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Musunuri S, Weidenbacher PAB, Kim PS. Bringing immunofocusing into focus. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:11. [PMID: 38195562 PMCID: PMC10776678 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00792-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunofocusing is a strategy to create immunogens that redirect humoral immune responses towards a targeted epitope and away from non-desirable epitopes. Immunofocusing methods often aim to develop "universal" vaccines that provide broad protection against highly variant viruses such as influenza virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), and most recently, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). We use existing examples to illustrate five main immunofocusing strategies-cross-strain boosting, mosaic display, protein dissection, epitope scaffolding, and epitope masking. We also discuss obstacles for immunofocusing like immune imprinting. A thorough understanding, advancement, and application of the methods we outline here will enable the design of high-resolution vaccines that protect against future viral outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriharshita Musunuri
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Payton A B Weidenbacher
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Peter S Kim
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
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2
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Hurwitz JL, Bonsignori M. Multi-Envelope HIV-1 Vaccine Development: Two Targeted Immune Pathways, One Desired Protective Outcome. Viral Immunol 2018; 31:124-132. [PMID: 29315059 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2017.0144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2016, there were more than 30 million individuals living with HIV-1, ∼1.8 million new HIV-1 infections, and ∼1 million HIV-1-related deaths according to UNAIDS ( unaids.org ). Hence, a preventive HIV-1 vaccine remains a global priority. The variant envelopes of HIV-1 present a significant obstacle to vaccine development and the vaccine field has realized that immunization with a single HIV-1 envelope protein will not be sufficient to generate broadly neutralizing antibodies. Here we describe two nonmutually exclusive, targeted pathways with which a multi-envelope HIV-1 vaccine may generate protective immune responses against variant HIV-1. Pathways include (i) the induction of a polyclonal immune response, comprising a plethora of antibodies with subset-reactive and cross-reactive specificities, together able to neutralize diverse HIV-1 (termed Poly-nAb in this report) and (ii) the induction of one or a few monoclonal antibodies, each with a broadly neutralizing specificity (bnAb). With each pathway in mind, we describe challenges and strategies that may ultimately support HIV-1 vaccine success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia L Hurwitz
- 1 Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee.,2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center , Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Mattia Bonsignori
- 3 Duke Human Vaccine Institute , Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.,4 Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, North Carolina
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3
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Molinos-Albert LM, Clotet B, Blanco J, Carrillo J. Immunologic Insights on the Membrane Proximal External Region: A Major Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Vaccine Target. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1154. [PMID: 28970835 PMCID: PMC5609547 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting conserved regions within the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) can be generated by the human immune system and their elicitation by vaccination will be a key point to protect against the wide range of viral diversity. The membrane proximal external region (MPER) is a highly conserved region within the Env gp41 subunit, plays a major role in membrane fusion and is targeted by naturally induced bNAbs. Therefore, the MPER is considered as an attractive vaccine target. However, despite many attempts to design MPER-based immunogens, further study is still needed to understand its structural complexity, its amphiphilic feature, and its limited accessibility by steric hindrance. These particular features compromise the development of MPER-specific neutralizing responses during natural infection and limit the number of bNAbs isolated against this region, as compared with other HIV-1 vulnerability sites, and represent additional hurdles for immunogen development. Nevertheless, the analysis of MPER humoral responses elicited during natural infection as well as the MPER bNAbs isolated to date highlight that the human immune system is capable of generating MPER protective antibodies. Here, we discuss the recent advances describing the immunologic and biochemical features that make the MPER a unique HIV-1 vulnerability site, the different strategies to generate MPER-neutralizing antibodies in immunization protocols and point the importance of extending our knowledge toward new MPER epitopes by the isolation of novel monoclonal antibodies. This will be crucial for the redesign of immunogens able to skip non-neutralizing MPER determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M Molinos-Albert
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bonaventura Clotet
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julià Blanco
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Carrillo
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
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Pancera M, Changela A, Kwong PD. How HIV-1 entry mechanism and broadly neutralizing antibodies guide structure-based vaccine design. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2017; 12:229-240. [PMID: 28422787 PMCID: PMC5557343 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW An HIV-1 vaccine that elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) remains to be developed. Here, we review how knowledge of bNAbs and HIV-1 entry mechanism is guiding the structure-based design of vaccine immunogens and immunization regimens. RECENT FINDINGS Isolation of bNAbs from HIV-1-infected donors has led to an unprecedented understanding of the sites of vulnerability that these antibodies target on the HIV-1 envelope (Env) as well as of the immunological pathways that these antibody lineages follow to develop broad and potent neutralization. Sites of vulnerability, however, reside in the context of diverse Env conformations required for HIV-1 entry, including a prefusion-closed state, a single-CD4-bound intermediate, a three-CD4-bound intermediate, a prehairpin intermediate and postfusion states, and it is not always clear which structural state optimally presents a particular site of vulnerability in the vaccine context. Furthermore, detailed knowledge of immunological pathways has led to debate among vaccine developers as to how much of the natural antibody-developmental pathway immunogens should mimic, ranging from only the recognized epitope to multiple antigens from the antibody-virus coevolution process. SUMMARY A plethora of information on bNAbs is guiding HIV-1-vaccine development. We highlight consideration of the appropriate structural context from the HIV-1-entry mechanism and extraordinary progress with replicating template B-cell ontogenies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Pancera
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Anita Changela
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter D. Kwong
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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5
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Behrens AJ, Seabright GE, Crispin M. Targeting Glycans of HIV Envelope Glycoproteins for Vaccine Design. CHEMICAL BIOLOGY OF GLYCOPROTEINS 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/9781782623823-00300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The surface of the envelope spike of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is covered with a dense array of glycans, which is sufficient to impede the host antibody response while maintaining a window for receptor recognition. The glycan density significantly exceeds that typically observed on self glycoproteins and is sufficiently high to disrupt the maturation process of glycans, from oligomannose- to complex-type glycosylation, that normally occurs during glycoprotein transit through the secretory system. It is notable that this generates a degree of homogeneity not seen in the highly mutated protein moiety. The conserved, close glycan packing and divergences from default glycan processing give a window for immune recognition. Encouragingly, in a subset of individuals, broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) have been isolated that recognize these features and are protective in passive-transfer models. Here, we review the recent advances in our understanding of the glycan shield of HIV and outline the strategies that are being pursued to elicit glycan-binding bNAbs by vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Janina Behrens
- Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford South Parks Road Oxford OX1 3QU UK
| | - Gemma E. Seabright
- Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford South Parks Road Oxford OX1 3QU UK
| | - Max Crispin
- Oxford Glycobiology Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford South Parks Road Oxford OX1 3QU UK
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Differential Antibody Responses to Conserved HIV-1 Neutralizing Epitopes in the Context of Multivalent Scaffolds and Native-Like gp140 Trimers. mBio 2017; 8:mBio.00036-17. [PMID: 28246356 PMCID: PMC5347340 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00036-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) have provided valuable insights into the humoral immune response to HIV-1. While rationally designed epitope scaffolds and well-folded gp140 trimers have been proposed as vaccine antigens, a comparative understanding of their antibody responses has not yet been established. In this study, we probed antibody responses to the N332 supersite and the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) in the context of heterologous protein scaffolds and native-like gp140 trimers. Ferritin nanoparticles and fragment crystallizable (Fc) regions were utilized as multivalent carriers to display scaffold antigens with grafted N332 and MPER epitopes, respectively. Trimeric scaffolds were also identified to stabilize the MPER-containing BG505 gp140.681 trimer in a native-like conformation. Following structural and antigenic evaluation, a subset of scaffold and trimer antigens was selected for immunization in BALB/c mice. Serum binding revealed distinct patterns of antibody responses to these two bNAb targets presented in different structural contexts. For example, the N332 nanoparticles elicited glycan epitope-specific antibody responses that could also recognize the native trimer, while a scaffolded BG505 gp140.681 trimer generated a stronger and more rapid antibody response to the trimer apex than its parent gp140.664 trimer. Furthermore, next-generation sequencing (NGS) of mouse splenic B cells revealed expansion of antibody lineages with long heavy-chain complementarity-determining region 3 (HCDR3) loops upon activation by MPER scaffolds, in contrast to the steady repertoires primed by N332 nanoparticles and a soluble gp140.664 trimer. These findings will facilitate the future development of a coherent vaccination strategy that combines both epitope-focused and trimer-based approaches.IMPORTANCE Both epitope-focused and trimer-based strategies are currently being explored in HIV-1 vaccine development, which aims to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting conserved epitopes on the viral envelope (Env). However, little is known about the differences in antibody response to these bNAb targets presented by foreign scaffolds and native Env. In this study, a systematic effort was undertaken to design multivalent epitope scaffolds and soluble gp140.681 trimers with a complete antigenic surface, and to comparatively analyze the antibody responses elicited by these antigens to the N332 supersite and MPER in a mouse model. This study will inform both epitope-focused and trimer-based vaccine design and will facilitate integration of the two vaccine strategies.
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7
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Wu M, Li M, Yue Y, Xu W. DNA vaccine with discontinuous T-cell epitope insertions into HSP65 scaffold as a potential means to improve immunogenicity of multi-epitope Mycobacterium tuberculosis
vaccine. Microbiol Immunol 2016; 60:634-45. [DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manli Wu
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences; Soochow University; Building 703, 199 Ren-ai Road Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Min Li
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences; Soochow University; Building 703, 199 Ren-ai Road Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Yan Yue
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences; Soochow University; Building 703, 199 Ren-ai Road Suzhou 215123 China
| | - Wei Xu
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences; Soochow University; Building 703, 199 Ren-ai Road Suzhou 215123 China
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8
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Sliepen K, Sanders RW. HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein immunogens to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies. Expert Rev Vaccines 2016; 15:349-65. [PMID: 26654478 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2016.1129905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The long pursuit for a vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) has recently been boosted by a number of exciting developments. An HIV-1 subunit vaccine ideally should elicit potent broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), but raising bNAbs by vaccination has proved extremely difficult because of the characteristics of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein complex (Env). However, the isolation of bNAbs from HIV-1-infected patients demonstrates that the human humoral immune system is capable of making such antibodies. Therefore, a focus of HIV-1 vaccinology is the elicitation of bNAbs by engineered immunogens and by using vaccination strategies aimed at mimicking the bNAb maturation pathways in HIV-infected patients. Important clues can also be taken from the successful subunit vaccines against hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus. Here, we review the different types of HIV-1 immunogens and vaccination strategies that are being explored in the search for an HIV-1 vaccine that induces bNAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwinten Sliepen
- a Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
| | - Rogier W Sanders
- a Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center , University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.,b Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Weill Medical College of Cornell University , New York , NY , USA
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9
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Dotsey EY, Gorlani A, Ingale S, Achenbach CJ, Forthal DN, Felgner PL, Gach JS. A High Throughput Protein Microarray Approach to Classify HIV Monoclonal Antibodies and Variant Antigens. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125581. [PMID: 25938510 PMCID: PMC4418728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, high throughput discovery of human recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has been applied to greatly advance our understanding of the specificity, and functional activity of antibodies against HIV. Thousands of antibodies have been generated and screened in functional neutralization assays, and antibodies associated with cross-strain neutralization and passive protection in primates, have been identified. To facilitate this type of discovery, a high throughput-screening tool is needed to accurately classify mAbs, and their antigen targets. In this study, we analyzed and evaluated a prototype microarray chip comprised of the HIV-1 recombinant proteins gp140, gp120, gp41, and several membrane proximal external region peptides. The protein microarray analysis of 11 HIV-1 envelope-specific mAbs revealed diverse binding affinities and specificities across clades. Half maximal effective concentrations, generated by our chip analysis, correlated significantly (P<0.0001) with concentrations from ELISA binding measurements. Polyclonal immune responses in plasma samples from HIV-1 infected subjects exhibited different binding patterns, and reactivity against printed proteins. Examining the totality of the specificity of the humoral response in this way reveals the exquisite diversity, and specificity of the humoral response to HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Y. Dotsey
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Andrea Gorlani
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Sampat Ingale
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Chad J. Achenbach
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Donald N. Forthal
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Philip L. Felgner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JSG); (PLF)
| | - Johannes S. Gach
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JSG); (PLF)
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10
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Apellániz B, Nieva JL. The Use of Liposomes to Shape Epitope Structure and Modulate Immunogenic Responses of Peptide Vaccines Against HIV MPER. PEPTIDE AND PROTEIN VACCINES 2015; 99:15-54. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2015.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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11
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Bird GH, Irimia A, Ofek G, Kwong PD, Wilson IA, Walensky LD. Stapled HIV-1 peptides recapitulate antigenic structures and engage broadly neutralizing antibodies. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2014; 21:1058-67. [PMID: 25420104 PMCID: PMC4304871 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Hydrocarbon stapling can restore bioactive, α-helical structure to natural peptides, yielding research tools and prototype therapeutics to dissect and target protein interactions. Here, we explore the capacity of peptide stapling to generate high fidelity, protease-resistant mimics of antigenic structures for vaccine development. HIV-1 has been refractory to vaccine technologies thus far, although select human antibodies can broadly neutralize HIV-1 by targeting sequences of the gp41 juxtamembrane fusion apparatus. To develop candidate HIV-1 immunogens, we generated and characterized stabilized α-helices of the membrane proximal external region (SAH-MPER) of gp41. SAH-MPER peptides were remarkably protease-resistant and bound to the broadly neutralizing 4E10 and 10E8 antibodies with high affinity, recapitulating the structure of the MPER epitope when differentially engaged by the two anti-HIV Fabs. Thus, stapled peptides may provide a new opportunity to develop chemically-stabilized antigens for vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory H Bird
- 1] Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [3] Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Adriana Irimia
- 1] Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA. [2] International AIDS Vaccine Initiative Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA. [3] Scripps Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Gilad Ofek
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter D Kwong
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ian A Wilson
- 1] Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA. [2] International AIDS Vaccine Initiative Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA. [3] Scripps Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Loren D Walensky
- 1] Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [2] Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [3] Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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12
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Zhou T, Zhu J, Yang Y, Gorman J, Ofek G, Srivatsan S, Druz A, Lees CR, Lu G, Soto C, Stuckey J, Burton DR, Koff WC, Connors M, Kwon PD. Transplanting supersites of HIV-1 vulnerability. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99881. [PMID: 24992528 PMCID: PMC4084637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
One strategy for isolating or eliciting antibodies against a specific target region on the envelope glycoprotein trimer (Env) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) involves the creation of site transplants, which present the target region on a heterologous protein scaffold with preserved antibody-binding properties. If the target region is a supersite of HIV-1 vulnerability, recognized by a collection of broadly neutralizing antibodies, this strategy affords the creation of “supersite transplants”, capable of binding (and potentially eliciting) antibodies similar to the template collection of effective antibodies. Here we transplant three supersites of HIV-1 vulnerability, each targeted by effective neutralizing antibodies from multiple donors. To implement our strategy, we chose a single representative antibody against each of the target supersites: antibody 10E8, which recognizes the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) on the HIV-1 gp41 glycoprotein; antibody PG9, which recognizes variable regions one and two (V1V2) on the HIV-1 gp120 glycoprotein; and antibody PGT128 which recognizes a glycopeptide supersite in variable region 3 (glycan V3) on gp120. We used a structural alignment algorithm to identify suitable acceptor proteins, and then designed, expressed, and tested antigenically over 100-supersite transplants in a 96-well microtiter-plate format. The majority of the supersite transplants failed to maintain the antigenic properties of their respective template supersite. However, seven of the glycan V3-supersite transplants exhibited nanomolar affinity to effective neutralizing antibodies from at least three donors and recapitulated the mannose9-N-linked glycan requirement of the template supersite. The binding of these transplants could be further enhanced by placement into self-assembling nanoparticles. Essential elements of the glycan V3 supersite, embodied by as few as 3 N-linked glycans and ∼25 Env residues, can be segregated into acceptor scaffolds away from the immune-evading capabilities of the rest of HIV-1 Env, thereby providing a means to focus the immune response on the scaffolded supersite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongqing Zhou
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jiang Zhu
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yongping Yang
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jason Gorman
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gilad Ofek
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sanjay Srivatsan
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Aliaksandr Druz
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christopher R. Lees
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gabriel Lu
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Cinque Soto
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Stuckey
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Dennis R. Burton
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science and IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, and Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Design, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Wayne C. Koff
- International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Mark Connors
- HIV-Specific Immunity Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Peter D. Kwon
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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13
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Matar G, Benichou E, Nasir MN, El Harfouch Y, Brevet PF, Besson F. Reorientation of the helix of the tryptophan-rich gp41W peptide from HIV-1 at interfaces. J Chem Phys 2013; 139:225105. [PMID: 24329097 DOI: 10.1063/1.4841795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The glycoprotein gp41 from the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) has an amino acid sequence enriched in tryptophan residues, the so-called gp41W peptide (i.e., KWASLWNWFNITNWLWYIK) and plays a crucial role in HIV-1 host cell infection. Using the coupling of Second Harmonic Generation targeting the tryptophan residues with lateral surface tension measurements, we investigate the interaction of gp41W with a neat air∕water and a lipid∕water interfaces. At the air∕water interface, gp41W presents a well-defined orientation and this orientation is strongly modified at the lipid∕water interface, depending on the surface pressure. These results show that this strategy is well suited to monitor tryptophan containing α-helices orientation at lipid∕water interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gladys Matar
- Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR CNRS 5246, CPE Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France
| | - Emmanuel Benichou
- Institut Lumière Matière, UMR5306 Université Lyon 1-CNRS, Université de Lyon 69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France
| | - Mehmet Nail Nasir
- Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR CNRS 5246, CPE Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France
| | - Yara El Harfouch
- Institut Lumière Matière, UMR5306 Université Lyon 1-CNRS, Université de Lyon 69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France
| | - Pierre-François Brevet
- Institut Lumière Matière, UMR5306 Université Lyon 1-CNRS, Université de Lyon 69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France
| | - Françoise Besson
- Institut de Chimie et Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR CNRS 5246, CPE Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, 43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France
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Kim M, Song L, Moon J, Sun ZYJ, Bershteyn A, Hanson M, Cain D, Goka S, Kelsoe G, Wagner G, Irvine D, Reinherz EL. Immunogenicity of membrane-bound HIV-1 gp41 membrane-proximal external region (MPER) segments is dominated by residue accessibility and modulated by stereochemistry. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:31888-901. [PMID: 24047898 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.494609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural characterization of epitope-paratope pairs has contributed to the understanding of antigenicity. By contrast, few structural studies relate to immunogenicity, the process of antigen-induced immune responses in vivo. Using a lipid-arrayed membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 glycoprotein 41 as a model antigen, we investigated the influence of physicochemical properties on immunogenicity in relation to structural modifications of MPER/liposome vaccines. Anchoring the MPER to the membrane via an alkyl tail or transmembrane domain retained the MPER on liposomes in vivo, while preserving MPER secondary structure. However, structural modifications that affected MPER membrane orientation and antigenic residue accessibility strongly impacted induced antibody responses. The solvent-exposed MPER tryptophan residue (Trp-680) was immunodominant, focusing immune responses, despite sequence variability elsewhere. Nonetheless, immunogenicity could be readily manipulated using site-directed mutagenesis or structural constraints to modulate amino acid surface display. These studies provide fundamental insights for immunogen design aimed at targeting B cell antibody responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikyung Kim
- From the Laboratory of Immunobiology and Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
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15
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Robinson JA. Max Bergmann lecture protein epitope mimetics in the age of structural vaccinology. J Pept Sci 2013; 19:127-40. [PMID: 23349031 PMCID: PMC3592999 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This review highlights the growing importance of protein epitope mimetics in the discovery of new biologically active molecules and their potential applications in drug and vaccine research. The focus is on folded β-hairpin mimetics, which are designed to mimic β-hairpin motifs in biologically important peptides and proteins. An ever-growing number of protein crystal structures reveal how β-hairpin motifs often play key roles in protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions. This review illustrates how using protein structures as a starting point for small-molecule mimetic design can provide novel ligands as protein-protein interaction inhibitors, as protease inhibitors, and as ligands for chemokine receptors and folded RNA targets, as well as novel antibiotics to combat the growing health threat posed by the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The β-hairpin antibiotics are shown to target a β-barrel outer membrane protein (LptD) in Pseudomonas sp., which is essential for the biogenesis of the outer cell membrane. Another exciting prospect is that protein epitope mimetics will be of increasing importance in synthetic vaccine design, in the emerging field of structural vaccinology. Crystal structures of protective antibodies bound to their pathogen-derived epitopes provide an ideal starting point for the design of synthetic epitope mimetics. The mimetics can be delivered to the immune system in a highly immunogenic format on the surface of synthetic virus-like particles. The scientific challenges in molecular design remain great, but the potential significance of success in this area is even greater.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Robinson
- Chemistry Department, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
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16
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Julien JP, Lee PS, Wilson IA. Structural insights into key sites of vulnerability on HIV-1 Env and influenza HA. Immunol Rev 2013; 250:180-98. [PMID: 23046130 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) envelope protein (Env) and influenza hemagglutinin (HA) are the surface glycoproteins responsible for viral entry into host cells, the first step in the virus life cycle necessary to initiate infection. These glycoproteins exhibit a high degree of sequence variability and glycosylation, which are used as strategies to escape host immune responses. Nonetheless, antibodies with broadly neutralizing activity against these viruses have been isolated that have managed to overcome these barriers. Here, we review recent advances in the structural characterization of these antibodies with their viral antigens that defines a few sites of vulnerability on these viral spikes. These broadly neutralizing antibodies tend to focus their recognition on the sites of similar function between the two viruses: the receptor-binding site and membrane fusion machinery. However, some sites of recognition are unique to the virus neutralized, such as the dense shield of oligomannose carbohydrates on HIV-1 Env. These observations are discussed in the context of structure-based design strategies to aid in vaccine design or development of antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Philippe Julien
- Department of Molecular Biology, Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
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17
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Henager SH, Hale MA, Maurice NJ, Dunnington EC, Swanson CJ, Peterson MJ, Ban JJ, Culpepper DJ, Davies LD, Sanders LK, McFarland BJ. Combining different design strategies for rational affinity maturation of the MICA-NKG2D interface. Protein Sci 2012; 21:1396-402. [PMID: 22761154 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2012] [Revised: 06/19/2012] [Accepted: 06/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We redesigned residues on the surface of MICA, a protein that binds the homodimeric immunoreceptor NKG2D, to increase binding affinity with a series of rational, incremental changes. A fixed-backbone RosettaDesign protocol scored a set of initial mutations, which we tested by surface plasmon resonance for thermodynamics and kinetics of NKG2D binding, both singly and in combination. We combined the best four mutations at the surface with three affinity-enhancing mutations below the binding interface found with a previous design strategy. After curating design scores with three cross-validated tests, we found a linear relationship between free energy of binding and design score, and to a lesser extent, enthalpy and design score. Multiple mutants bound with substantial subadditivity, but in at least one case full additivity was observed when combining distant mutations. Altogether, combining the best mutations from the two strategies into a septuple mutant enhanced affinity by 50-fold, to 50 nM, demonstrating a simple, effective protocol for affinity enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel H Henager
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington 98119-1997, USA
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