Exploring Highly Conserved Regions of SARS-CoV-2 Spike S2 Subunit as Targets for Fusion Inhibition Using Chimeric Proteins.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, considerable efforts have been made to develop protective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, immunity tends to decline within a few months, and new virus variants are emerging with increased transmissibility and capacity to evade natural or vaccine-acquired immunity. Therefore, new robust strategies are needed to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection. The viral spike composed of S1 and S2 subunits mediates viral attachment and membrane fusion to infect the host cell. In this process, interaction between the highly conserved heptad repeat 1 and 2 regions (HR1 and HR2) of S2 is crucial and for this reason; these regions are promising targets to fight SARS-CoV-2. Here, we describe the design and characterization of chimeric proteins that structurally imitate the S2 HR1 region in a trimeric coiled-coil conformation. We biophysically characterized the proteins and determined their capacity to bind the HR2 region, as well as their inhibitory activity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. HR1 mimetic proteins showed conformational heterogeneity and a propensity to form oligomers. Moreover, their structure is composed of subdomains with varied stability. Interestingly, the full HR1 proteins showed high affinity for HR2-derived peptides and SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory activity, whereas smaller proteins mimicking HR1 subdomains had a decreased affinity for their complementary HR2 region and did not inhibit the virus. The results provide insight into effective strategies to create mimetic proteins with broad inhibitory activity and therapeutic potential against SARS-CoV-2.

In cell mutational interference mapping experiment (in cell MIME) identifies the 5' polyadenylation signal as a dual regulator of HIV-1 genomic RNA production and packaging.

Non-coding RNA regulatory elements are important for viral replication, making them promising targets for therapeutic intervention. However, regulatory RNA is challenging to detect and characterise using classical structure-function assays. Here, we present in cell Mutational Interference Mapping Experiment (in cell MIME) as a way to define RNA regulatory landscapes at single nucleotide resolution under native conditions. In cell MIME is based on (i) random mutation of an RNA target, (ii) expression of mutated RNA in cells, (iii) physical separation of RNA into functional and non-functional populations, and (iv) high-throughput sequencing to identify mutations affecting function. We used in cell MIME to define RNA elements within the 5' region of the HIV-1 genomic RNA (gRNA) that are important for viral replication in cells. We identified three distinct RNA motifs controlling intracellular gRNA production, and two distinct motifs required for gRNA packaging into virions. Our analysis reveals the 73AAUAAA78 polyadenylation motif within the 5' PolyA domain as a dual regulator of gRNA production and gRNA packaging, and demonstrates that a functional polyadenylation signal is required for viral packaging even though it negatively affects gRNA production.

Evaluation of anti-HIV-1 mutagenic nucleoside analogues.

Because of their high mutation rates, RNA viruses and retroviruses replicate close to the threshold of viability. Their existence as quasi-species has pioneered the concept of "lethal mutagenesis" that prompted us to synthesize pyrimidine nucleoside analogues with antiviral activity in cell culture consistent with an accumulation of deleterious mutations in the HIV-1 genome. However, testing all potentially mutagenic compounds in cell-based assays is tedious and costly. Here, we describe two simple in vitro biophysical/biochemical assays that allow prediction of the mutagenic potential of deoxyribonucleoside analogues. The first assay compares the thermal stabilities of matched and mismatched base pairs in DNA duplexes containing or not the nucleoside analogues as follows. A promising candidate should display a small destabilization of the matched base pair compared with the natural nucleoside and the smallest gap possible between the stabilities of the matched and mismatched base pairs. From this assay, we predicted that two of our compounds, 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine and 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxycytidine, should be mutagenic. The second in vitro reverse transcription assay assesses DNA synthesis opposite nucleoside analogues inserted into a template strand and subsequent extension of the newly synthesized base pairs. Once again, only 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine and 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxycytidine are predicted to be efficient mutagens. The predictive potential of our fast and easy first line screens was confirmed by detailed analysis of the mutation spectrum induced by the compounds in cell culture because only compounds 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine and 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxycytidine were found to increase the mutation frequency by 3.1- and 3.4-fold, respectively.

Characterization of the interaction between the HIV-1 Gag structural polyprotein and the cellular ribosomal protein L7 and its implication in viral nucleic acid remodeling.

BACKGROUND: In HIV-1 infected cells, the integrated viral DNA is transcribed by the host cell machinery to generate the full length HIV-1 RNA (FL RNA) that serves as mRNA encoding for the Gag and GagPol precursors. Virion formation is orchestrated by Gag, and the current view is that a specific interaction between newly made Gag molecules and FL RNA initiates the process. This in turn would cause FL RNA dimerization by the NC domain of Gag (GagNC). However the RNA chaperoning activity of unprocessed Gag is low as compared to the mature NC protein. This prompted us to search for GagNC co-factors. RESULTS: Here we report that RPL7, a major ribosomal protein involved in translation regulation, is a partner of Gag via its interaction with the NC domain. This interaction is mediated by the NC zinc fingers and the N- and C-termini of RPL7, respectively, but seems independent of RNA binding, Gag oligomerization and its interaction with the plasma membrane. Interestingly, RPL7 is shown for the first time to exhibit a potent DNA/RNA chaperone activity higher than that of Gag. In addition, Gag and RPL7 can function in concert to drive rapid nucleic acid hybridization. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that GagNC interacts with the ribosomal protein RPL7 endowed with nucleic acid chaperone activity, favoring the notion that RPL7 could be a Gag helper chaperoning factor possibly contributing to the start of Gag assembly.

Broadly neutralizing antibody VRC01 prevents HIV-1 transmission from plasmacytoid dendritic cells to CD4 T lymphocytes.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) poorly replicate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) but efficiently transfer HIV-1 to adjacent CD4 T lymphocytes. We found that coculture with T lymphocytes downregulates SAMHD1 expression, enhances HIV-1 replication, and increases pDC maturation and alpha interferon (IFN-α) secretion. HIV-1 transfer to T lymphocytes is inhibited by broadly neutralizing antibody VRC01 with efficiency similar to that of cell-free infection of T lymphocytes. Interestingly, prevention of HIV-1 transmission by VRC01 retains IFN-α secretion. These results emphasize the multiple functions of VRC01 in protection against HIV-1 acquisition.

Dendritic cell-lymphocyte cross talk downregulates host restriction factor SAMHD1 and stimulates HIV-1 replication in dendritic cells.

UNLABELLED: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in dendritic cells (DCs) is restricted by SAMHD1. This factor is counteracted by the viral protein Vpx; Vpx is found in HIV-2 and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) from sooty mangabeys (SIVsm) or from macaques (SIVmac) but is absent from HIV-1. We previously observed that HIV-1 replication in immature DCs is stimulated by cocultivation with primary T and B lymphocytes, suggesting that HIV-1 restriction in DCs may be overcome under coculture conditions. Here, we aimed to decipher the mechanism of SAMHD1-mediated restriction in DC-lymphocyte coculture. We found that coculture with lymphocytes downregulated SAMHD1 expression and was associated with increased HIV-1 replication in DCs. Moreover, in infected DC-T lymphocyte cocultures, DCs acquired maturation status and secreted type 1 interferon (alpha interferon [IFN-α]). The blockade of DC-lymphocyte cross talk by anti-ICAM-1 antibody markedly inhibited the stimulation of HIV-1 replication and prevented the downregulation of SAMHD1 expression in cocultured DCs. These results demonstrate that, in contrast to purified DCs, cross talk with lymphocytes downregulates SAMHD1 expression in DCs, triggering HIV-1 replication and an antiviral immune response. Therefore, HIV-1 replication and immune sensing by DCs should be investigated in more physiologically relevant models of DC/lymphocyte coculture. IMPORTANCE: SAMHD1 restricts HIV-1 replication in dendritic cells (DCs). Here, we demonstrate that, in a coculture model of DCs and lymphocytes mimicking early mucosal HIV-1 infection, stimulation of HIV-1 replication in DCs is associated with downregulation of SAMHD1 expression and activation of innate immune sensing by DCs. We propose that DC-lymphocyte cross talk occurring in vivo modulates host restriction factor SAMHD1, promoting HIV-1 replication in cellular reservoirs and stimulating immune sensing.

Neutralizing antibodies inhibit HIV-1 transfer from primary dendritic cells to autologous CD4 T lymphocytes.

Dendritic cells (DCs) support only low levels of HIV-1 replication, but have been shown to transfer infectious viral particles highly efficiently to neighboring permissive CD4 T lymphocytes. This mode of cell-to-cell HIV-1 spread may be a predominant mode of infection and dissemination. In the present study, we analyzed the kinetics of fusion, replication, and the ability of HIV-1-specific Abs to inhibit HIV-1 transfer from immature DCs to autologous CD4 T lymphocytes. We found that neutralizing mAbs prevented HIV-1 transfer to CD4 T lymphocytes in trans and in cis, whereas nonneutralizing Abs did not. Neutralizing Abs also significantly decreased HIV-1 replication in DCs, even when added 2 hours after HIV-1 infection. Interestingly, a similar inhibition of HIV-1 replication in DCs was detected with some nonneutralizing Abs and was correlated with DC maturation. We suggest that the binding of HIV-1-specific Abs to FcγRs leads to HIV-1 inhibition in DCs by triggering DC maturation. This efficient inhibition of HIV-1 transfer by Abs highlights the importance of inducing HIV-specific Abs by vaccination directly at the mucosal portal of HIV-1 entry to prevent early dissemination after sexual transmission.

Investigating vulnerability of the conserved SARS-CoV-2 spike's heptad repeat 2 as target for fusion inhibitors using chimeric miniproteins.

Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion is a highly desired target to combat COVID-19. The interaction between the spike's heptad repeat (HR) regions 1 (HR1) and 2 (HR2) is a crucial step during the fusion process and these highly conserved HR regions constitute attractive targets for fusion inhibitors. However, the relative importance of each subregion of the long HR1-HR2 interface for viral inhibition remains unclear. Here, we designed, produced, and characterized a series of chimeric miniproteins that mimic two different half subdomains of HR1. The proteins were designed as single polypeptide chains that spontaneously fold into antiparallel trimeric helical bundles aimed at structurally imitate the molecular surface of each HR1 half subregion. All the miniproteins folded stably as helical structures and could bind complementary HR2 peptides with moderate affinity. However, only the miniproteins mimicking the N-terminal HR1 half subdomain, but not those imitating C-terminal one, could inhibit cell infection by SARS-COV-2 real viruses in cell cultures. Most interestingly, the inhibitory activity of the miniproteins correlated with their structural stability, but not with their relative binding affinity for HR2 peptides. These results are highly relevant for designing more focused and active fusion inhibitors targeting the highly conserved HR2 region of the Spike.

Identification of early-induced broadly neutralizing activities against transmitted founder HIV strains.

OBJECTIVES: Broadly neutralizing antibodies have been proposed as key actors for HIV vaccine development. However, they display features of highly matured antibodies, hampering their induction by vaccination. As protective broadly neutralizing antibodies should be induced rapidly after vaccination and should neutralize the early-transmitted founder (T/F) viruses, we searched whether such antibodies may be induced following HIV infection. DESIGN: Sera were collected during acute infection (Day 0) and at viral set point (Month 6/12) and the neutralizing activity against T/F strains was investigated. Neutralizing activity in sera collected from chronic progressor was analyzed in parallel. METHODS: We compared neutralizing activity against T/F strains with neutralizing activity against non-T/F strains using the conventional TZM-bL neutralizing assay. RESULTS: We found neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) preferentially directed against T/F viruses in sera collected shortly after infection. This humoral response evolved by shifting to nAbs directed against non-T/F strains. CONCLUSION: Although features associated with nAbs directed against T/F viruses need further investigations, these early-induced nAbs may display lesser maturation characteristics; therefore, this might increase their interest for future vaccine designs.

Distinct antibody profiles in HLA-B∗57+, HLA-B∗57- HIV controllers and chronic progressors.

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous control of HIV replication without treatment in HIV-1 controllers (HICs) was associated with the development of an efficient T-cell response. In addition, increasing data suggest that the humoral response participates in viral clearance. DESIGN: In-depth characterization of Ab response in HICs may help to define new parameters associated with this control. METHODS: We assessed the levels of total and HIV-specific IgA and IgG subtypes induction and their functional potencies - that is, neutralization, phagocytosis, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), according to the individual's major histocompatibility complex class I (HLA)-B∗57 status, and compared it with nontreated chronic progressors. RESULTS: We found that despite an undetectable viral load, HICs displayed HIV-specific IgG levels similar to those of chronic progressors. Interestingly, our compelling multifunctional analysis demonstrates that the functional Ab profile, by itself, allowed to discriminate HLA-B∗57+ HICs from HLA-B∗57- HICs and chronic progressors. CONCLUSION: These results show that HICs display a particular HIV-specific antibody (Ab) profile that may participate in HIV control and emphasize the relevance of multifunctional Ab response analysis in future Ab-driven vaccine studies.

Novel chimeric proteins mimicking SARS-CoV-2 spike epitopes with broad inhibitory activity.

SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein mediates virus attachment to the cells and fusion between viral and cell membranes. Membrane fusion is driven by mutual interaction between the highly conserved heptad-repeat regions 1 and 2 (HR1 and HR2) of the S2 subunit of the spike. For this reason, these S2 regions are interesting therapeutic targets for COVID-19. Although HR1 and HR2 have been described as transiently exposed during the fusion process, no significant antibody responses against these S2 regions have been reported. Here we designed chimeric proteins that imitate highly stable HR1 helical trimers and strongly bind to HR2. The proteins have broad inhibitory activity against WT B.1 and BA.1 viruses. Sera from COVID-19 convalescent donors showed significant levels of reactive antibodies (IgG and IgA) against the HR1 mimetic proteins, whereas these antibody responses were absent in sera from uninfected donors. Moreover, both inhibitory activity and antigenicity of the proteins correlate positively with their structural stability but not with the number of amino acid changes in their HR1 sequences, indicating a conformational and conserved nature of the involved epitopes. Our results reveal previously undetected spike epitopes that may guide the design of new robust COVID-19 vaccines and therapies.

Epitope mapping of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 neutralizing receptor binding domain-specific monoclonal antibodies.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the outbreak led to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 is considered as a major target for immunotherapy and vaccine design. Here, we generated and characterized a panel of anti-RBD monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) isolated from eukaryotic recombinant RBD-immunized mice by hybridoma technology. Epitope mapping was performed using a panel of 20-mer overlapping peptides spanning the entire sequence of the RBD protein from wild-type (WT) Wuhan strain by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Several hybridomas showed reactivity toward restricted RBD peptide pools by Pepscan analysis, with more focus on peptides encompassing aa 76-110 and 136-155. However, our MAbs with potent neutralizing activity which block SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirus as well as the WT virus entry into angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) expressing HEK293T cells showed no reactivity against these peptides. These findings, largely supported by the Western blotting results suggest that the neutralizing MAbs recognize mainly conformational epitopes. Moreover, our neutralizing MAbs recognized the variants of concern (VOC) currently in circulation, including alpha, beta, gamma, and delta by ELISA, and neutralized alpha and omicron variants at different levels by conventional virus neutralization test (CVNT). While the neutralization of MAbs to the alpha variant showed no substantial difference as compared with the WT virus, their neutralizing activity was lower on omicron variant, suggesting the refractory effect of mutations in emerging variants against this group of neutralizing MAbs. Also, the binding reactivity of our MAbs to delta variant showed a modest decline by ELISA, implying that our MAbs are insensitive to the substitutions in the RBD of delta variant. Our data provide important information for understanding the immunogenicity of RBD, and the potential application of the novel neutralizing MAbs for passive immunotherapy of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Identification of driver genes for critical forms of COVID-19 in a deeply phenotyped young patient cohort.

The drivers of critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain unknown. Given major confounding factors such as age and comorbidities, true mediators of this condition have remained elusive. We used a multi-omics analysis combined with artificial intelligence in a young patient cohort where major comorbidities were excluded at the onset. The cohort included 47 "critical" (in the intensive care unit under mechanical ventilation) and 25 "non-critical" (in a non-critical care ward) patients with COVID-19 and 22 healthy individuals. The analyses included whole-genome sequencing, whole-blood RNA sequencing, plasma and blood mononuclear cell proteomics, cytokine profiling, and high-throughput immunophenotyping. An ensemble of machine learning, deep learning, quantum annealing, and structural causal modeling were used. Patients with critical COVID-19 were characterized by exacerbated inflammation, perturbed lymphoid and myeloid compartments, increased coagulation, and viral cell biology. Among differentially expressed genes, we observed up-regulation of the metalloprotease ADAM9. This gene signature was validated in a second independent cohort of 81 critical and 73 recovered patients with COVID-19 and was further confirmed at the transcriptional and protein level and by proteolytic activity. Ex vivo ADAM9 inhibition decreased severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uptake and replication in human lung epithelial cells. In conclusion, within a young, otherwise healthy, cohort of individuals with COVID-19, we provide the landscape of biological perturbations in vivo where a unique gene signature differentiated critical from non-critical patients. We further identified ADAM9 as a driver of disease severity and a candidate therapeutic target.

Stimulation of HIV-1 replication in immature dendritic cells in contact with primary CD4 T or B lymphocytes.

Sexual transmission is the major route of HIV-1 infection worldwide. Dendritic cells (DCs) from the mucosal layers are considered to be the initial targets of HIV-1 and probably play a crucial role in HIV-1 transmission. We investigated the role of cell-to-cell contact between HIV-1-exposed immature DCs and various lymphocyte subsets in the stimulation of HIV-1 replication. We found that HIV-1 replication and production in DCs were substantially enhanced by the coculture of DCs with primary CD4 T or nonpermissive B lymphocytes but not with primary activated CD8 T lymphocytes or human transformed CD4 T lymphocytes. Most of the new virions released by cocultures of HIV-1-exposed immature DCs and primary B lymphocytes expressed the DC-specific marker CD1a and were infectious for both immature DCs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Cocultured DCs thus produced large numbers of infectious viral particles under these experimental conditions. The soluble factors present in the supernatants of the cocultures were not sufficient to enhance HIV-1 replication in DCs, for which cell-to-cell contact was required. The neutralizing monoclonal antibody IgG1b12 and polyclonal anti-HIV-1 sera efficiently blocked HIV-1 transfer to CD4 T lymphocytes but did not prevent the increase in viral replication in DCs. Neutralizing antibodies thus proved to be more efficient at blocking HIV-1 transfer than previously thought. Our findings show that HIV-1 exploits DC-lymphocyte cross talk to upregulate replication within the DC reservoir. We provide evidence for a novel mechanism that may facilitate HIV-1 replication and transmission. This mechanism may favor HIV-1 pathogenesis, immune evasion, and persistence.

Synthesis and anti-HIV evaluation of water-soluble calixarene-based bithiazolyl podands.

Nine anionic water-soluble calix[4]arene species, incorporating sulfonate, carboxylate or phosphonate groups, six of them incorporating two 2,2'-bithiazole subunits in alternate position at the lower rim, have been synthesised and evaluated as anti-HIV agents on various HIV strains and cells of the lymphocytic lineage (HIV-1 III B/MT4, HIV-1 LAI/CEM-SS, HIV-1 Bal/PBMC), using AZT as reference compound. A toxicity was detected for a minority of compounds on PBMC whereas for the others no cellular toxicity was measured at concentrations up to 100 microM. Most of the compounds have an antiviral activity in a 10-50 microM range, and one of them, sulfonylated, displays its activity, whatever the tropism of the virus, at a micromolar concentration.

Probing Vulnerability of the gp41 C-Terminal Heptad Repeat as Target for Miniprotein HIV Inhibitors.

One of the therapeutic strategies in HIV neutralization is blocking membrane fusion. In this process, tight interaction between the N-terminal and C-terminal heptad-repeat (NHR and CHR) regions of gp41 is essential to promote membranes apposition and merging. We have previously developed single-chain proteins (named covNHR) that accurately mimic the complete gp41 NHR region in its trimeric conformation. They tightly bind CHR-derived peptides and show a potent and broad HIV inhibitory activity in vitro. However, the extremely high binding affinity (sub-picomolar) is not in consonance with their inhibitory activity (nanomolar), likely due to partial or temporal accessibility of their target in the virus. Here, we have designed and characterized two single-chain covNHR miniproteins each encompassing one of the two halves of the NHR region and containing two of the four sub-pockets of the NHR crevice. The two miniproteins fold as trimeric helical bundles as expected but while the C-terminal covNHR (covNHR-C) miniprotein is highly stable, the N-terminal counterpart (covNHR-N) shows only marginal stability that could be improved by engineering an internal disulfide bond. Both miniproteins bind their respective complementary CHR peptides with moderate (micromolar) affinity. Moreover, the covNHR-N miniproteins can access their target in the context of trimeric native envelope proteins and show significant inhibitory activity for several HIV pseudoviruses. In contrast, covNHR-C cannot bind its target sequence and neither inhibits HIV, indicating a higher vulnerability of C-terminal part of CHR. These results may guide the development of novel HIV inhibitors targeting the gp41 CHR region.

HIV transmission from infected CD4+ T cells to allogenic T and dendritic cells is inhibited by broadly neutralizing antibodies.

OBJECTIVE: In the semen, both free virus and infected cells are able to establish HIV infection during sexual intercourse. An efficient vaccine should therefore inhibit both infectious states. The aim of this study was to analyze the capacity of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) to inhibit HIV transmission by the infected cells. DESIGN/METHODS: We developed an in-vitro model aiming to mimic mucosal HIV transmission via infected cells. PHA-activated CD4+ T cells stained with PKH26 from donor A were infected and co-cultured with CD4+ T cells and dendritic cells from donor B in the presence of bNAbs. RESULTS: We showed that dendritic cells were the preferential HIV target cells at early time points in this co-culture model. In the context of this co-culture model where infection and transmission occurred simultaneously, bNAbs efficiently inhibited HIV replication as well as HIV transmission from infected cells to allogenic dendritic cells and CD4+ T cells. CONCLUSION: Overall, our results indicate that dendritic cells, in addition to CD4+ T cells, are key cells that are efficiently infected by HIV and bNAbs are potent inhibitors of infection of both target cells. Future HIV prophylactic vaccine design should develop immune strategies able to prevent the infection of dendritic cells, in addition to the inhibition of CD4+ T-cell infection.

Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of AZT analogues with A spacer arm between glucidic and base moieties. Part II.

This article describes the synthesis of a series of AZT analogues bearing an acyclic chain between the sugar and the base moieties is described. These new compounds were readily obtained using microwave irradiation. The compounds were characterized by (1)H NMR and IR spectroscopy. Antiviral (HIV-1) properties of these compounds were examined.

Non-neutralizing Antibodies Targeting the V1V2 Domain of HIV Exhibit Strong Antibody-Dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxic Activity.

The development of an effective vaccine against HIV-1 has proven to be challenging. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), whilst exhibiting neutralization breadth and potency, are elicited only in a small subset of infected individuals and have yet to be induced by vaccination. Case-control studies of RV144 identified an inverse correlation of HIV-1 infection risk with antibodies (Abs) to the V1V2 region of gp120 with high antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity. The neutralizing activity of Abs was not found to contribute to this protective outcome. Using primary effector and target cells and primary virus isolates, we studied the ADCC profile of different monoclonal Abs targeting the V1V2 loop of gp120 that had low or no neutralizing activity. We compared their ADCC activity to some bNAbs targeting different regions of gp120. We found that mAbs targeting the V1V2 domain induce up to 60% NK cell mediated lysis of HIV-1 infected PBMCs in a physiologically relevant ADCC model, highlighting the interest in inducing such Abs in future HIV vaccine trials. Our data also suggest that in addition to neutralization, lysis of infected cells by Abs can effectively participate in HIV protection, as suggested by the RV144 immune correlate analysis.

HIV-Specific B Cell Frequency Correlates with Neutralization Breadth in Patients Naturally Controlling HIV-Infection.

HIV-specific broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) have been isolated from patients with high viremia but also from HIV controllers that repress HIV-1 replication. In these elite controllers (ECs), multiple parameters contribute to viral suppression, including genetic factors and immune responses. Defining the immune correlates associated with the generation of bnAbs may help in designing efficient immunotherapies. In this study, in ECs either positive or negative for the HLA-B*57 protective allele, in treated HIV-infected and HIV-negative individuals, we characterized memory B cell compartments and HIV-specific memory B cells responses using flow cytometry and ELISPOT. ECs preserved their memory B cell compartments and in contrast to treated patients, maintained detectable HIV-specific memory B cell responses. All ECs presented IgG1+ HIV-specific memory B cells but some individuals also preserved IgG2+ or IgG3+ responses. Importantly, we also analyzed the capacity of sera from ECs to neutralize a panel of HIV strains including transmitted/founder virus. 29% and 21% of HLA-B*57+ and HLA-B*57- ECs, respectively, neutralized at least 40% of the viral strains tested. Remarkably, in HLA-B*57+ ECs the frequency of HIV-Env-specific memory B cells correlated positively with the neutralization breadth suggesting that preservation of HIV-specific memory B cells might contribute to the neutralizing responses in these patients.