RESUMEN
Most HIV-1-specific neutralizing antibodies isolated to date exhibit unusual characteristics that complicate their elicitation. Neutralizing antibodies that target the V1V2 apex of the HIV-1 envelope (Env) trimer feature unusually long protruding loops, which enable them to penetrate the HIV-1 glycan shield. As antibodies with loops of requisite length are created through uncommon recombination events, an alternative mode of apex binding has been sought. Here, we isolated a lineage of Env apex-directed neutralizing antibodies, N90-VRC38.01-11, by using virus-like particles and conformationally stabilized Env trimers as B cell probes. A crystal structure of N90-VRC38.01 with a scaffolded V1V2 revealed a binding mode involving side-chain-to-side-chain interactions that reduced the distance the antibody loop must traverse the glycan shield, thereby facilitating V1V2 binding via a non-protruding loop. The N90-VRC38 lineage thus identifies a solution for V1V2-apex binding that provides a more conventional B cell pathway for vaccine design.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/inmunología , Anticuerpos Anti-VIH/inmunología , Proteína gp120 de Envoltorio del VIH/inmunología , Infecciones por VIH/inmunología , VIH-1/inmunología , Fragmentos de Péptidos/inmunología , Conformación Proteica , Productos del Gen env del Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana/inmunología , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/química , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/metabolismo , Linfocitos B/inmunología , Linfocitos B/metabolismo , Sitios de Unión , Regiones Determinantes de Complementariedad/química , Regiones Determinantes de Complementariedad/inmunología , Anticuerpos Anti-VIH/química , Anticuerpos Anti-VIH/metabolismo , Proteína gp120 de Envoltorio del VIH/química , Proteína gp120 de Envoltorio del VIH/metabolismo , Infecciones por VIH/virología , Humanos , Modelos Moleculares , Fragmentos de Péptidos/química , Fragmentos de Péptidos/metabolismo , Filogenia , Unión Proteica , Dominios y Motivos de Interacción de Proteínas , Multimerización de Proteína , Vacunas de Partículas Similares a Virus/química , Vacunas de Partículas Similares a Virus/inmunología , Vacunas de Partículas Similares a Virus/metabolismoRESUMEN
A goal for an HIV-1 vaccine is to overcome virus variability by inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). One key target of bnAbs is the glycan-polypeptide at the base of the envelope (Env) third variable loop (V3). We have designed and synthesized a homogeneous minimal immunogen with high-mannose glycans reflective of a native Env V3-glycan bnAb epitope (Man9-V3). V3-glycan bnAbs bound to Man9-V3 glycopeptide and native-like gp140 trimers with similar affinities. Fluorophore-labeled Man9-V3 glycopeptides bound to bnAb memory B cells and were able to be used to isolate a V3-glycan bnAb from an HIV-1-infected individual. In rhesus macaques, immunization with Man9-V3 induced V3-glycan-targeted antibodies. Thus, the Man9-V3 glycopeptide closely mimics an HIV-1 V3-glycan bnAb epitope and can be used to isolate V3-glycan bnAbs.