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A single mutation turns a non-binding germline-like predecessor of broadly neutralizing antibody into a binding antibody to HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins.

ABSTRACT: Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 are rare in natural infection and elicitation of HIV-1 bnAbs has not been achieved by any vaccine candidates. We and others have reported that HIV-1 bnAbs are highly diversified from their germline-like predecessors, and the germline-like predecessors of bnAbs lack measurable binding to HIV-1 envelope (Env) glycoproteins, suggesting that Env structures containing the epitopes of bnAbs may not initiate somatic maturation pathway, which may partially explain the rarity of HIV-1 bnAbs. To determine the minimum mutations required for converting non-binding germline-like predecessors to Env-binding antibodies, we started with the bnAb b12 as a prototype and generated six "chimeric" scFv b12 variants by sequentially replacing the heavy chain V-segment (HV), D(J)-segment [HD(J)] in the heavy chain variable region (VH), and the whole light chain variable region (VL) in b12 germline-like predecessor with the mature counterparts. We tested the recombinant scFv variants for binding and neutralizing activities. Results showed that a single point mutation in germline D-segment was enough to convert nonbinding germline-like b12 to an Env-binding antibody. Replacement with either mature HV or mature VL also made the germline-like b12 bind to Env, but none of single segment replacements conferred neutralization ability to the germline antibody. Mature VL in combination with mature HD(J), or mature HV, or both conferred increasing neutralization activity to the germline antibody. However, hybrid scFv, mature VH / germline VL did not neutralize the virus, suggesting the importance of mature VL in neutralizing the virus. These results may have implications for vaccine development.

SUBMITTER: Yuan T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3218537 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A single mutation turns a non-binding germline-like predecessor of broadly neutralizing antibody into a binding antibody to HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins.

Yuan Tingting T Li Jingjing J Zhang Mei-Yun MY

mAbs 20110701 4

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 are rare in natural infection and elicitation of HIV-1 bnAbs has not been achieved by any vaccine candidates. We and others have reported that HIV-1 bnAbs are highly diversified from their germline-like predecessors, and the germline-like predecessors of bnAbs lack measurable binding to HIV-1 envelope (Env) glycoproteins, suggesting that Env structures containing the epitopes of bnAbs may not initiate somatic ma ...[more]

PMID: 21540646

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Project description:A steady increase in knowledge of the molecular and antigenic structure of the gp120 and gp41 HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env) is yielding important new insights for vaccine design, but it has been difficult to translate this information to an immunogen that elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies. To help bridge this gap, we used phylogenetically corrected statistical methods to identify amino acid signature patterns in Envs derived from people who have made potently neutralizing antibodies, with the hypothesis that these Envs may share common features that would be useful for incorporation in a vaccine immunogen. Before attempting this, essentially as a control, we explored the utility of our computational methods for defining signatures of complex neutralization phenotypes by analyzing Env sequences from 251 clonal viruses that were differentially sensitive to neutralization by the well-characterized gp120-specific monoclonal antibody, b12. We identified ten b12-neutralization signatures, including seven either in the b12-binding surface of gp120 or in the V2 region of gp120 that have been previously shown to impact b12 sensitivity. A simple algorithm based on the b12 signature pattern was predictive of b12 sensitivity/resistance in an additional blinded panel of 57 viruses. Upon obtaining these reassuring outcomes, we went on to apply these same computational methods to define signature patterns in Env from HIV-1 infected individuals who had potent, broadly neutralizing responses. We analyzed a checkerboard-style neutralization dataset with sera from 69 HIV-1-infected individuals tested against a panel of 25 different Envs. Distinct clusters of sera with high and low neutralization potencies were identified. Six signature positions in Env sequences obtained from the 69 samples were found to be strongly associated with either the high or low potency responses. Five sites were in the CD4-induced coreceptor binding site of gp120, suggesting an important role for this region in the elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibody responses against HIV-1.

Dataset Information

A single mutation turns a non-binding germline-like predecessor of broadly neutralizing antibody into a binding antibody to HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins.

Publications

A single mutation turns a non-binding germline-like predecessor of broadly neutralizing antibody into a binding antibody to HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins.

Similar Datasets

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