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1.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(9)2024 Apr 30.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38732142

The high mortality rate among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the main problems of modern cardiology. It is quite obvious that there is an urgent need to create more effective drugs for the treatment of AMI than those currently used in the clinic. Such drugs could be enzyme-resistant peptide analogs of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 receptor (GLP1R) agonists can prevent ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) cardiac injury. In addition, chronic administration of GLP1R agonists can alleviate the development of adverse cardiac remodeling in myocardial infarction, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. GLP1R agonists can protect the heart against oxidative stress and reduce proinflammatory cytokine (IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1) expression in the myocardium. GLP1R stimulation inhibits apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes. The activation of the GLP1R augments autophagy and mitophagy in the myocardium. GLP1R agonists downregulate reactive species generation through the activation of Epac and the GLP1R/PI3K/Akt/survivin pathway. The GLP1R, kinases (PKCε, PKA, Akt, AMPK, PI3K, ERK1/2, mTOR, GSK-3ß, PKG, MEK1/2, and MKK3), enzymes (HO-1 and eNOS), transcription factors (STAT3, CREB, Nrf2, and FoxO3), KATP channel opening, and MPT pore closing are involved in the cardioprotective effect of GLP1R agonists.


Cardiotonic Agents , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor , Signal Transduction , Humans , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/agonists , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/metabolism , Cardiotonic Agents/pharmacology , Cardiotonic Agents/therapeutic use , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Animals , Peptides/pharmacology , Peptides/therapeutic use , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/metabolism , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/drug therapy , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/pathology , Myocardial Infarction/metabolism , Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy , Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism , Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists
2.
Cell Rep ; 42(10): 113254, 2023 10 31.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37858466

Ebola virus (EBOV) and Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) belong to the family Filoviridae and cause a severe disease in humans. We previously isolated a large panel of monoclonal antibodies from B cells of human survivors from the 2007 Uganda BDBV outbreak, 16 survivors from the 2014 EBOV outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and one survivor from the West African 2013-2016 EBOV epidemic. Here, we demonstrate that EBOV and BDBV are capable of spreading to neighboring cells through intercellular connections in a process that depends upon actin and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin 1 protein. We quantify spread through intercellular connections by immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. One of the antibodies, BDBV223, specific to the membrane-proximal external region, induces virus accumulation at the plasma membrane. The inhibiting activity of BDBV223 depends on BST2/tetherin.


Antibodies, Monoclonal , Antibodies, Viral , Bone Marrow Stromal Antigen 2 , Ebolavirus , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola , Humans , Antigens, CD , Bone Marrow Stromal Antigen 2/immunology , Ebolavirus/immunology , GPI-Linked Proteins , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/virology
3.
Viruses ; 15(5)2023 04 28.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37243162

Members of the Ebolavirus genus demonstrate a marked differences in pathogenicity in humans with Ebola (EBOV) being the most pathogenic, Bundibugyo (BDBV) less pathogenic, and Reston (RESTV) is not known to cause a disease in humans. The VP24 protein encoded by members of the Ebolavirus genus blocks type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling through interaction with host karyopherin alpha nuclear transporters, potentially contributing to virulence. Previously, we demonstrated that BDBV VP24 (bVP24) binds with lower affinities to karyopherin alpha proteins relative to EBOV VP24 (eVP24), and this correlated with a reduced inhibition in IFN-I signaling. We hypothesized that modification of eVP24-karyopherin alpha interface to make it similar to bVP24 would attenuate the ability to antagonize IFN-I response. We generated a panel of recombinant EBOVs containing single or combinations of point mutations in the eVP24-karyopherin alpha interface. Most of the viruses appeared to be attenuated in both IFN-I-competent 769-P and IFN-I-deficient Vero-E6 cells in the presence of IFNs. However, the R140A mutant grew at reduced levels even in the absence of IFNs in both cell lines, as well as in U3A STAT1 knockout cells. Both the R140A mutation and its combination with the N135A mutation greatly reduced the amounts of viral genomic RNA and mRNA suggesting that these mutations attenuate the virus in an IFN-I-independent attenuation. Additionally, we found that unlike eVP24, bVP24 does not inhibit interferon lambda 1 (IFN-λ1), interferon beta (IFN-ß), and ISG15, which potentially explains the lower pathogenicity of BDBV relative to EBOV. Thus, the VP24 residues binding karyopherin alpha attenuates the virus by IFN-I-dependent and independent mechanisms.


Ebolavirus , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola , Humans , Interferons/metabolism , Ebolavirus/physiology , alpha Karyopherins/genetics , alpha Karyopherins/metabolism , Viral Proteins/metabolism , Interferon-beta/genetics , Interferon-beta/metabolism
4.
Cell Rep ; 42(4): 112370, 2023 04 25.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37029928

Understanding the human antibody response to emerging viral pathogens is key to epidemic preparedness. As the size of the B cell response to a pathogenic-virus-protective antigen is poorly defined, we perform deep paired heavy- and light-chain sequencing in Ebola virus glycoprotein (EBOV-GP)-specific memory B cells, allowing analysis of the ebolavirus-specific antibody repertoire both genetically and functionally. This approach facilitates investigation of the molecular and genetic basis for the evolution of cross-reactive antibodies by elucidating germline-encoded properties of antibodies to EBOV and identification of the overlap between antibodies in the memory B cell and serum repertoire. We identify 73 public clonotypes of EBOV, 20% of which encode antibodies with neutralization activity and capacity to protect mice in vivo. This comprehensive analysis of the public and private antibody repertoire provides insight into the molecular basis of the humoral immune response to EBOV GP, which informs the design of vaccines and improved therapeutics.


Ebolavirus , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola , Humans , Animals , Mice , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , Antibody Formation , Prevalence , Glycoproteins/genetics
5.
PLoS Pathog ; 18(5): e1010532, 2022 05.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35533195

Ebola virus (EBOV) VP35 is a polyfunctional protein involved in viral genome packaging, viral polymerase function, and host immune antagonism. The mechanisms regulating VP35's engagement in different functions are not well-understood. We previously showed that the host E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM6 ubiquitinates VP35 at lysine 309 (K309) to facilitate virus replication. However, how K309 ubiquitination regulates the function of VP35 as the viral polymerase co-factor and the precise stage(s) of the EBOV replication cycle that require VP35 ubiquitination are not known. Here, we generated recombinant EBOVs encoding glycine (G) or arginine (R) mutations at VP35/K309 (rEBOV-VP35/K309G/-R) and show that both mutations prohibit VP35/K309 ubiquitination. The K309R mutant retains dsRNA binding and efficient type-I Interferon (IFN-I) antagonism due to the basic residue conservation. The rEBOV-VP35/K309G mutant loses the ability to efficiently antagonize the IFN-I response, while the rEBOV-VP35/K309R mutant's suppression is enhanced. The replication of both mutants was significantly attenuated in both IFN-competent and -deficient cells due to impaired interactions with the viral polymerase. The lack of ubiquitination on VP35/K309 or TRIM6 deficiency disrupts viral transcription with increasing severity along the transcriptional gradient. This disruption of the transcriptional gradient results in unbalanced viral protein production, including reduced synthesis of the viral transcription factor VP30. In addition, lack of ubiquitination on K309 results in enhanced interactions with the viral nucleoprotein and premature nucleocapsid packaging, leading to dysregulation of virus assembly. Overall, we identified a novel role of VP35 ubiquitination in coordinating viral transcription and assembly.


Ebolavirus , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola , Ebolavirus/metabolism , Humans , Lysine/genetics , Lysine/metabolism , Nucleocapsid Proteins/metabolism , Ubiquitination , Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins/genetics , Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins/metabolism , Viral Transcription
6.
Pathogens ; 11(5)2022 May 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35631081

Humoral immunity is an important body defense system against virus infection and is correlated to patient health status [...].

7.
NPJ Vaccines ; 7(1): 47, 2022 Apr 25.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35468973

Respiratory tract vaccination has an advantage of needle-free delivery and induction of mucosal immune response in the portal of SARS-CoV-2 entry. We utilized human parainfluenza virus type 3 vector to generate constructs expressing the full spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2, its S1 subunit, or the receptor-binding domain, and tested them in hamsters as single-dose intranasal vaccines. The construct bearing full-length S induced high titers of neutralizing antibodies specific to S protein domains critical to the protein functions. Robust memory T cell responses in the lungs were also induced, which represent an additional barrier to infection and should be less sensitive than the antibody responses to mutations present in SARS-CoV-2 variants. Following SARS-CoV-2 challenge, animals were protected from the disease and detectable viral replication. Vaccination prevented induction of gene pathways associated with inflammation. These results indicate advantages of respiratory vaccination against COVID-19 and inform the design of mucosal SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

8.
Cell ; 185(6): 995-1007.e18, 2022 03 17.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35303429

Several ebolaviruses cause outbreaks of severe disease. Vaccines and monoclonal antibody cocktails are available to treat Ebola virus (EBOV) infections, but not Sudan virus (SUDV) or other ebolaviruses. Current cocktails contain antibodies that cross-react with the secreted soluble glycoprotein (sGP) that absorbs virus-neutralizing antibodies. By sorting memory B cells from EBOV infection survivors, we isolated two broadly reactive anti-GP monoclonal antibodies, 1C3 and 1C11, that potently neutralize, protect rodents from disease, and lack sGP cross-reactivity. Both antibodies recognize quaternary epitopes in trimeric ebolavirus GP. 1C11 bridges adjacent protomers via the fusion loop. 1C3 has a tripartite epitope in the center of the trimer apex. One 1C3 antigen-binding fragment anchors simultaneously to the three receptor-binding sites in the GP trimer, and separate 1C3 paratope regions interact differently with identical residues on the three protomers. A cocktail of both antibodies completely protected nonhuman primates from EBOV and SUDV infections, indicating their potential clinical value.


Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , Ebolavirus , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola , Animals , Epitopes , Glycoproteins/chemistry , Protein Subunits
9.
Cell ; 184(22): 5593-5607.e18, 2021 10 28.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34715022

Ebolaviruses cause a severe and often fatal illness with the potential for global spread. Monoclonal antibody-based treatments that have become available recently have a narrow therapeutic spectrum and are ineffective against ebolaviruses other than Ebola virus (EBOV), including medically important Bundibugyo (BDBV) and Sudan (SUDV) viruses. Here, we report the development of a therapeutic cocktail comprising two broadly neutralizing human antibodies, rEBOV-515 and rEBOV-442, that recognize non-overlapping sites on the ebolavirus glycoprotein (GP). Antibodies in the cocktail exhibited synergistic neutralizing activity, resisted viral escape, and possessed differing requirements for their Fc-regions for optimal in vivo activities. The cocktail protected non-human primates from ebolavirus disease caused by EBOV, BDBV, or SUDV with high therapeutic effectiveness. High-resolution structures of the cocktail antibodies in complex with GP revealed the molecular determinants for neutralization breadth and potency. This study provides advanced preclinical data to support clinical development of this cocktail for pan-ebolavirus therapy.


Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Ebolavirus/immunology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/immunology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/prevention & control , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Binding Sites , Cell Line , Cryoelectron Microscopy , Ebolavirus/ultrastructure , Epitopes/immunology , Female , Glycoproteins/chemistry , Glycoproteins/immunology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/virology , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Models, Molecular , Primates , Receptors, Fc/metabolism , Recombinant Proteins/immunology , Viremia/immunology
10.
Front Immunol ; 12: 706757, 2021.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34335620

Three clinically relevant ebolaviruses - Ebola (EBOV), Bundibugyo (BDBV), and Sudan (SUDV) viruses, are responsible for severe disease and occasional deadly outbreaks in Africa. The largest Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic to date in 2013-2016 in West Africa highlighted the urgent need for countermeasures, leading to the development and FDA approval of the Ebola virus vaccine rVSV-ZEBOV (Ervebo®) in 2020 and two monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapeutics (Inmazeb® [atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab-ebgn] and Ebanga® (ansuvimab-zykl) in 2020. The humoral response plays an indispensable role in ebolavirus immunity, based on studies of mAbs isolated from the antibody genes in peripheral blood circulating ebolavirus-specific human memory B cells. However, antibodies in the body are not secreted by circulating memory B cells in the blood but rather principally by plasma cells in the bone marrow. Little is known about the protective polyclonal antibody responses in convalescent plasma. Here we exploited both single-cell antibody gene sequencing and proteomic sequencing approaches to assess the composition of the ebolavirus glycoprotein (GP)-reactive antibody repertoire in the plasma of an EVD survivor. We first identified 1,512 GP-specific mAb variable gene sequences from single cells in the memory B cell compartment. Using mass spectrometric analysis of the corresponding GP-specific plasma IgG, we found that only a portion of the large B cell antibody repertoire was represented in the plasma. Molecular and functional analysis of proteomics-identified mAbs revealed recognition of epitopes in three major antigenic sites - the GP head domain, the glycan cap, and the base region, with a high prevalence of neutralizing and protective mAb specificities that targeted the base and glycan cap regions on the GP. Polyclonal plasma antibodies from the survivor reacted broadly to EBOV, BDBV, and SUDV GP, while reactivity of the potently neutralizing mAbs we identified was limited mostly to the homologous EBOV GP. Together these results reveal a restricted diversity of neutralizing humoral response in which mAbs targeting two antigenic sites on GP - glycan cap and base - play a principal role in plasma-antibody-mediated protective immunity against EVD.


Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Antigens, Viral/immunology , Ebolavirus/immunology , Membrane Glycoproteins/immunology , Adult , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/immunology , Humans , Male , Proteomics
11.
Lancet Infect Dis ; 21(11): e348-e355, 2021 11.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34175003

Disease outbreaks caused by Ebola virus and other filoviruses highlight the urgent need for an in-depth understanding of the role of antibody responses in recovery. In this Personal View we aim to discuss the controversial biological role of antibodies during natural filovirus infections in humans. Survival during natural human filovirus infections correlates with the magnitude of the process of antibodies binding to the filovirus glycoprotein and neutralising the virus. Despite the severity of the disease, highly potent monoclonal antibodies have been isolated from survivors of natural filovirus infections, suggesting that the magnitude of the antibody response is insufficient for prevention of severe disease. Unlike natural infections, filovirus vaccines, which express the viral glycoprotein, do induce protective concentrations of antibodies, albeit only when administered at very high doses. Multiple mechanisms by which filoviruses can delay and reduce the antibody response have been identified in the past decade. Furthermore, subneutralising antibody concentrations have been shown to enhance filovirus infections of immune cells bearing Fc receptors. Understanding the role of antibody responses during natural filovirus infections is important for the development of safe and potent vaccines and antibody-based treatments.


Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Ebolavirus/immunology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/immunology , Antibody Formation , Ebola Vaccines/immunology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/prevention & control , Humans , Immunization, Passive
12.
Cell Rep ; 35(2): 108984, 2021 04 13.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33852862

Antibodies that target the glycan cap epitope on the ebolavirus glycoprotein (GP) are common in the adaptive response of survivors. A subset is known to be broadly neutralizing, but the details of their epitopes and basis for neutralization are not well understood. Here, we present cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of diverse glycan cap antibodies that variably synergize with GP base-binding antibodies. These structures describe a conserved site of vulnerability that anchors the mucin-like domains (MLDs) to the glycan cap, which we call the MLD anchor and cradle. Antibodies that bind to the MLD cradle share common features, including use of IGHV1-69 and IGHJ6 germline genes, which exploit hydrophobic residues and form ß-hairpin structures to mimic the MLD anchor, disrupt MLD attachment, destabilize GP quaternary structure, and block cleavage events required for receptor binding. Our results provide a molecular basis for ebolavirus neutralization by broadly reactive glycan cap antibodies.


Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/pharmacology , Antibodies, Viral/pharmacology , Ebolavirus/drug effects , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/drug therapy , Viral Envelope Proteins/chemistry , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal/chemistry , Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism , Antibodies, Neutralizing/chemistry , Antibodies, Neutralizing/metabolism , Antibodies, Viral/chemistry , Antibodies, Viral/metabolism , Antibody Specificity , Binding Sites , Cryoelectron Microscopy , Ebolavirus/growth & development , Ebolavirus/immunology , Ebolavirus/pathogenicity , Epitopes/chemistry , Epitopes/immunology , Female , HEK293 Cells , HeLa Cells , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/immunology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/pathology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/virology , Humans , Jurkat Cells , Mice , Models, Molecular , Polysaccharides/chemistry , Polysaccharides/immunology , Protein Binding , Protein Conformation, beta-Strand , Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs , Sequence Alignment , Sequence Homology, Amino Acid , Viral Envelope Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics , Viral Envelope Proteins/metabolism
13.
Immunity ; 54(4): 815-828.e5, 2021 04 13.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33852832

Protective Ebola virus (EBOV) antibodies have neutralizing activity and induction of antibody constant domain (Fc)-mediated innate immune effector functions. Efforts to enhance Fc effector functionality often focus on maximizing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, yet distinct combinations of functions could be critical for antibody-mediated protection. As neutralizing antibodies have been cloned from EBOV disease survivors, we sought to identify survivor Fc effector profiles to help guide Fc optimization strategies. Survivors developed a range of functional antibody responses, and we therefore applied a rapid, high-throughput Fc engineering platform to define the most protective profiles. We generated a library of Fc variants with identical antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) from an EBOV neutralizing antibody. Fc variants with antibody-mediated complement deposition and moderate natural killer (NK) cell activity demonstrated complete protective activity in a stringent in vivo mouse model. Our findings highlight the importance of specific effector functions in antibody-mediated protection, and the experimental platform presents a generalizable resource for identifying correlates of immunity to guide therapeutic antibody design.


Ebolavirus/immunology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/immunology , Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/immunology , Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Antibody Formation/immunology , Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity/immunology , Female , HEK293 Cells , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/virology , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Receptors, Fc/immunology
14.
Cell Rep ; 32(7): 108028, 2020 08 18.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32814037

Ebola virus (EBOV) causes a severe, often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates. Within the past decade, EBOV has caused two large and difficult-to-control outbreaks, one of which recently ended in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bats are the likely reservoir of EBOV, but little is known of their relationship with the virus. We perform serial passages of EBOV in human and bat cells and use circular sequencing to compare the short-term evolution of the virus. Virus populations passaged in bat cells have sequence markers indicative of host RNA editing enzyme activity, including evidence for ADAR editing of the EBOV glycoprotein. Multiple regions in the EBOV genome appear to have undergone adaptive evolution when passaged in bat and human cells. Individual mutated viruses are rescued and characterized. Our results provide insight into the host species-specific evolution of EBOV and highlight the adaptive flexibility of the virus.


Ebolavirus/genetics , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/diagnosis , Virus Replication/genetics , Animals , Chiroptera , Humans
15.
Cell Host Microbe ; 27(6): 976-991.e11, 2020 06 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32320678

Marburg virus (MARV) and Ebola virus (EBOV) belong to the family Filoviridae. MARV causes severe disease in humans with high fatality. We previously isolated a large panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from B cells of a human survivor with previous naturally acquired MARV infection. Here, we characterized functional properties of these mAbs and identified non-neutralizing mAbs targeting the glycoprotein (GP) 2 portion of the mucin-like domain (MLD) of MARV GP, termed the wing region. One mAb targeting the GP2 wing, MR228, showed therapeutic protection in mice and guinea pigs infected with MARV. The protection was mediated by the Fc fragment functions of MR228. Binding of another GP2 wing-specific non-neutralizing mAb, MR235, to MARV GP increased accessibility of epitopes in the receptor-binding site (RBS) for neutralizing mAbs, resulting in enhanced virus neutralization by these mAbs. These findings highlight an important role for non-neutralizing mAbs during natural human MARV infection.


Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Marburg Virus Disease/immunology , Marburgvirus/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , B-Lymphocytes , Chlorocebus aethiops , Disease Models, Animal , Ebolavirus/immunology , Epitopes/immunology , Female , Glycoproteins/immunology , Guinea Pigs , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Survivors , THP-1 Cells , Vero Cells , Viral Envelope Proteins/immunology
16.
Immunity ; 52(2): 388-403.e12, 2020 02 18.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32023489

Structural principles underlying the composition of protective antiviral monoclonal antibody (mAb) cocktails are poorly defined. Here, we exploited antibody cooperativity to develop a therapeutic mAb cocktail against Ebola virus. We systematically analyzed the antibody repertoire in human survivors and identified a pair of potently neutralizing mAbs that cooperatively bound to the ebolavirus glycoprotein (GP). High-resolution structures revealed that in a two-antibody cocktail, molecular mimicry was a major feature of mAb-GP interactions. Broadly neutralizing mAb rEBOV-520 targeted a conserved epitope on the GP base region. mAb rEBOV-548 bound to a glycan cap epitope, possessed neutralizing and Fc-mediated effector function activities, and potentiated neutralization by rEBOV-520. Remodeling of the glycan cap structures by the cocktail enabled enhanced GP binding and virus neutralization. The cocktail demonstrated resistance to virus escape and protected non-human primates (NHPs) against Ebola virus disease. These data illuminate structural principles of antibody cooperativity with implications for development of antiviral immunotherapeutics.


Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Ebolavirus/immunology , Glycoproteins/immunology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use , Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use , Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use , Cell Line , Disease Models, Animal , Drug Therapy, Combination , Epitopes , Female , Glycoproteins/chemistry , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/prevention & control , Humans , Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments/immunology , Macaca mulatta , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Molecular Mimicry , Protein Conformation
17.
Cell Mol Life Sci ; 77(13): 2579-2603, 2020 Jul.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31562565

Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe human disease with a high case fatality rate. The balance of evidence implies that the virus circulates in bats. The molecular basis for host-viral interactions, including the role for phosphorylation during infections, is largely undescribed. To address this, and to better understand the biology of EBOV, the phosphorylation of EBOV proteins was analyzed in virions purified from infected monkey Vero-E6 cells and bat EpoNi/22.1 cells using high-resolution mass spectrometry. All EBOV structural proteins were detected with high coverage, along with phosphopeptides. Phosphorylation sites were identified in all viral structural proteins. Comparison of EBOV protein phosphorylation in monkey and bat cells showed only partial overlap of phosphorylation sites, with shared sites found in NP, VP35, and VP24 proteins, and no common sites in the other proteins. Three-dimensional structural models were built for NP, VP35, VP40, GP, VP30 and VP24 proteins using available crystal structures or by de novo structure prediction to elucidate the potential role of the phosphorylation sites. Phosphorylation of one of the identified sites in VP35, Thr-210, was demonstrated to govern the transcriptional activity of the EBOV polymerase complex. Thr-210 phosphorylation was also shown to be important for VP35 interaction with NP. This is the first study to compare phosphorylation of all EBOV virion proteins produced in primate versus bat cells, and to demonstrate the role of VP35 phosphorylation in the viral life cycle. The results uncover a novel mechanism of EBOV transcription and identify novel targets for antiviral drug development.


Ebolavirus/genetics , Ebolavirus/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Viral , Nucleoproteins/metabolism , Transcription, Genetic , Viral Core Proteins/metabolism , Animals , Chiroptera , Chlorocebus aethiops , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Nucleocapsid Proteins , Nucleoproteins/chemistry , Phosphorylation , Proteomics , Ribonucleoproteins/metabolism , Vero Cells , Viral Core Proteins/chemistry , Viral Envelope Proteins/chemistry , Viral Envelope Proteins/metabolism , Viral Matrix Proteins/chemistry , Viral Matrix Proteins/metabolism , Viral Proteins/chemistry , Viral Proteins/metabolism , Virion/genetics , Virion/metabolism
18.
Nat Commun ; 10(1): 1788, 2019 04 17.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30996276

Three Ebolavirus genus viruses cause lethal disease and lack targeted therapeutics: Ebola virus, Sudan virus and Bundibugyo virus. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) cocktails against the surface glycoprotein (GP) present a potential therapeutic strategy. Here we report two crystal structures of the antibody BDBV223, alone and complexed with its GP2 stalk epitope, an interesting site for therapeutic/vaccine design due to its high sequence conservation among ebolaviruses. BDBV223, identified in a human survivor of Bundibugyo virus disease, neutralizes both Bundibugyo virus and Ebola virus, but not Sudan virus. Importantly, the structure suggests that BDBV223 binding interferes with both the trimeric bundle assembly of GP and the viral membrane by stabilizing a conformation in which the monomers are separated by GP lifting or bending. Targeted mutagenesis of BDBV223 to enhance SUDV GP recognition indicates that additional determinants of antibody binding likely lie outside the visualized interactions, and perhaps involve quaternary assembly or membrane-interacting regions.


Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Ebolavirus/drug effects , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/immunology , Antibodies, Monoclonal/chemistry , Antibodies, Monoclonal/isolation & purification , Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism , Antibodies, Neutralizing/chemistry , Antibodies, Neutralizing/isolation & purification , Antibodies, Neutralizing/metabolism , Antibodies, Viral/chemistry , Antibodies, Viral/isolation & purification , Antibodies, Viral/metabolism , Cross Reactions/immunology , Crystallography, X-Ray , Ebolavirus/immunology , Epitopes/chemistry , Epitopes/immunology , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/blood , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/virology , Humans , Hybridomas , Mutagenesis , Survivors , Viral Envelope Proteins/chemistry , Viral Envelope Proteins/immunology , Viral Envelope Proteins/metabolism
19.
Nat Struct Mol Biol ; 26(3): 204-212, 2019 03.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30833785

The structural features that govern broad-spectrum activity of broadly neutralizing anti-ebolavirus antibodies (Abs) outside of the internal fusion loop epitope are currently unknown. Here we describe the structure of a broadly neutralizing human monoclonal Ab (mAb), ADI-15946, which was identified in a human survivor of the 2013-2016 outbreak. The crystal structure of ADI-15946 in complex with cleaved Ebola virus glycoprotein (EBOV GPCL) reveals that binding of the mAb structurally mimics the conserved interaction between the EBOV GP core and its glycan cap ß17-ß18 loop to inhibit infection. Both endosomal proteolysis of EBOV GP and binding of mAb FVM09 displace this loop, thereby increasing exposure of ADI-15946's conserved epitope and enhancing neutralization. Our work also mapped the paratope of ADI-15946, thereby explaining reduced activity against Sudan virus, which enabled rational, structure-guided engineering to enhance binding and neutralization of Sudan virus while retaining the parental activity against EBOV and Bundibugyo virus.


Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Ebolavirus/immunology , Viral Fusion Proteins/immunology , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Antibody Affinity/immunology , Crystallography, X-Ray , Humans , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Survivors
20.
J Virol ; 93(4)2019 02 15.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30518655

Ebolaviruses Zaire (EBOV), Bundibugyo (BDBV), and Sudan (SUDV) cause human disease with high case fatality rates. Experimental monovalent vaccines, which all utilize the sole envelope glycoprotein (GP), do not protect against heterologous ebolaviruses. Human parainfluenza virus type 3-vectored vaccines offer benefits, including needle-free administration and induction of mucosal responses in the respiratory tract. Multiple approaches were taken to induce broad protection against the three ebolaviruses. While GP consensus-based antigens failed to elicit neutralizing antibodies, polyvalent vaccine immunization induced neutralizing responses to all three ebolaviruses and protected animals from death and disease caused by EBOV, SUDV, and BDBV. As immunization with a cocktail of antigenically related antigens can skew the responses and change the epitope hierarchy, we performed comparative analysis of antibody repertoire and Fc-mediated protective mechanisms in animals immunized with monovalent versus polyvalent vaccines. Compared to sera from guinea pigs receiving the monovalent vaccines, sera from guinea pigs receiving the trivalent vaccine bound and neutralized EBOV and SUDV at equivalent levels and BDBV at only a slightly reduced level. Peptide microarrays revealed a preponderance of binding to amino acids 389 to 403, 397 to 415, and 477 to 493, representing three linear epitopes in the mucin-like domain known to induce a protective antibody response. Competition binding assays with monoclonal antibodies isolated from human ebolavirus infection survivors demonstrated that the immune sera block the binding of antibodies specific for the GP glycan cap, the GP1-GP2 interface, the mucin-like domain, and the membrane-proximal external region. Thus, administration of a cocktail of three ebolavirus vaccines induces a desirable broad antibody response, without skewing of the response toward preferential recognition of a single virus.IMPORTANCE The symptoms of the disease caused by the ebolaviruses Ebola, Bundibugyo, and Sudan are similar, and their areas of endemicity overlap. However, because of the limited antigenic relatedness of the ebolavirus glycoprotein (GP) used in all candidate vaccines against these viruses, they protect only against homologous and not against heterologous ebolaviruses. Therefore, a broadly specific pan-ebolavirus vaccine is required, and this might be achieved by administration of a cocktail of vaccines. The effects of cocktail administration of ebolavirus vaccines on the antibody repertoire remain unknown. Here, an in-depth analysis of the antibody responses to administration of a cocktail of human parainfluenza virus type 3-vectored vaccines against individual ebolaviruses was performed, which included analysis of binding to GP, neutralization of individual ebolaviruses, epitope specificity, Fc-mediated functions, and protection against the three ebolaviruses. The results demonstrated potent and balanced responses against individual ebolaviruses and no significant reduction of the responses compared to that induced by individual vaccines.


Ebola Vaccines/genetics , Ebolavirus/genetics , Viral Envelope Proteins/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Cell Line , Drug Combinations , Epitopes/immunology , Female , Ferrets , Genetic Vectors , Glycoproteins/immunology , Guinea Pigs , Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola/virology , Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human/genetics , Viral Vaccines/genetics
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