a rabbit Ab-2 specific for the monoclonal anti-CD4 Ab-1 preparation. The murine Ab-3 response also recognizes the CD4 molecule expressed on a human CD4+ T cell line, as determined by flow cytometry; recognizes the same epitopes on the CD4 molecule as the Ab-1; inhibits HIV-1 syncytium formation; and neutralizes HIV-1 primary isolates in vitro. These studies suggest that Ab-3 responses can be induced by anti-Id immunization, which serologically mimicks the antigen and Id specificities of the monoclonal anti-CD4 preparation used to generate the anti-Id. Thus, the Ab-3 response exhibits the characteristics of a population that represents the internal image of the Ab-1.

Anti-idiotypic antibodies against anti-CD4 antibodies MT151 and OKT4A

Anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab2) binding to the antigen-combining site of other antibodies may functionally and even structurally mimic antigen. Ab2 to antibodies directed against the lymphocyte CD4 receptor for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) may mimic the receptor and therefore inhibit viral infectivity. We have produced Ab2 against monoclonal anti-CD4 receptor antibodies (Ab1). The Ab1 strongly inhibit HIV-1 binding to the receptor. Six monoclonal rat Ab2 and two polyclonal rabbit Ab2 were produced against the Ab1 MT151 and nine monoclonal Ab2 against the Ab1 OKT4A. These Ab2 bound only to Ab1 and not to a panel of nine unrelated murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The Ab2 completely inhibited the binding of the homologous Ab1 to CD4-positive target cells, and recombinant soluble CD4 inhibited binding of Ab2 to Ab1. Thus, the Ab2 seemed to mimic the Ab1-binding site of the CD4 receptor, although the results of inhibition assays did not exclude steric hindrance of antibody-combining sites. However, none of the 17 Ab2 bound to gp120 of HIV-1 envelope or inhibited syncytia formation between cells infected and uninfected with HIV-1. These results suggest that the Ab2 do not mimic the HIV-1 binding site of the CD4 receptor. They further suggest that the Ab1 may not bind within the virus-binding site of the CD4 receptor.

Anti-Leu3a induces combining site-related anti-idiotypic antibody without inducing anti-HIV activity

Development of a vaccine for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has proven difficult, and so alternative approaches such as idiotypic manipulation have been suggested. As applied to AIDS, this approach could involve immunizing with an anti-CD4 antibody resembling gp120, to induce anti-idiotypic antibodies which would bind to gp120. The CD4 binding site on gp120 is conserved, and so, such an immune response should protect against all variants. Induction of anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) immunity has been reported using anti-Leu3a, and this result has led to testing in humans. Negative results obtained by others have been attributed to differences in immunization protocols. Because of the importance of this question, we reinvestigated the potential of anti-Leu3a to induce anti-HIV antibodies, compared with control immunizations with OKT4A (another anti-CD4 antibody) and the irrelevant Ig MOPC-21. Responses to anti-Leu3a showed induction of high-titer anti-idiotypic activity, and included combining-site-related activity. Yet sera showed no binding to gp160 above controls and no detectable neutralizing activity in a sensitive HIV plaque assay, so the anti-idiotypes induced were not internal images of CD4. We conclude that the pronounced anti-HIV responses reported with anti-Leu3a cannot be generalized, and thus that anti-Leu3a does not offer promise as an HIV vaccine. However, these results do not negate the promise of the idiotypic approach, and a vaccine for AIDS based on idiotype manipulation remains a possibility.

Interfaces of the yeast killer phenomenon

A new prophylactic and therapeutic antimicrobial strategy based on a specific physiological target that is effectively used by killer yeasts in their natural ecological competition is theorized. The natural system exploited is the yeast killer phenomenon previously adopted as an epidemiological marker for intraspecific differentiation of opportunistic yeasts, hyphomycetes, and bacteria. Pathogenic microorganisms (Candida albicans) may be susceptible to the activity of yeast killer toxins due to the presence of specific cell wall receptors. On the basis of the idiotypic network, we report that antiidiotypic antibodies, produced against a monoclonal antibody bearing the receptor-like idiotype, are in vivo protecting animals immunized through idiotypic vaccination and in vitro mimicking the antimicrobial activity of yeast killer toxins, thus acting as antibiotics.