Antibody responses to envelope glycoproteins in HIV-1 infection

Comparison of the immunogenicity of mRNA-encoded and protein HIV-1 Env-ferritin nanoparticle designs

Nucleoside-modified mRNA technology has revolutionized vaccine development with the success of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. We used modified mRNA technology for the design of envelopes (Env) to induce HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). However, unlike SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies that are readily made, HIV-1 bnAb induction is disfavored by the immune system because of the rarity of bnAb B cell precursors and the cross-reactivity of bnAbs targeting certain Env epitopes with host molecules, thus requiring optimized immunogen design. The use of protein nanoparticles (NPs) has been reported to enhance B cell germinal center responses to HIV-1 Env. Here, we report our experience with the expression of Env-ferritin NPs compared with membrane-bound Env gp160 when encoded by modified mRNA. We found that well-folded Env-ferritin NPs were a minority of the protein expressed by an mRNA design and were immunogenic at 20 µg but minimally immunogenic in mice at 1 µg dose in vivo and were not expressed well in draining lymph nodes (LNs) following intramuscular immunization. In contrast, mRNA encoding gp160 was more immunogenic than mRNA encoding Env-NP at 1 µg dose and was expressed well in draining LN following intramuscular immunization. Thus, analysis of mRNA expression in vitro and immunogenicity at low doses in vivo are critical for the evaluation of mRNA designs for optimal immunogenicity of HIV-1 immunogens.IMPORTANCEAn effective HIV-1 vaccine that induces protective antibody responses remains elusive. We have used mRNA technology for designs of HIV-1 immunogens in the forms of membrane-bound full-length envelope gp160 and envelope ferritin nanoparticle. Here, we demonstrated in a mouse model that the membrane-bound form induced a better response than envelope ferritin nanoparticle because of higher in vivo protein expression. The significance of our research is in highlighting the importance of analysis of mRNA design expression and low-dose immunogenicity studies for HIV-1 immunogens before moving to vaccine clinical trials.

mRNA-based HIV-1 vaccines

SUMMARYThe success of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 mRNA vaccines to lessen/prevent severe COVID-19 opened new opportunities to develop RNA vaccines to fight other infectious agents. HIV-1 is a lentivirus that integrates into the host cell genome and persists for the lifetime of infected cells. Multiple mechanisms of immune evasion have posed significant obstacles to the development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine over the last four decades since the identification of HIV-1. Recently, attempts to address some of these challenges have led to multiple studies that manufactured, optimized, and tested, in different animal models, mRNA-based HIV-1 vaccines. Several clinical trials have also been initiated or are planned to start soon. Here, we review the current strategies applied to HIV-1 mRNA vaccines, discuss different targeting approaches, summarize the latest findings, and offer insights into the challenges and future of HIV-1 mRNA vaccines.

Beyond glycan barriers: non-cognate ligands and protein mimicry approaches to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies for HIV-1

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine immunogens capable of inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) remain obscure. HIV-1 evades immune responses through enormous diversity and hides its conserved vulnerable epitopes on the envelope glycoprotein (Env) by displaying an extensive immunodominant glycan shield. In elite HIV-1 viremic controllers, glycan-dependent bNAbs targeting conserved Env epitopes have been isolated and are utilized as vaccine design templates. However, immunological tolerance mechanisms limit the development of these antibodies in the general population. The well characterized bNAbs monoclonal variants frequently exhibit extensive levels of somatic hypermutation, a long third heavy chain complementary determining region, or a short third light chain complementarity determining region, and some exhibit poly-reactivity to autoantigens. This review elaborates on the obstacles to engaging and manipulating the Env glycoprotein as an effective immunogen and describes an alternative reverse vaccinology approach to develop a novel category of bNAb-epitope-derived non-cognate immunogens for HIV-1 vaccine design.

HIV-1 envelope diversity and sensitivity to broadly neutralizing antibodies across stages of acute HIV-1 infection

We studied the relationship between viral diversity and susceptibility to broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) in longitudinal plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 89 people with HIV who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) during acute and early HIV-1 infection (AEHI). HIV-1 diversity and predicted bNAb susceptibility were comparable across AEHI. Diversity evolution was not observed during ART, suggesting (pro)viruses at initiation or during treatment may identify individuals with susceptible virus for bNAb interventional trials.

High frequency of HIV precursor-target-specific B cells in sub-Saharan populations

HIV gp120 engineered outer domain germline-targeting version 8 (eOD-GT8) was designed specifically to engage naive B cell precursors of VRC01-class antibodies. However, the frequency and affinity of naive B cell precursors able to recognize eOD-GT8 have been evaluated only in U.S. populations. HIV infection is disproportionally concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, so we seek to characterize naive B cells able to recognize eOD-GT8 in sub-Saharan cohorts. We demonstrate that people from sub-Saharan Africa have a higher or equivalent frequency of naive B cells able to engage eOD-GT8 compared with people from the U.S. Genetically, the higher frequency of eOD-GT8-positive cells is accompanied by a higher level of naive B cells with gene signatures characteristic of the VRC01 class, as well as other CD4bs-directed antibodies. Our study demonstrates that vaccination with eOD-GT8 in sub-Saharan Africa could be successful at expanding and establishing a pool of CD4bs-directed memory B cells from naive precursors.

Humoral immunity to phlebovirus infection

Phleboviruses are zoonotic pathogens found in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America and cause disease symptoms ranging from self-limiting febrile illness to severe disease, including hemorrhagic diathesis, encephalitis, and ocular pathologies. There are currently no approved preventative vaccines against phlebovirus infection or antivirals for the treatment of the disease. Here, we discuss the roles of neutralizing antibodies in phlebovirus infection, the antigenic targets present on the mature polyproteins Gn and Gc, progress in vaccine development, and the prospects of identifying conserved neutralizing epitopes across multiple phleboviruses. Further research in this area will pave the way for the rational design of pan-phlebovirus vaccines that will protect against both known phleboviruses but also newly emerging phleboviruses that may have pandemic potential.

Host immunity associated with spontaneous suppression of viremia in therapy-naïve young rhesus macaques following neonatal SHIV infection

IMPORTANCE

Despite the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy, people are still dying from HIV-related causes, many of whom are children, and a protective vaccine or cure is needed to end the HIV pandemic. Understanding the nature and activation states of immune cell subsets during infection will provide insights into the immunologic milieu associated with viremia suppression that can be harnessed via therapeutic strategies to achieve a functional cure, but these are understudied in pediatric subjects. We evaluated humoral and adaptive host immunity associated with suppression of viremia in rhesus macaques infected soon after birth with a pathogenic SHIV. The results from our study provide insights into the immune cell subsets and functions associated with viremia control in young macaques that may translate to pediatric subjects for the design of future anti-viral strategies in HIV-1-infected infants and children and contribute to an understudied area of HIV-1 pathogenesis in pediatric subjects.

Higher HIV-1 Env gp120-Specific Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) Activity Is Associated with Lower Levels of Defective HIV-1 Provirus

A cure for HIV-1 (HIV) remains unrealized due to a reservoir of latently infected cells that persist during antiretroviral therapy (ART), with reservoir size associated with adverse health outcomes and inversely with time to viral rebound upon ART cessation. Once established during ART, the HIV reservoir decays minimally over time; thus, understanding factors that impact the size of the HIV reservoir near its establishment is key to improving the health of people living with HIV and for the development of novel cure strategies. Yet, to date, few correlates of HIV reservoir size have been identified, particularly in pediatric populations. Here, we employed a cross-subtype intact proviral DNA assay (CS-IPDA) to quantify HIV provirus between one- and two-years post-ART initiation in a cohort of Kenyan children (n = 72), which had a median of 99 intact (range: 0-2469), 1340 defective (range: 172-3.84 × 104), and 1729 total (range: 178-5.11 × 104) HIV proviral copies per one million T cells. Additionally, pre-ART plasma was tested for HIV Env-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity. We found that pre-ART gp120-specific ADCC activity inversely correlated with defective provirus levels (n = 68, r = -0.285, p = 0.0214) but not the intact reservoir (n = 68, r = -0.0321, p-value = 0.800). Pre-ART gp41-specific ADCC did not significantly correlate with either proviral population (n = 68; intact: r = -0.0512, p-value = 0.686; defective: r = -0.109, p-value = 0.389). This suggests specific host immune factors prior to ART initiation can impact proviruses that persist during ART.

Assessing immunogenicity barriers of the HIV-1 envelope trimer

Understanding the balance between epitope shielding and accessibility on HIV-1 envelope (Env) trimers is essential to guide immunogen selection for broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) based vaccines. To investigate the antigenic space of Env immunogens, we created a strategy based on synthetic, high diversity, Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein (DARPin) libraries. We show that DARPin Antigenicity Analysis (DANA), a purely in vitro screening tool, has the capability to extrapolate relevant information of antigenic properties of Env immunogens. DANA screens of stabilized, soluble Env trimers revealed that stronger trimer stabilization led to the selection of highly mutated DARPins with length variations and framework mutations mirroring observations made for bnAbs. By mimicking heterotypic prime-boost immunization regimens, DANA may be used to select immunogen combinations that favor the selection of trimer-reactive binders. This positions DANA as a versatile strategy for distilling fundamental antigenic features of immunogens, complementary to preclinical immunogenicity testing.

IgG3 subclass antibodies recognize antigenically drifted influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2 variants through efficient bivalent binding

The constant domains of antibodies are important for effector functions, but less is known about how they can affect binding and neutralization of viruses. Here, we evaluated a panel of human influenza virus monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) expressed as IgG1, IgG2, or IgG3. We found that many influenza virus-specific mAbs have altered binding and neutralization capacity depending on the IgG subclass encoded and that these differences result from unique bivalency capacities of the subclasses. Importantly, subclass differences in antibody binding and neutralization were greatest when the affinity for the target antigen was reduced through antigenic mismatch. We found that antibodies expressed as IgG3 bound and neutralized antigenically drifted influenza viruses more effectively. We obtained similar results using a panel of SARS-CoV-2-specific mAbs and the antigenically advanced B.1.351 and BA.1 strains of SARS-CoV-2. We found that a licensed therapeutic mAb retained neutralization breadth against SARS-CoV-2 variants when expressed as IgG3, but not IgG1. These data highlight that IgG subclasses are not only important for fine-tuning effector functionality but also for binding and neutralization of antigenically drifted viruses.

Future prospects in mRNA vaccine development

The recent advancements in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine development have vastly enhanced their use as alternatives to conventional vaccines in the prevention of various infectious diseases and treatment of several types of cancers. This is mainly due to their remarkable ability to stimulate specific immune responses with minimal clinical side effects. This review gives a detailed overview of mRNA vaccines currently in use or at various stages of development, the recent advancements in mRNA vaccine development, and the challenges encountered in their development. Future perspectives on this technology are also discussed.

Construction and Applications of Mammalian Cell-Based DNA-Encoded Peptide/Protein Libraries

DNA-encoded peptide/protein libraries are the starting point for protein evolutionary modification and functional peptide/antibody selection. Different display technologies, protein directed evolution, and deep mutational scanning (DMS) experiments employ DNA-encoded libraries to provide sequence variations for downstream affinity- or function-based selections. Mammalian cells promise the inherent post-translational modification and near-to-natural conformation of exogenously expressed mammalian proteins and thus are the best platform for studying transmembrane proteins or human disease-related proteins. However, due to the current technical bottlenecks of constructing mammalian cell-based large size DNA-encoded libraries, the advantages of mammalian cells as screening platforms have not been fully exploited. In this review, we summarize the current efforts in constructing DNA-encoded libraries in mammalian cells and the existing applications of these libraries in different fields.

Unmodified rabies mRNA vaccine elicits high cross-neutralizing antibody titers and diverse B cell memory responses

Licensed rabies virus vaccines based on whole inactivated virus are effective in humans. However, there is a lack of detailed investigations of the elicited immune response, and whether responses can be improved using novel vaccine platforms. Here we show that two doses of a lipid nanoparticle-formulated unmodified mRNA vaccine encoding the rabies virus glycoprotein (RABV-G) induces higher levels of RABV-G specific plasmablasts and T cells in blood, and plasma cells in the bone marrow compared to two doses of Rabipur in non-human primates. The mRNA vaccine also generates higher RABV-G binding and neutralizing antibody titers than Rabipur, while the degree of somatic hypermutation and clonal diversity of the response are similar for the two vaccines. The higher overall antibody titers induced by the mRNA vaccine translates into improved cross-neutralization of related lyssavirus strains, suggesting that this platform has potential for the development of a broadly protective vaccine against these viruses.

Fusion of the molecular adjuvant C3d to cleavage-independent native-like HIV-1 Env trimers improves the elicited antibody response

An effective HIV vaccine likely requires the elicitation of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against multiple HIV-1 clades. The recently developed cleavage-independent native flexibly linked (NFL) envelope (Env) trimers exhibit well-ordered conformation and elicit autologous tier 2 NAbs in multiple animal models. Here, we investigated whether the fusion of molecular adjuvant C3d to the Env trimers can improve B- cell germinal center (GC) formation and antibody responses. To generate Env-C3d trimers, we performed a glycine-serine- based (G4S) flexible peptide linker screening and identified a linker range that allowed native folding. A 30-60- amino- acid- long linker facilitates Env-to-C3d association and achieves the secretion of well-ordered trimers and the structural integrity and functional integrity of Env and C3d. The fusion of C3d did not dramatically affect the antigenicity of the Env trimers and enhanced the ability of the Env trimers to engage and activate B cells in vitro. In mice, the fusion of C3d enhanced germinal center formation, the magnitude of Env-specific binding antibodies, and the avidity of the antibodies in the presence of an adjuvant. The Sigma Adjuvant System (SAS) did not affect the trimer integrity in vitro but contributed to altered immunogenicity in vivo, resulting in increased tier 1 neutralization, likely by increased exposure of variable region 3 (V3). Taken together, the results indicate that the fusion of the molecular adjuvant, C3d, to the Env trimers improves antibody responses and could be useful for Env-based vaccines against HIV.

An HIV-1/HIV-2 Chimeric Envelope Glycoprotein Generates Binding and Neutralising Antibodies against HIV-1 and HIV-2 Isolates

The development of immunogens that elicit broadly reactive neutralising antibodies (bNAbs) is the highest priority for an HIV vaccine. We have shown that a prime-boost vaccination strategy with vaccinia virus expressing the envelope glycoprotein gp120 of HIV-2 and a polypeptide comprising the envelope regions C2, V3 and C3 elicits bNAbs against HIV-2. We hypothesised that a chimeric envelope gp120 containing the C2, V3 and C3 regions of HIV-2 and the remaining parts of HIV-1 would elicit a neutralising response against HIV-1 and HIV-2. This chimeric envelope was synthesised and expressed in vaccinia virus. Balb/c mice primed with the recombinant vaccinia virus and boosted with an HIV-2 C2V3C3 polypeptide or monomeric gp120 from a CRF01_AG HIV-1 isolate produced antibodies that neutralised >60% (serum dilution 1:40) of a primary HIV-2 isolate. Four out of nine mice also produced antibodies that neutralised at least one HIV-1 isolate. Neutralising epitope specificity was assessed using a panel of HIV-1 TRO.11 pseudoviruses with key neutralising epitopes disrupted by alanine substitution (N160A in V2; N278A in the CD4 binding site region; N332A in the high mannose patch). The neutralisation of the mutant pseudoviruses was reduced or abolished in one mouse, suggesting that neutralising antibodies target the three major neutralising epitopes in the HIV-1 envelope gp120. These results provide proof of concept for chimeric HIV-1/HIV-2 envelope glycoproteins as vaccine immunogens that can direct the antibody response against neutralising epitopes in the HIV-1 and HIV-2 surface glycoproteins.

HIV-Host Cell Interactions

The development of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) was a great milestone in the management of HIV infection. ARVs suppress viral activity in the host cell, thus minimizing injury to the cells and prolonging life. However, an effective treatment has remained elusive for four decades due to the successful immune evasion mechanisms of the virus. A thorough understanding of the molecular interaction of HIV with the host cell is essential in the development of both preventive and curative therapies for HIV infection. This review highlights several inherent mechanisms of HIV that promote its survival and propagation, such as the targeting of CD4+ lymphocytes, the downregulation of MHC class I and II, antigenic variation and an envelope complex that minimizes antibody access, and how they collaboratively render the immune system unable to mount an effective response.

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, infected cell binding and neutralization by antibodies to the SIV envelope glycoprotein

Antibodies specific for diverse epitopes of the simian immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein (SIV Env) have been isolated from rhesus macaques to provide physiologically relevant reagents for investigating antibody-mediated protection in this species as a nonhuman primate model for HIV/AIDS. With increasing interest in the contribution of Fc-mediated effector functions to protective immunity, we selected thirty antibodies representing different classes of SIV Env epitopes for a comparison of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), binding to Env on the surface of infected cells and neutralization of viral infectivity. These activities were measured against cells infected with neutralization-sensitive (SIVmac316 and SIVsmE660-FL14) and neutralization-resistant (SIVmac239 and SIVsmE543-3) viruses representing genetically distinct isolates. Antibodies to the CD4-binding site and CD4-inducible epitopes were identified with especially potent ADCC against all four viruses. ADCC correlated well with antibody binding to virus-infected cells. ADCC also correlated with neutralization. However, several instances of ADCC without detectable neutralization or neutralization without detectable ADCC were observed. The incomplete correspondence between ADCC and neutralization shows that some antibody-Env interactions can uncouple these antiviral activities. Nevertheless, the overall correlation between neutralization and ADCC implies that most antibodies that are capable of binding to Env on the surface of virions to block infectivity are also capable of binding to Env on the surface of virus-infected cells to direct their elimination by ADCC.

Single-component multilayered self-assembling protein nanoparticles presenting glycan-trimmed uncleaved prefusion optimized envelope trimmers as HIV-1 vaccine candidates

Uncleaved prefusion-optimized (UFO) design can stabilize diverse HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Envs). Single-component, self-assembling protein nanoparticles (1c-SApNP) can display 8 or 20 native-like Env trimers as vaccine candidates. We characterize the biophysical, structural, and antigenic properties of 1c-SApNPs that present the BG505 UFO trimer with wildtype and modified glycans. For 1c-SApNPs, glycan trimming improves recognition of the CD4 binding site without affecting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) to major glycan epitopes. In mice, rabbits, and nonhuman primates, glycan trimming increases the frequency of vaccine responders (FVR) and steers antibody responses away from immunodominant glycan holes and glycan patches. The mechanism of vaccine-induced immunity is examined in mice. Compared with the UFO trimer, the multilayered E2p and I3-01v9 1c-SApNPs show 420 times longer retention in lymph node follicles, 20-32 times greater presentation on follicular dendritic cell dendrites, and up-to-4 times stronger germinal center reactions. These findings can inform future HIV-1 vaccine development.

Protein-based Nanoparticle Vaccine Approaches Against Infectious Diseases

The field of vaccine development has seen an increase in the number of rationally designed technologies that increase effectiveness against vaccine-resistant pathogens, while not compromising safety. Yet, there is still an urgent need to expand and further understand these platforms against complex pathogens that often evade protective responses. Nanoscale platforms have been at the center of new studies, especially in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with the aim of deploying safe and effective vaccines in a short time period. The intrinsic properties of protein-based nanoparticles, such as biocompatibility, flexible physicochemical characteristics, and variety have made them an attractive platform against different infectious disease agents. In the past decade, several studies have tested both lumazine synthase-, ferritin-, and albumin-based nanoplatforms against a wide range of complex pathogens in pre-clinical studies. Owed to their success in pre-clinical studies, several studies are undergoing human clinical trials or are near an initial phase. In this review we highlight the different protein-based platforms, mechanisms of synthesis, and effectiveness of these over the past decade. In addition, some challenges, and future directions to increase their effectiveness are also highlighted. Taken together, protein-based nanoscaffolds have proven to be an effective means to design rationally designed vaccines, especially against complex pathogens and emerging infectious diseases.

Recent advancements in single dose slow-release devices for prophylactic vaccines

Single dose slow-release vaccines herald a new era in vaccine administration. An ideal device for slow-release vaccine delivery would be minimally invasive and self-administered, making these approaches an attractive alternative for mass vaccination programs, particularly during the time of a pandemic. In this review article, we discuss the latest advances in this field, specifically for prophylactic vaccines able to prevent infectious diseases. Recent studies have found that slow-release vaccines elicit better immune responses and often do not require cold chain transportation and storage, thus drastically reducing the cost, streamlining distribution, and improving efficacy. This promise has attracted significant attention, especially when poor patient compliance of the standard multidose vaccine regimes is considered. Single dose slow-release vaccines are the next generation of vaccine tools that could overcome most of the shortcomings of present vaccination programs and be the next platform technology to combat future pandemics. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures.

Chimeric Human Papillomavirus-16 Virus-like Particles Presenting P18I10 and T20 Peptides from HIV-1 Envelope Induce HPV16 and HIV-1-Specific Humoral and T Cell-Mediated Immunity in BALB/c Mice

In this study, the HIV-1 P18I10 CTL peptide derived from the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 and the T20 anti-fusion peptide of HIV-1 gp41 were inserted into the HPV16 L1 capsid protein to construct chimeric HPV:HIV (L1:P18I10 and L1:T20) VLPs by using the mammalian cell expression system. The HPV:HIV VLPs were purified by chromatography. We demonstrated that the insertion of P18I10 or T20 peptides into the DE loop of HPV16 L1 capsid proteins did not affect in vitro stability, self-assembly and morphology of chimeric HPV:HIV VLPs. Importantly, it did not interfere either with the HIV-1 antibody reactivity targeting sequential and conformational P18I10 and T20 peptides presented on chimeric HPV:HIV VLPs or with the induction of HPV16 L1-specific antibodies in vivo. We observed that chimeric L1:P18I10/L1:T20 VLPs vaccines could induce HPV16- but weak HIV-1-specific antibody responses and elicited HPV16- and HIV-1-specific T-cell responses in BALB/c mice. Moreover, could be a potential booster to increase HIV-specific cellular responses in the heterologous immunization after priming with rBCG.HIVA vaccine. This research work would contribute a step towards the development of the novel chimeric HPV:HIV VLP-based vaccine platform for controlling HPV16 and HIV-1 infection, which is urgently needed in developing and industrialized countries.

Long-Term and Low-Level Envelope C2V3 Stimulation by Highly Diverse Virus Isolates Leads to Frequent Development of Broad and Elite Antibody Neutralization in HIV-1-Infected Individuals

A minority of HIV-1-infected patients produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Identification of viral and host correlates of bNAb production may help develop vaccines. We aimed to characterize the neutralizing response and viral and host-associated factors in Angola, which has one of the oldest, most dynamic, and most diverse HIV-1 epidemics in the world. Three hundred twenty-two HIV-1-infected adults from Angola were included in this retrospective study. Phylogenetic analysis of C2V3C3 env gene sequences was used for virus subtyping. Env-binding antibody reactivity was tested against polypeptides comprising the C2, V3, and C3 regions. Neutralizing-antibody responses were determined against a reference panel of tier 2 Env pseudoviruses in TZM-bl cells; neutralizing epitope specificities were predicted using ClustVis. All subtypes were found, along with untypeable strains and recombinant forms. Notably, 56% of the patients developed cross neutralizing, broadly neutralizing, or elite neutralizing responses. Broad and elite neutralization was associated with longer infection time, subtype C, lower CD4+ T cell counts, higher age, and higher titer of C2V3C3-specific antibodies relative to failure to develop bNAbs. Neutralizing antibodies targeted the V3-glycan supersite in most patients. V3 and C3 regions were significantly less variable in elite neutralizers than in weak neutralizers and nonneutralizers, suggesting an active role of V3C3-directed bNAbs in controlling HIV-1 replication and diversification. In conclusion, prolonged and low-level envelope V3C3 stimulation by highly diverse and ancestral HIV-1 isolates promotes the frequent elicitation of bNAbs. These results provide important clues for the development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine. IMPORTANCE Studies on neutralization by antibodies and their determinants in HIV-1-infected individuals have mostly been conducted in relatively recent epidemics caused by subtype B and C viruses. Results have suggested that elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) is uncommon. The mechanisms underlying the elicitation of bNAbs are still largely unknown. We performed the first characterization of the plasma neutralizing response in a cohort of HIV-1-infected patients from Angola. Angola is characterized by an old and dynamic epidemic caused by highly diverse HIV-1 variants. Remarkably, more than half of the patients produced bNAbs, mostly targeting the V3-glycan supersite in HIV-1. This was associated with higher age, longer infection time, lower CD4+ T cell counts, subtype C infection, or higher titer of C2V3C3-specific antibodies relative to patients that did not develop bNAbs. These results may help develop the next generation of vaccine candidates for HIV-1.

Multivalent display of engineered HIV-1 envelope trimers on silica nanoparticles for targeting and in vitro activation of germline VRC01 B cells

Selective targeting of germline B cells with specifically designed germline-targeting HIV-1 envelope immunogens (GT-Env) is considered a feasible vaccination strategy to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). BnAbs are extremely valuable because they neutralize genetically distant viral strains at the same time. To overcome its inherently low affinity to germline B cells, the aim of the study was to present GT-Env via different immobilization strategies densely arrayed on the surface of nanoparticles. We engineered a prefusion-stabilized GT-Env trimer with affinity to VRC01 germline B cells using a bioinformatics-supported design approach. Distinct glycan modifications and amino acid substitutions yielded a GT-Env trimer which bound to the receptor with a K_D of 11.5 µM. Silica nanoparticles with 200 nm diameter (SiNPs) were used for the multivalent display of the novel GT-Env with a 15 nm mean centre-to-centre spacing either by site-specific, covalent conjugation or at random, non-specific adsorption. Oriented, covalent GT-Env conjugation revealed better binding of structure dependent bnAbs as compared to non-specifically adsorbed GT-Env. In addition, GT-Env covalently attached activated a B cell line expressing the germline VRC01 receptor at an EC₅₀ value in the nanomolar range (4 nM), while soluble GT-Env required 1,000-fold higher concentrations to induce signalling. The significantly lower GT-Env concentration was likely required due to avidity effects, which were in the picomolar range. Thus, low affinity antigens may particularly benefit from a particulate and multivalent delivery. In future, SiNPs are ideal to be modified in a modular design with various GT-Env variants that target different stages of germline and bnAb precursor B cells.

Human immunoglobulin repertoire analysis guides design of vaccine priming immunogens targeting HIV V2-apex broadly neutralizing antibody precursors

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) to the HIV envelope (Env) V2-apex region are important leads for HIV vaccine design. Most V2-apex bnAbs engage Env with an uncommonly long heavy-chain complementarity-determining region 3 (HCDR3), suggesting that the rarity of bnAb precursors poses a challenge for vaccine priming. We created precursor sequence definitions for V2-apex HCDR3-dependent bnAbs and searched for related precursors in human antibody heavy-chain ultradeep sequencing data from 14 HIV-unexposed donors. We found potential precursors in a majority of donors for only two long-HCDR3 V2-apex bnAbs, PCT64 and PG9, identifying these bnAbs as priority vaccine targets. We then engineered ApexGT Env trimers that bound inferred germlines for PCT64 and PG9 and had higher affinities for bnAbs, determined cryo-EM structures of ApexGT trimers complexed with inferred-germline and bnAb forms of PCT64 and PG9, and developed an mRNA-encoded cell-surface ApexGT trimer. These methods and immunogens have promise to assist HIV vaccine development.

IgG3 subclass antibodies recognize antigenically drifted influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2 variants through efficient bivalent binding

The constant domains of antibodies are important for effector functions, but less is known about how they can affect binding and neutralization of viruses. Here we evaluated a panel of human influenza virus monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) expressed as IgG1, IgG2 or IgG3. We found that many influenza virus-specific mAbs have altered binding and neutralization capacity depending on the IgG subclass encoded, and that these differences result from unique bivalency capacities of the subclasses. Importantly, subclass differences in antibody binding and neutralization were greatest when the affinity for the target antigen was reduced through antigenic mismatch. We found that antibodies expressed as IgG3 bound and neutralized antigenically drifted influenza viruses more effectively. We obtained similar results using a panel of SARS-CoV-2-specific mAbs and the antigenically advanced B.1.351 strain of SARS-CoV-2. We found that a licensed therapeutic mAb retained neutralization breadth against SARS-CoV-2 variants when expressed as IgG3, but not IgG1. These data highlight that IgG subclasses are not only important for fine-tuning effector functionality, but also for binding and neutralization of antigenically drifted viruses.

Significance

Influenza viruses and coronaviruses undergo continuous change, successfully evading human antibodies elicited from prior infections or vaccinations. It is important to identify features that allow antibodies to bind with increased breadth. Here we examined the effect that different IgG subclasses have on monoclonal antibody binding and neutralization. We show that IgG subclass is a determinant of antibody breadth, with IgG3 affording increased neutralization of antigenically drifted variants of influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2. Future studies should evaluate IgG3 therapeutic antibodies and vaccination strategies or adjuvants that may skew antibody responses toward broadly reactive isotypes.

Rapid microfluidic platform for screening and enrichment of cells secreting virus neutralizing antibodies

As part of the body's immune response, antibodies (Abs) have the ability to neutralize pathogenic viruses to prevent infection. To screen for neutralizing Abs (nAbs) from the immune repertoire, multiple screening techniques have been developed. However, conventional methods have a trade-off between screening throughput and the ability to screen for nAbs via their functional efficacy. Although droplet microfluidic platforms have the ability to bridge this disparity, the majority of such reported platforms still rely on Ab-binding assays as a proxy for function, which results in irrelevant hits. Herein, we report the multi-module Droplet-based Platform for Effective Antibody RetrievaL (DROP-PEARL) platform, which can achieve high-throughput enrichment of Ab-secreting cells (ASCs) based on the neutralizing activity of secreted nAbs against the a target virus. In this study, in-droplet Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection of host cells and neutralization was demonstrated via sequential delivery of viruses and host cells via picoinjection. In addition, we demonstrate the ability of the sorting system to accurately discriminate and isolate uninfected droplets from a mixed population of droplets at a rate of 150 000 cells per hour. As a proof of concept, a single-cell neutralization assay was performed on two populations of cells (nAb-producing and non-Ab producing cells), and up to 2.75-fold enrichment of ASCs was demonstrated. Finally, we demonstrated that DROP-PEARL is able to achieve similar enrichment for low frequency (∼2%) functional nAb-producing cells in a background of excess cells secreting irrelevant antibodies, highlighting its potential prospect as a first round enrichment platform for functional ASCs. We envision that the DROP-PEARL platform could potentially be used to accelerate the discovery of nAbs against other pathogenic viral targets, and we believe it will be a useful in the ongoing fight against biological threats.

Development of Neutralization Breadth against Diverse HIV-1 by Increasing Ab-Ag Interface on V2

Understanding maturation pathways of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against HIV-1 can be highly informative for HIV-1 vaccine development. A lineage of J038 bnAbs is now obtained from a long-term SHIV-infected macaque. J038 neutralizes 54% of global circulating HIV-1 strains. Its binding induces a unique "up" conformation for one of the V2 loops in the trimeric envelope glycoprotein and is heavily dependent on glycan, which provides nearly half of the binding surface. Their unmutated common ancestor neutralizes the autologous virus. Continuous maturation enhances neutralization potency and breadth of J038 lineage antibodies via expanding antibody-Env contact areas surrounding the core region contacted by germline-encoded residues. Developmental details and recognition features of J038 lineage antibodies revealed here provide a new pathway for elicitation and maturation of V2-targeting bnAbs.

Safety and tolerability of AAV8 delivery of a broadly neutralizing antibody in adults living with HIV: a phase 1, dose-escalation trial

Adeno-associated viral vector-mediated transfer of DNA coding for broadly neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies (bnAbs) offers an alternative to attempting to induce protection by vaccination or by repeated infusions of bnAbs. In this study, we administered a recombinant bicistronic adeno-associated virus (AAV8) vector coding for both the light and heavy chains of the potent broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibody VRC07 (AAV8-VRC07) to eight adults living with HIV. All participants remained on effective anti-retroviral therapy (viral load (VL) <50 copies per milliliter) throughout this phase 1, dose-escalation clinical trial ( NCT03374202 ). AAV8-VRC07 was given at doses of 5 × 1010, 5 × 1011 and 2.5 × 1012 vector genomes per kilogram by intramuscular (IM) injection. Primary endpoints of this study were to assess the safety and tolerability of AAV8-VRC07; to determine the pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of in vivo VRC07 production; and to describe the immune response directed against AAV8-VRC07 vector and its products. Secondary endpoints were to assess the clinical effects of AAV8-VRC07 on CD4 T cell count and VL and to assess the persistence of VRC07 produced in participants. In this cohort, IM injection of AAV8-VRC07 was safe and well tolerated. No clinically significant change in CD4 T cell count or VL occurred during the 1-3 years of follow-up reported here. In participants who received AAV8-VRC07, concentrations of VRC07 were increased 6 weeks (P = 0.008) and 52 weeks (P = 0.016) after IM injection of the product. All eight individuals produced measurable amounts of serum VRC07, with maximal VRC07 concentrations >1 µg ml-1 in three individuals. In four individuals, VRC07 serum concentrations remained stable near maximal concentration for up to 3 years of follow-up. In exploratory analyses, neutralizing activity of in vivo produced VRC07 was similar to that of in vitro produced VRC07. Three of eight participants showed a non-idiotypic anti-drug antibody (ADA) response directed against the Fab portion of VRC07. This ADA response appeared to decrease the production of serum VRC07 in two of these three participants. These data represent a proof of concept that adeno-associated viral vectors can durably produce biologically active, difficult-to-induce bnAbs in vivo, which could add valuable new tools to the fight against infectious diseases.

HIV-2 Neutralization Sensitivity in Relation to Co-Receptor Entry Pathways and Env Motifs

HIV-2, compared to HIV-1, elicits potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies, and uses a broad range of co-receptors. However, both sensitivity to neutralization and breadth of co-receptor use varies between HIV-2 isolates, and the molecular background is still not fully understood. Thus, in the current study, we have deciphered relationships between HIV-2 neutralization sensitivity, co-receptor use and viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) molecular motifs. A panel of primary HIV-2 isolates, with predefined use of co-receptors, was assessed for neutralization sensitivity using a set of HIV-2 Env-directed monoclonal antibodies and co-receptor indicator cell lines. Neutralization sensitivity of the isolates was analysed in relation target cell co-receptor expression, in addition to amino acid motifs and predicted structures of Env regions. Results showed that HIV-2 isolates were more resistant to neutralizing antibodies when entering target cells via the alternative co-receptor GPR15, as compared to CCR5. A similar pattern was noted for isolates using the alternative co-receptor CXCR6. Sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies appeared also to be linked to specific Env motifs in V1/V2 and C3 regions. Our findings suggest that HIV-2 sensitivity to neutralization depends both on which co-receptor is used for cell entry and on specific Env motifs. This study highlights the multifactorial mechanisms behind HIV-2 neutralization sensitivity.

Neutralization Sensitivity of HIV-1 CRF07_BC From an Untreated Patient With a Focus on Evolution Over Time

The diversity of HIV-1 envelope (Env) glycoproteins affects the potency and breadth of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), a promising alternative to antiretroviral drugs for the prevention and treatment of HIV-1 infection. To facilitate immunogen design and development of therapeutic neutralizing antibodies, we characterized viral evolution and monitored the changes in neutralizing activity/sensitivity of a long-term non-progressor patient with HIV-1 CRF07_BC infection. Fifty-nine full-length Env gene fragments were derived from four plasma samples sequentially harvested from the patient between 2016 and 2020. Sequencing of patient-derived Env genes revealed that potential N-linked glycosylation sites (PNGS) in V1 and V5 significantly increased over time. Further, 24 functional Env-pseudotyped viruses were generated based on Env gene sequences. While all 24 Env-pseudotyped viruses remained sensitive to concurrent and subsequent autologous plasma, as well as bNAbs, including 10E8, VRC01, and 12A21, Env-pseudotyped viruses corresponding to later sampling time were increasingly more resistant to autologous plasma and bNAbs. All 24 Env-pseudotyped viruses were resistant to bNAbs 2G12, PGT121, and PGT135. The neutralization breadth of plasma from all four sequential samples was 100% against the global HIV-1 reference panel. Immune escape mutants resulted in increased resistance to bNAb targeting of different epitopes. Our study identified known mutations F277W in gp41 and previously uncharacterized mutation S465T in V5 which may be associated with increased viral resistance to bNAbs.

Public Immunity: Evolutionary Spandrels for Pathway-Amplifying Protective Antibodies

Humoral immunity is seeded by affinity between the B cell receptor (BCR) and cognate antigen. While the BCR is a chimeric display of diverse antigen engagement solutions, we discuss its functional activity as an ‘innate-like’ immune receptor, wherein genetically hardwired antigen complementarity can serve as reproducible templates for pathway-amplifying otherwise immunologically recessive antibody responses. We propose that the capacity for germline reactivity to new antigen emerged as a set of evolutionary spandrels or coupled traits, which can now be exploited by rational vaccine design to focus humoral immunity upon conventionally immune-subdominant antibody targets. Accordingly, we suggest that evolutionary spandrels account for the necessary but unanticipated antigen reactivity of the germline antibody repertoire.

A multiclade env-gag VLP mRNA vaccine elicits tier-2 HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies and reduces the risk of heterologous SHIV infection in macaques

The development of a protective vaccine remains a top priority for the control of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Here, we show that a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine co-expressing membrane-anchored HIV-1 envelope (Env) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag proteins to generate virus-like particles (VLPs) induces antibodies capable of broad neutralization and reduces the risk of infection in rhesus macaques. In mice, immunization with co-formulated env and gag mRNAs was superior to env mRNA alone in inducing neutralizing antibodies. Macaques were primed with a transmitted-founder clade-B env mRNA lacking the N276 glycan, followed by multiple booster immunizations with glycan-repaired autologous and subsequently bivalent heterologous envs (clades A and C). This regimen was highly immunogenic and elicited neutralizing antibodies against the most prevalent (tier-2) HIV-1 strains accompanied by robust anti-Env CD4+ T cell responses. Vaccinated animals had a 79% per-exposure risk reduction upon repeated low-dose mucosal challenges with heterologous tier-2 simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV AD8). Thus, the multiclade env-gag VLP mRNA platform represents a promising approach for the development of an HIV-1 vaccine.

Sequential Analysis of the N/O-Glycosylation of Heavily Glycosylated HIV-1 gp120 Using EThcD-sceHCD-MS/MS

Deciphering the glycosylation of the viral envelope (Env) glycoprotein is critical for evaluating viral escape from the host’s immune response and developing vaccines and antiviral drugs. However, it is still challenging to precisely decode the site-specific glycosylation characteristics of the highly glycosylated Env proteins, although glycoproteomics have made significant advances in mass spectrometry techniques and data analysis tools. Here, we present a hybrid dissociation technique, EThcD-sceHCD, by combining electron transfer/higher-energy collisional dissociation (EThcD) and stepped collision energy/higher-energy collisional dissociation (sceHCD) into a sequential glycoproteomic workflow. Following this scheme, we characterized site-specific N/O-glycosylation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Env protein gp120. The EThcD-sceHCD method increased the number of identified glycopeptides when compared with EThcD, while producing more comprehensive fragment ions than sceHCD for site-specific glycosylation analysis, especially for accurate O-glycosite assignment. Finally, eighteen N-glycosites and five O-glycosites with attached glycans were assigned unambiguously from heavily glycosylated gp120. These results indicate that our workflow can achieve improved performance for analysis of the N/O-glycosylation of a highly glycosylated protein containing numerous potential glycosites in one process. Knowledge of the glycosylation landscape of the Env glycoprotein will be useful for understanding of HIV-1 infection and development of vaccines and drugs.

Genome edited B cells: a new frontier in immune cell therapies

Cell therapies based on reprogrammed adaptive immune cells have great potential as "living drugs." As first demonstrated clinically for engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, the ability of such cells to undergo clonal expansion in response to an antigen promotes both self-renewal and self-regulation in vivo. B cells also have the potential to be developed as immune cell therapies, but engineering their specificity and functionality is more challenging than for T cells. In part, this is due to the complexity of the immunoglobulin (Ig) locus, as well as the requirement for regulated expression of both cell surface B cell receptor and secreted antibody isoforms, in order to fully recapitulate the features of natural antibody production. Recent advances in genome editing are now allowing reprogramming of B cells by site-specific engineering of the Ig locus with preformed antibodies. In this review, we discuss the potential of engineered B cells as a cell therapy, the challenges involved in editing the Ig locus and the advances that are making this possible, and envision future directions for this emerging field of immune cell engineering.

Immunogenicity Evaluation of N-Glycans Recognized by HIV Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies

While the improved treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is available, the development of an effective and safe prophylactic vaccine against HIV-1 is still an unrealized goal. Encouragingly, the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) from HIV-1 positive patients that are capable of neutralizing a broad spectrum of HIV-1 isolates of various clades has accelerated the progress of vaccine development in the past few years. Some of these bNAbs recognize the N-glycans on the viral surface gp120 glycoprotein. We have been interested in using the glycan epitopes recognized by bNAbs for the development of vaccines to elicit bNAb-like antibodies with broadly neutralizing activities. Toward this goal, we have identified novel hybrid-type structures with subnanomolar avidity toward several bNAbs including PG16, PGT121, PGT128-3C, 2G12, VRC13, VRC-PG05, VRC26.25, VRC26.09, PGDM1400, 35O22, and 10-1074. Here, we report the immunogenicity evaluation of a novel hybrid glycan conjugated to carrier DTCRM197, a nontoxic mutant of the diphtheria toxin, for immunization in mice. Our results indicated that the IgG response was mainly against the chitobiose motif with nonspecific binding to a panel of N-glycans with reducing end GlcNAc-GlcNAc (chitobiose) printed on the glass slides. However, the IgM response was mainly toward the reducing end GlcNAc moiety. We further used the glycoconjugates of Man3GlcNAc2, Man5GlcNAc2, and Man9GlcNAc2 glycans for immunization, and a similar specificity pattern was observed. These findings suggest that the immunogenicity of chitobiose may interfere with the outcome of N-glycan-based vaccines, and modification may be necessary to increase the immunogenicity of the entire N-glycan epitope.

TLR-Agonist Mediated Enhancement of Antibody-Dependent Effector Functions as Strategy For an HIV-1 Cure

Background

The current treatment for HIV-1 is based on blocking various stages in the viral replication cycle using combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). Even though ART effectively controls the infection, it is not curative, and patients must therefore continue treatment life-long.

Aim

Here we review recent literature investigating the single or combined effect of toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists and broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) with the objective to evaluate the evidence for this combination as a means towards an HIV-1 cure.

Results

Multiple preclinical studies found significantly enhanced killing of HIV-1 infected cells by TLR agonist-induced innate immune activation or by Fc-mediated effector functions following bNAb administration. However, monotherapy with either agent did not lead to sustained HIV-1 remission in clinical trials among individuals on long-term ART. Notably, findings in non-human primates suggest that a combination of TLR agonists and bNAbs may be able to induce long-term remission after ART cessation and this approach is currently being further investigated in clinical trials.

Conclusion

Preclinical findings show beneficial effects of either TLR agonist or bNAb administration for enhancing the elimination of HIV-1 infected cells. Further, TLR agonist-mediated stimulation of innate effector functions in combination with bNAbs may enhance antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and non-human primate studies have shown promising results for this combination strategy. Factors such as immune exhaustion, proviral bNAb sensitivity and time of intervention might impact the clinical success.

Engineering an Antibody V Gene-Selective Vaccine

The ligand-binding surface of the B cell receptor (BCR) is formed by encoded and non-encoded antigen complementarity determining regions (CDRs). Genetically reproducible or ‘public’ antibodies can arise when the encoded CDRs play deterministic roles in antigen recognition, notably within human broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV and influenza virus. We sought to exploit this by engineering virus-like-particle (VLP) vaccines that harbor multivalent affinity against gene-encoded moieties of the BCR antigen binding site. As proof of concept, we deployed a library of RNA bacteriophage VLPs displaying random peptides to identify a multivalent antigen that selectively triggered germline BCRs using the human V_H gene IGVH1-2*02. This VLP selectively primed IGHV1-2*02 BCRs that were present within a highly diversified germline antibody repertoire within humanized mice. Our approach thus provides methodology to generate antigens that engage specific BCR configurations of interest, in the absence of structure-based information.

Structurally related but genetically unrelated antibody lineages converge on an immunodominant HIV-1 Env neutralizing determinant following trimer immunization

Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which antibodies target and neutralize the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) is critical in guiding immunogen design and vaccine development aimed at eliciting cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Here, we analyzed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) isolated from non-human primates (NHPs) immunized with variants of a native flexibly linked (NFL) HIV-1 Env stabilized trimer derived from the tier 2 clade C 16055 strain. The antibodies displayed neutralizing activity against the autologous virus with potencies ranging from 0.005 to 3.68 μg/ml (IC50). Structural characterization using negative-stain EM and X-ray crystallography identified the variable region 2 (V2) of the 16055 NFL trimer to be the common epitope for these antibodies. The crystal structures revealed that the V2 segment adopts a β-hairpin motif identical to that observed in the 16055 NFL crystal structure. These results depict how vaccine-induced antibodies derived from different clonal lineages penetrate through the glycan shield to recognize a hypervariable region within V2 (residues 184-186) that is unique to the 16055 strain. They also provide potential explanations for the potent autologous neutralization of these antibodies, confirming the immunodominance of this site and revealing that multiple angles of approach are permissible for affinity/avidity that results in potent neutralizing capacity. The structural analysis reveals that the most negatively charged paratope correlated with the potency of the mAbs. The atomic level information is of interest to both define the means of autologous neutralization elicited by different tier 2-based immunogens and facilitate trimer redesign to better target more conserved regions of V2 to potentially elicit cross-neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of HIV-1 entry inhibitors based on broadly neutralizing antibody 447-52D and gp120 V3loop interactions

The third variable loop region (V3 loop) on gp120 plays an important role in cellular entry of HIV-1. Its interaction with the cellular CD4 and coreceptors is an important hallmark in facilitating the bridging by gp41 and subsequent fusion of membranes for transfer of viral genetic material. Further, the virus phenotype determines the cell tropism via respective co- receptor binding. Thus, coreceptor binding motif of envelope is considered to be a potent anti-viral drug target for viral entry inhibition. However, its high variability in sequence is the major hurdle for developing inhibitors targeting the region. In this study, we have used an in silico Virtual Screening and "Fragment-based" method to design small molecules based on the gp120 V3 loop interactions with a potent broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibody, 447-52D. From the in silico analysis a potent scaffold, 1,3,5-triazine was identified for further development. Derivatives of 1,3,5-triazine with specific functional groups were designed and synthesized keeping the interaction with co-receptor intact. Finally, preliminary evaluation of molecules for HIV-1 inhibition on two different virus strains (clade C, clade B) yielded IC50 < 5.0 μM. The approach used to design molecules based on broadly neutralizing antibody, was useful for development of target specific potent antiviral agents to prevent HIV entry. The study reported promising inhibitors that could be further developed and studied.

Immune inactivation of anti-simian immunodeficiency virus chimeric antigen receptor T cells in rhesus macaques

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies are being investigated as potential HIV cures and designed to target HIV reservoirs. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) envelope allowed us to investigate the potency of single-chain variable fragment (scFv)-based anti-SIV CAR T cells. In vitro, CAR T cells expressing the scFv to both the variable loop 1 (V1) or V3 of the SIV envelope were highly potent at eliminating SIV-infected T cells. However, in preclinical studies, in vivo infusion of these CAR T cells in rhesus macaques (RMs) resulted in lack of expansion and no detectable in vivo antiviral activity. Injection of envelope-expressing antigen-presenting cells (APCs) 1 week post-CAR T cell infusion also failed to stimulate CAR T cell expansion in vivo. To investigate this in vitro versus in vivo discrepancy, we examined host immune responses directed at CAR T cells. A humoral immune response against the CAR scFv was detected post-infusion of the anti-SIV CAR T cells; anti-SIV IgG antibodies present in plasma of SIV-infected animals were associated with inhibited CAR T cell effector functions. These data indicate that lack of in vivo expansion and efficacy of CAR T cells might be due to antibodies blocking the interaction between the CAR scFv and its epitope.

Vaccine genetics of IGHV1-2 VRC01-class broadly neutralizing antibody precursor naïve human B cells

A successful HIV vaccine eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) must overcome the hurdle of being able to activate naive precursor B cells encoding features within their germline B cell receptors (BCR) that allow recognition of broadly neutralizing epitopes. Knowledge of whether bnAb precursor B cells are circulating at sufficient frequencies within individuals in communities heavily impacted by HIV may be important. Using a germline-targeting eOD-GT8 immunogen and high-throughput droplet-based single-cell BCR sequencing, we demonstrate that large numbers of paired BCR sequences from multiple donors can be efficiently screened to elucidate precursor frequencies of rare, naive VRC01-class B cells. Further, we analyzed IGHV1-2 allelic usage among three different cohorts; we find that IGHV1-2 alleles traditionally thought to be incompatible with VRC01-class responses are relatively common in various human populations and that germline variation within IGHV1-2 associates with gene usage frequencies in the naive BCR repertoire.

Antibodies for Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Cure Strategies

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection leads to the establishment of a long-lived latent cellular reservoir. One strategy to eliminate quiescent reservoir cells is to reactivate virus replication to induce HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env) expression on the cell surface exposing them to subsequent antibody targeting. Via the interactions between the antibody Fc domain and Fc-γ receptors (FcγRs) that are expressed on innate effector cells, such as natural killer cells, monocytes, and neutrophils, antibodies can mediate the elimination of infected cells. Over the last decade, a multitude of human monoclonal antibodies that are broadly neutralizing across many HIV-1 subtypes have been identified and are currently being explored for HIV eradication strategies. Antibody development also includes novel Fc engineering approaches to increase engagement of effector cells and optimize antireservoir efficacy. In this review, we discuss the usefulness of antibodies for HIV eradication approaches specifically focusing on antibody-mediated strategies to target latently infected cells and options to increase antibody efficacy.

Incorporating the Cluster A and V1V2 Targets into a Minimal Structural Unit of the HIV-1 Envelope to Elicit a Cross-Clade Response with Potent Fc-Effector Functions

The generation of a potent vaccine for the prevention and/or control of HIV-1 has been unsuccessful to date, despite decades of research. Existing evidence from both infected individuals and clinical trials support a role for non-neutralizing or weakly neutralizing antibodies with potent Fc-effector functions in the prevention and control of HIV-1 infection. Vaccination strategies that induce such antibodies have proven partially successful in preventing HIV-1 infection. This is largely thought to be due to the polyclonal response that is induced in a vaccine setting, as opposed to the infusion of a single therapeutic antibody, which is capable of diverse Fc-effector functions and targets multiple but highly conserved epitopes. Here, we build on the success of our inner domain antigen, ID2, which incorporates conformational CD4-inducible (CD4i) epitopes of constant region 1 and 2 (C1C2 or Cluster A), in the absence of neutralizing antibody epitopes, into a minimal structural unit of gp120. ID2 has been shown to induce Cluster A-specific antibodies in a BALB/c mouse model with Fc-effector functions against CD4i targets. In order to generate an immunogen that incorporates both epitope targets implicated in the protective Fc-effector functions of antibodies from the only partially successful human vaccine trial, RV144, we incorporated the V1V2 domain into our ID2 antigen generating ID2-V1V2, which we used to immunize in combination with ID2. Immunized BALB/c mice generated both Cluster A- and V1V2-specific antibodies, which synergized to significantly improve the Fc-mediated effector functions compared to mice immunized with ID2 alone. The sera were able to mediate both antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). We therefore conclude that ID2-V1V2 + ID2 represents a promising vaccine immunogen candidate for the induction of antibodies with optimal Fc-mediated effector functions against HIV-1.

Exploration of a Sequential Gp140-Gp145 Immunization Regimen with Heterologous Envs to Induce a Protective Cross-Reactive HIV Neutralizing Antibody Response In Non-human Primates

Raising a heterologous tier 2 neutralizing antibody (nAb) response remains a daunting task for HIV vaccine development. In this study, we explored the utility of diverse HIV-1 envelope (Env) immunogens in a sequential immunization scheme as a solution to this task. This exploration stemmed from the rationale that gp145, a membrane-bound truncation form of HIV Env, may facilitate the focusing of induced antibody response on neutralizing epitopes when sequentially combined with the soluble gp140 form as immunogens in a prime-boost mode. We first showed that gp140 DNA prime-gp145 Tiantan vaccinia (TV) boost likely represents a general format for inducing potent nAb response in mice. However, when examined in rhesus macaque, this modality showed little effectiveness. To improve the efficacy, we extended the original modality by adding a strong protein boost, namely native-like SOSIP.664 trimer displayed on ferritin-based nanoparticle (NP), which was generated by a newly developed click approach. The resulting three-immunization regimen succeeded in eliciting tier-2 nAb response with substantial breadth when implemented in rhesus macaque over a short 8-week schedule. Importantly, the elicited nAb response was able to effectively contain viremia upon a heterologous SHIV challenge. Collectively, our studies highlighted that diversification of Env immunogens, in both types and formulations, under the framework of a sequential immunization scheme might open new opportunity toward HIV vaccine development.

The biophysical principles underpinning muco-trapping functions of antibodies

In addition to the classical immunological functions such as neutralization, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and complement activation, IgG antibodies possess a little-recognized and under-utilized effector function at mucosal surfaces: trapping pathogens in mucus. IgG can potently immobilize pathogens that otherwise readily diffuse or actively swim through mucus by forming multiple low-affinity bonds between the array of pathogen-bound antibodies and the mucin mesh. Trapping in mucus can exclude pathogens from contacting target cells, and facilitate their rapid elimination by natural mucus clearance mechanisms. Despite the fact that most infections are transmitted at mucosal surfaces, this muco-trapping effector function has only been revealed within the past decade, with the evidence to date suggesting that it is a universal effector function of IgG-Fc capable of immobilizing both viral and highly motile bacterial pathogens in all major mucosal secretions. This review provides an overview of the current evidence for Fc-mucin crosslinking as an effector function for antibodies in mucus, the mechanism by which the accumulation of weak Fc-mucin bonds by IgG bound to the surface of a pathogen can result in immobilization of antibody-pathogen complexes, and how trapping in mucus can contribute to protection against foreign pathogens.

Employing Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies as a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prophylactic & Therapeutic Application

Despite the discovery that the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) is the pathogen of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in 1983, there is still no effective anti-HIV-1 vaccine. The major obstacle to the development of HIV-1 vaccine is the extreme diversity of viral genome sequences. Nonetheless, a number of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1 have been made and identified in this area. Novel strategies based on using these bNAbs as an efficacious preventive and/or therapeutic intervention have been applied in clinical. In this review, we summarize the recent development of bNAbs and its application in HIV-1 acquisition prevention as well as discuss the innovative approaches being used to try to convey protection within individuals at risk and being treated for HIV-1 infection.

Antibody Conjugates for Targeted Therapy Against HIV-1 as an Emerging Tool for HIV-1 Cure

Although advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) have significantly improved the life expectancy of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) by suppressing HIV-1 replication, a cure for HIV/AIDS remains elusive. Recent findings of the emergence of drug resistance against various ART have resulted in an increased number of treatment failures, thus the development of novel strategies for HIV-1 cure is of immediate need. Antibody-based therapy is a well-established tool in the treatment of various diseases and the engineering of new antibody derivatives is expanding the realms of its application. An antibody-based carrier of anti-HIV-1 molecules, or antibody conjugates (ACs), could address the limitations of current HIV-1 ART by decreasing possible off-target effects, reduce toxicity, increasing the therapeutic index, and lowering production costs. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) with exceptional breadth and potency against HIV-1 are currently being explored to prevent or treat HIV-1 infection in the clinic. Moreover, bNAbs can be engineered to deliver cytotoxic or immune regulating molecules as ACs, further increasing its therapeutic potential for HIV-1 cure. ACs are currently an important component of anticancer treatment with several FDA-approved constructs, however, to date, no ACs are approved to treat viral infections. This review aims to outline the development of AC for HIV-1 cure, examine the variety of carriers and payloads used, and discuss the potential of ACs in the current HIV-1 cure landscape.

Neutralizing Antibodies Induced by First-Generation gp41-Stabilized HIV-1 Envelope Trimers and Nanoparticles

The immunogenicity of gp41-stabilized HIV-1 BG505 envelope (Env) trimers and nanoparticles (NPs) was recently assessed in mice and rabbits. Here, we combined Env-specific B-cell sorting and repertoire sequencing to identify neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) from immunized animals. A panel of mouse NAbs was isolated from mice immunized with a 60-meric I3-01 NP presenting 20 stabilized trimers. Three mouse NAbs potently neutralized BG505.T332N by recognizing a glycan epitope centered in the C3/V4 region on BG505 Env, as revealed by electron microscopy (EM), X-ray crystallography, and epitope mapping. A set of rabbit NAbs was isolated from rabbits immunized with a soluble trimer and a 24-meric ferritin NP presenting 8 trimers. Neutralization assays against BG505.T332N variants confirmed that potent rabbit NAbs targeted previously described glycan holes on BG505 Env and accounted for a significant portion of the autologous NAb response in both the trimer and ferritin NP groups. Last, we examined NAb responses that were induced by non-BG505 Env immunogens. We determined a 3.4-Å-resolution crystal structure for the clade C transmitted/founder (T/F) Du172.17 Env with a redesigned heptad repeat 1 (HR1) bend in gp41. This clade C Env, in a soluble trimer form and in a multivalent form with 8 trimers attached to ferritin NP, and the gp41-stabilized clade A Q482-d12 Env trimer elicited distinct NAb responses in rabbits, with notable differences in neutralization breadth. Although eliciting a broad NAb response remains a major challenge, our study provides valuable information on an HIV-1 vaccine design strategy that combines gp41 stabilization and NP display. IMPORTANCE Self-assembling protein nanoparticles (NPs) presenting BG505 envelope (Env) trimers can elicit tier 2 HIV-1-neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses more effectively than soluble trimers. In the present study, monoclonal NAbs were isolated from previously immunized mice and rabbits for structural and functional analyses, which revealed that potent mouse NAbs recognize the C3/V4 region and small NP-elicited rabbit NAbs primarily target known glycan holes on BG505 Env. This study validates the gp41 stabilization strategy for HIV-1 Env vaccine design and highlights the challenge in eliciting a broad NAb response.

SARS-CoV-2 Portrayed against HIV: Contrary Viral Strategies in Similar Disguise

SARS-CoV-2 and HIV are zoonotic viruses that rapidly reached pandemic scale, causing global losses and fear. The COVID-19 and AIDS pandemics ignited massive efforts worldwide to develop antiviral strategies and characterize viral architectures, biological and immunological properties, and clinical outcomes. Although both viruses have a comparable appearance as enveloped viruses with positive-stranded RNA and envelope spikes mediating cellular entry, the entry process, downstream biological and immunological pathways, clinical outcomes, and disease courses are strikingly different. This review provides a systemic comparison of both viruses' structural and functional characteristics, delineating their distinct strategies for efficient spread.

Anatomic Distribution of Intravenously Injected IgG Takes Approximately 1 Week to Achieve Stratum Corneum Saturation in Vaginal Tissues

i.v. injected Abs have demonstrated protection against simian HIV infection in rhesus macaques, paving the way for the Antibody Mediated Prevention trial in which at-risk individuals for HIV received an i.v. infusion of the HIV broadly neutralizing Ab VRC01. However, the time needed for these Abs to fully distribute and elicit protection at mucosal sites is still unknown. In this study, we interrogate how long it takes for Abs to achieve peak anatomical levels at the vaginal surface following i.v. injection. Fluorescently labeled VRC01 and/or Gamunex-C were i.v. injected into 24 female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with vaginal tissues and plasma acquired up to 2 wk postinjection. We found that Ab delivery to the vaginal mucosa occurs in two phases. The first phase involves delivery to the submucosa, occurring within 24 h and persisting beyond 1 wk. The second phase is the delivery through the stratified squamous epithelium, needing ∼1 wk to saturate the stratum corneum. This study has important implications for the efficacy of immunoprophylaxis targeting pathogens at the mucosa.