Heterologous epitope-scaffold prime:boosting immuno-focuses B cell responses to the HIV-1 gp41 2F5 neutralization determinant. 2011

Javier Guenaga, and Pia Dosenovic, and Gilad Ofek, and David Baker, and William R Schief, and Peter D Kwong, and Gunilla B Karlsson Hedestam, and Richard T Wyatt
Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.

The HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env) gp120 and gp41 mediate entry and are the targets for neutralizing antibodies. Within gp41, a continuous epitope defined by the broadly neutralizing antibody 2F5, is one of the few conserved sites accessible to antibodies on the functional HIV Env spike. Recently, as an initial attempt at structure-guided design, we transplanted the 2F5 epitope onto several non-HIV acceptor scaffold proteins that we termed epitope scaffolds (ES). As immunogens, these ES proteins elicited antibodies with exquisite binding specificity matching that of the 2F5 antibody. These novel 2F5 epitope scaffolds presented us with the opportunity to test heterologous prime:boost immunization strategies to selectively boost antibody responses against the engrafted gp41 2F5 epitope. Such strategies might be employed to target conserved but poorly immunogenic sites on the HIV-1 Env, and, more generally, other structurally defined pathogen targets. Here, we assessed ES prime:boosting by measuring epitope specific serum antibody titers by ELISA and B cell responses by ELISpot analysis using both free 2F5 peptide and an unrelated ES protein as probes. We found that the heterologous ES prime:boosting immunization regimen elicits cross-reactive humoral responses to the structurally constrained 2F5 epitope target, and that incorporating a promiscuous T cell helper epitope in the immunogens resulted in higher antibody titers against the 2F5 graft, but did not result in virus neutralization. Interestingly, two epitope scaffolds (ES1 and ES2), which did not elicit a detectable 2F5 epitope-specific response on their own, boosted such responses when primed with the ES5. Together, these results indicate that heterologous ES prime:boost immunization regimens effectively focus the humoral immune response on the structurally defined and immunogen-conserved HIV-1 2F5 epitope.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007117 Immunization, Secondary Any immunization following a primary immunization and involving exposure to the same or a closely related antigen. Immunization, Booster,Revaccination,Secondary Immunization,Booster Immunization,Booster Immunizations,Immunizations, Booster,Immunizations, Secondary,Revaccinations,Secondary Immunizations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000939 Epitopes Sites on an antigen that interact with specific antibodies. Antigenic Determinant,Antigenic Determinants,Antigenic Specificity,Epitope,Determinant, Antigenic,Determinants, Antigenic,Specificity, Antigenic
D001402 B-Lymphocytes Lymphoid cells concerned with humoral immunity. They are short-lived cells resembling bursa-derived lymphocytes of birds in their production of immunoglobulin upon appropriate stimulation. B-Cells, Lymphocyte,B-Lymphocyte,Bursa-Dependent Lymphocytes,B Cells, Lymphocyte,B Lymphocyte,B Lymphocytes,B-Cell, Lymphocyte,Bursa Dependent Lymphocytes,Bursa-Dependent Lymphocyte,Lymphocyte B-Cell,Lymphocyte B-Cells,Lymphocyte, Bursa-Dependent,Lymphocytes, Bursa-Dependent
D015483 HIV Antibodies Antibodies reactive with HIV ANTIGENS. AIDS Antibodies,HIV-Associated Antibodies,HTLV-III Antibodies,HTLV-III-LAV Antibodies,LAV Antibodies,Lymphadenopathy-Associated Antibodies,T-Lymphotropic Virus Type III Antibodies, Human,HIV Associated Antibodies,HTLV III Antibodies,HTLV III LAV Antibodies,Lymphadenopathy Associated Antibodies,T Lymphotropic Virus Type III Antibodies, Human,Antibodies, AIDS,Antibodies, HIV,Antibodies, HIV Associated,Antibodies, HIV-Associated,Antibodies, HTLV III,Antibodies, HTLV-III,Antibodies, HTLV-III-LAV,Antibodies, LAV,Antibodies, Lymphadenopathy Associated,Antibodies, Lymphadenopathy-Associated
D015497 HIV-1 The type species of LENTIVIRUS and the etiologic agent of AIDS. It is characterized by its cytopathic effect and affinity for the T4-lymphocyte. Human immunodeficiency virus 1,HIV-I,Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1,Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1, Human
D015700 HIV Envelope Protein gp41 Transmembrane envelope protein of the HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS which is encoded by the HIV env gene. It has a molecular weight of 41,000 and is glycosylated. The N-terminal part of gp41 is thought to be involved in CELL FUSION with the CD4 ANTIGENS of T4 LYMPHOCYTES, leading to syncytial formation. Gp41 is one of the most common HIV antigens detected by IMMUNOBLOTTING. Envelope Protein gp41, HIV,HIV Transmembrane Protein gp41,HTLV-III gp41,env Protein gp41, HIV,gp41(HIV),gp41 Envelope Protein, HIV
D057134 Antibodies, Neutralizing Antibodies that reduce or abolish some biological activity of a soluble antigen or infectious agent, usually a virus. Neutralizing Antibodies,Antibody, Neutralizing,Neutralizing Antibody

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