Browsing by Author "Gray, Elin Solomonovna."

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Amino acid changes in the HIV-1 gp41 membrane proximal region control virus neutralization sensitivity.
(Elsevier., 2016) Bradley, Todd.; Trama, Ashley.; Tumba, Nancy Lola.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Lu, Xiaozhi.; Madani, Navid.; Jahanbakhsh, Fatemeh.; Eaton, Amanda.; Xia, Shi-Mao.; Parks, Robert.; Lloyd, Krissey E.; Sutherland, Laura L.; Scearce, Richard M.; Bowman, Cindy M.; Barnett, Susan.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Boyd, Scott D.; Melillo, Bruno.; Smith, Amos B.; Sodroski, Joseph.; Kepler, Thomas B.; Alam, Shabnam Munir.; Gao, Feng.; Bonsignori, Mattia.; Liao, Hua-Xin.; Moody, Michael Anthony.; Montefiori, David Charles.; Santra, Sampa.; Morris, Lynn.; Haynes, Barton F.
Abstract available in pdf.
Broad neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 mediated by plasma antibodies against the gp41 membrane proximal external region.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2009) Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Madiga, Maphuti C.; Moore, Penelope L.; Mlisana, Koleka Patience.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Binley, James M.; Shaw, George M.; Mascola, John R.; Morris, Lynn.
We identified three cross-neutralizing plasma samples with high-titer anti-membrane proximal external region (MPER) peptide binding antibodies from among 156 chronically human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals. In order to establish if these antibodies were directly responsible for the observed neutralization breadth, we used MPER-coated magnetic beads to deplete plasmas of these specific antibodies. Depletion of anti-MPER antibodies from BB34, CAP206, and SAC21 resulted in 77%, 68%, and 46% decreases, respectively, in the number of viruses neutralized. Antibodies eluted from the beads showed neutralization profiles similar to those of the original plasmas, with potencies comparable to those of the known anti-MPER monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 4E10, 2F5, and Z13e1. The anti-MPER neutralizing antibodies in BB34 were present in the immunoglobulin G3 subclass-enriched fraction. Alanine scanning of the MPER showed that the antibodies from these three plasmas had specificities distinct from those of the known MAbs, requiring one to three crucial residues at positions 670, 673, and 674. These data demonstrate the existence of MPER-specific cross-neutralizing antibodies in plasma, although the ability to elicit such potent antiviral antibodies during natural infection appears to be rare. Nevertheless, the identification of three novel antibody specificities within the MPER supports its further study as a promising target for vaccine design.
The C3-V4 region is a major target of autologous neutralizing antibodies in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C Infection.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2008) Moore, Penelope L.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Choge, Isaac Ang'Ang'A.; Ranchobe, Nthabeleng.; Mlisana, Koleka Patience.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Morris, Lynn.
The early autologous neutralizing antibody response in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C infections is often characterized by high titers, but the response is type specific with little to no cross-neutralizing activity. The specificities of these early neutralizing antibodies are not known; however, the type specificity suggests that they may target the variable regions of the envelope. Here, we show that cross-reactive anti-V3 antibodies developed within 3 to 12 weeks in six individuals but did not mediate autologous neutralization. Using a series of chimeric viruses, we found that antibodies directed at the V1V2, V4, and V5 regions contributed to autologous neutralization in some individuals, with V1V2 playing a more substantial role. However, these antibodies did not account for the total neutralizing capacity of these sera against the early autologous virus. Antibodies directed against the C3-V4 region were involved in autologous neutralization in all four sera studied. In two sera, transfer of the C3-V4 region rendered the chimera as sensitive to antibody neutralization as the parental virus. Although the C3 region, which contains the highly variable α2-helix was not a direct target in most cases, it contributed to the formation of neutralization epitopes as substitution of this region resulted in neutralization resistance. These data suggest that the C3 and V4 regions combine to form important structural motifs and that epitopes in this region are major targets of the early autologous neutralizing response in HIV-1 subtype C infection.
Characterization of anti-HIV-1 neutralizing and binding antibodies in chronic HIV-1 subtype C infection.
(Elsevier., 2012) Archary, Derseree.; Rong, Rong.; Gordon, Michelle Lucille.; Boliar, Saikat.; Madiga, Maphuti C.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Dugast, Anne-Sophie.; Hermanus, Tandile.; Goulder, Philip Jeremy Renshaw.; Coovadia, Hoosen Mahomed.; Werner, Lise.; Morris, Lynn.; Alter, Galit.; Derdeyn, Cynthia A.; Ndung'u, Peter Thumbi.
Neutralizing (nAbs) and high affinity binding antibodies may be critical for an efficacious HIV-1 vaccine. We characterized virus-specific nAbs and binding antibody responses over 21 months in eight HIV-1 subtype C chronically infected individuals with heterogeneous rates of disease progression. Autologous nAb titers of study exit plasma against study entry viruses were significantly higher than contemporaneous responses at study entry (p=0.002) and exit (p=0.01). NAb breadth and potencies against subtype C viruses were significantly higher than for subtype A (p=0.03 and p=0.01) or B viruses (p=0.03; p=0.05) respectively. Gp41-IgG binding affinity was higher than gp120-IgG (p=0.0002). IgG–FcγR1 affinity was significantly higher than FcγRIIIa (p<0.005) at study entry and FcγRIIb (p<0.05) or FcγRIIIa (p<0.005) at study exit. Evolving IgG binding suggests alteration of immune function mediated by binding antibodies. Evolution of nAbs was a potential marker of HIV-1 disease progression.
The development of CD4 binding site antibodies during HIV-1 infection.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2012) Lynch, Rebecca M.; Tran, Lillian.; Louder, Mark K.; Schmidt, Stephen D.; Cohen, Myron S.; DerSimonian, Rebecca.; Euler, Zelda.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Kirchherr, Jennifer.; Montefiori, David Charles.; Sibeko, Sengeziwe.; Soderberg, Kelly.; Tomaras, Georgia D.; Yang, Zhi-Yong.; Nabel, Gary J.; Schuitemaker, Hanneke.; Morris, Lynn.; Haynes, Barton F.; Mascola, John R.
Broadly neutralizing antibodies to the CD4 binding site (CD4bs) of gp120 are generated by some HIV-1-infected individuals, but little is known about the prevalence and evolution of this antibody response during the course of HIV-1 infection. We analyzed the sera of 113 HIV-1 seroconverters from three cohorts for binding to a panel of gp120 core proteins and their corresponding CD4bs knockout mutants. Among sera collected between 99 and 258 weeks post-HIV-1 infection, 88% contained antibodies to the CD4bs and 47% contained antibodies to resurfaced stabilized core (RSC) probes that react preferentially with broadly neutralizing CD4bs antibodies (BNCD4), such as monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) VRC01 and VRC-CH31. Analysis of longitudinal serum samples from a subset of 18 subjects revealed that CD4bs antibodies to gp120 arose within the first 4 to 16 weeks of infection, while the development of RSC-reactive antibodies was more varied, occurring between 10 and 152 weeks post-HIV-1 infection. Despite the presence of these antibodies, serum neutralization mediated by RSC-reactive antibodies was detected in sera from only a few donors infected for more than 3 years. Thus, CD4bs antibodies that bind a VRC01-like epitope are often induced during HIV-1 infection, but the level and potency required to mediate serum neutralization may take years to develop. An improved understanding of the immunological factors associated with the development and maturation of neutralizing CD4bs antibodies during HIV-1 infection may provide insights into the requirements for eliciting this response by vaccination.
Differences in HIV-1 neutralization breadth in two geographically distinct cohorts in Africa.
(Oxford University Press., 2015) Bandawe, Gama P.; Moore, Penelope L.; Werner, Lise.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Madiga, Maphuti C.; Nofemela, Andile.; Thebus, Ruwayhida.; Marais, Jinny C.; Maboko, Leonard.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Hoelscher, Michael.; Morris, Lynn.; Williamson, Carolyn.
Abstract available in pdf.
Evolution of an HIV glycan–dependent broadly neutralizing antibody epitope through immune escape.
(Nature Publishing Group., 2012) Moore, Penelope L.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Bhiman, Jinal N.; Nonyane, Molati.; Hermanus, Tandile.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Bajimaya, Shringkhala.; Abrahams, Melissa-Rose.; Tumba, Nancy Lola.; Ping, Li-Hua.; Ngandu, Nobubelo K.; Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Swanstrom, Ronald.; Seaman, Michael S.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Morris, Lynn.;
Neutralizing antibodies are likely to play a crucial part in a preventative HIV-1 vaccine. Although efforts to elicit broadly cross-neutralizing (BCN) antibodies by vaccination have been unsuccessful, a minority of individuals naturally develop these antibodies after many years of infection. How such antibodies arise, and the role of viral evolution in shaping these responses, is unknown. Here we show, in two HIV-1–infected individuals who developed BCN antibodies targeting the glycan at Asn332 on the gp120 envelope, that this glycan was absent on the initial infecting virus. However, this BCN epitope evolved within 6 months, through immune escape from earlier strain-specific antibodies that resulted in a shift of a glycan to position 332. Both viruses that lacked the glycan at amino acid 332 were resistant to the Asn332-dependent BCN monoclonal antibody PGT128 (ref. 8), whereas escaped variants that acquired this glycan were sensitive. Analysis of large sequence and neutralization data sets showed the 332 glycan to be significantly under-represented in transmitted subtype C viruses compared to chronic viruses, with the absence of this glycan corresponding with resistance to PGT128. These findings highlight the dynamic interplay between early antibodies and viral escape in driving the evolution of conserved BCN antibody epitopes.
High titer HIV-1 V3-specific antibodies with broad reactivity but low neutralizing potency in acute infection and following vaccination.
(Elsevier, 2008) Davis, Katie L.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Moore, Penelope L.; Decker, Julie M.; Salomon, Aidy.; Montefiori, David Charles.; Graham, Barney S.; Keefer, Michael C.; Pinter, Abraham.; Morris, Lynn.; Hahn, Beatrice H.; Shaw, George M.
Identifying the earliest neutralizing antibody specificities that are elicited following infection or vaccination by HIV-1 is an important objective of current HIV/AIDS vaccine research. We have shown previously that transplantation of HIV-1 V3 epitopes into an HIV-2 envelope (Env) scaffold provides a sensitive and specific means to detect and quantify HIV-1 V3 epitope specific neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) in human sera. Here, we employ this HIV-2/HIV-1 V3 scaffolding strategy to study the kinetics of development and breadth of V3- specific Nabs in longitudinal sera from individuals acutely infected with clade C or clade B HIV-1 and in human subjects immunized with clade B HIV-1 immunogens. HIV-2/HIV-1 chimeras containing V3 sequences matched to virus type (HIV-2 or HIV-1), subtype (clade B or C), or strain (autologous or heterologous) were used as test reagents. We found that by 3–8 weeks post infection, 12 of 14 clade C subjects had a median IC50 V3-specific Nab titer of 1:700 against chimeric viruses containing a heterologous clade C V3. By 5 months post-infection, all 14 subjects were positive for V3-specific Nabs with median titers of 1:8000 against heterologous clade C V3 and 1:1300 against clade B V3. Two acutely infected clade B patients developed heterologous clade B V3-specific Nabs at titers of 1:300 and 1:1800 by 13 weeks of infection and 1:5000 and 1:11000 by 7 months of infection. Titers were not different against chimeras containing autologous clade B V3 sequences. Each of 10 uninfected normal human volunteers who were immunized with clade B HIV-1 Env immunogens, but none of five sham immunized control subjects, developed V3-specific Nabs titers as high as 1:3000 (median 1:1300; range 1:700–1:3000). None of the HIV- 1 infected or vaccinated subjects had antibodies that neutralized primary HIV-1 virus strains. These results indicate that high-titer, broadly reactive V3-specific antibodies are among the first to be elicited during acute and early HIV-1 infection and following vaccination but these antibodies lack neutralizing potency against primary HIV-1 viruses, which effectively shield V3 from antibody binding to the functional Env trimer.
Identification of broadly neutralizing antibody epitopes in 1 the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein using evolutionary models.
(Virology Journal, 2013) Lacerda, Miguel.; Moore, Penelope L.; Ngandu, Nobubelo K.; Seaman, Michael.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Murrell, Ben.; Krishnamoorthy, Mohan.; Nonyane, Molati.; Madiga, Maphuti C.; Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Bailer, Robert T.; Gao, Hongmei.; Greene, Kelli M.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Mascola, John R.; Korber, Bette T. M.; Montefiori, David Charles.; Morris, Lynn.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Seoighe, Cathal.
Background: Identification of the epitopes targeted by antibodies that can neutralize diverse HIV-1 strains can provide important clues for the design of a preventative vaccine. Methods: We have developed a computational approach that can identify key amino acids within the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein that influence sensitivity to broadly cross-neutralizing antibodies. Given a sequence alignment and neutralization titers for a panel of viruses, the method works by fitting a phylogenetic model that allows the amino acid frequencies at each site to depend on neutralization sensitivities. Sites at which viral evolution influences neutralization sensitivity were identified using Bayes factors (BFs) to compare the fit of this model to that of a null model in which sequences evolved independently of antibody sensitivity. Conformational epitopes were identified with a Metropolis algorithm that searched for a cluster of sites with large Bayes factors on the tertiary structure of the viral envelope. Results: We applied our method to ID50 neutralization data generated from seven HIV-1 subtype C serum samples with neutralization breadth that had been tested against a multi-clade panel of 225 pseudoviruses for which envelope sequences were also available. For each sample, between two and four sites were identified that were strongly associated with neutralization sensitivity (2ln(BF) > 6), a subset of which were experimentally confirmed using site-directed mutagenesis. Conclusions: Our results provide strong support for the use of evolutionary models applied to cross-sectional viral neutralization data to identify the epitopes of serum antibodies that confer neutralization breadth.
Isolation of a human anti-HIV gp41 membrane proximal region neutralizing antibody by antigen-specific single B cell sorting.
(Plos., 2011) Morris, Lynn.; Chen, Xi.; Alam, Shabnam Munir.; Tomaras, Georgia D.; Zhang, Ruijun.; Marshall, Dawn J.; Chen, Bing.; Parks, Robert J.; Foulger, Andrew.; Jaeger, Frederick H.; Donathan, Michele.; Bilska, Mira.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Kepler, Thomas B.; Whitesides, John.; Montefiori, David Charles.; Moody, Michael Anthony.; Liao, Hua-Xin.; Haynes, Barton F.
Broadly neutralizing antibodies are not commonly produced in HIV-1 infected individuals nor by experimental HIV-1 vaccines. When these antibodies do occur, it is important to be able to isolate and characterize them to provide clues for vaccine design. CAP206 is a South African subtype C HIV-1-infected individual previously shown to have broadly neutralizing plasma antibodies targeting the envelope gp41 distal membrane proximal external region (MPER). We have now used a fluoresceinated peptide tetramer antigen with specific cell sorting to isolate a human neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the HIV-1 envelope gp41 MPER. The isolated recombinant mAb, CAP206-CH12, utilized a portion of the distal MPER (HXB2 amino acid residues, 673–680) and neutralized a subset of HIV-1 pseudoviruses sensitive to CAP206 plasma antibodies. Interestingly, this mAb was polyreactive and used the same germ-line variable heavy (VH1-69) and variable kappa light chain (VK3-20) gene families as the prototype broadly neutralizing anti-MPER mAb, 4E10 (residues 672–680). These data indicate that there are multiple immunogenic targets in the C-terminus of the MPER of HIV-1 gp41 envelope and suggests that gp41 neutralizing epitopes may interact with a restricted set of naive B cells during HIV-1 infection.
Isolation of a Monoclonal Antibody That Targets the Alpha-2 Helix of gp120 and Represents the Initial Autologous Neutralizing-Antibody Response in an HIV-1 Subtype C-Infected Individual.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2011) Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Moody, Michael Anthony.; Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Chen, Xi.; Marshall, Dawn J.; Amos, Joshua.; Moore, Penelope L.; Foulger, Andrew.; Yu, Jae-Sung.; Lambson, Bronwen Elizabeth.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Whitesides, John.; Tomaras, Georgia D.; Haynes, Barton F.; Morris, Lynn.; Liao, Hua-Xin.
The C3-V4 region is a major target of autologous neutralizing antibodies in HIV-1 subtype C infection. We previously identified a Center for AIDS Program of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) participant, CAP88, who developed a potent neutralizing-antibody response within 3 months of infection that targeted an epitope in the C3 region of the HIV-1 envelope (P. L. Moore et al., PLoS Pathog. 5:e1000598, 2009). Here we showed that these type-specific antibodies could be adsorbed using recombinant gp120 from the transmitted/founder virus from CAP88 but not by gp120 made from other isolates. Furthermore, this activity could be depleted using a chimeric gp120 protein that contained only the C3 region from the CAP88 viral envelope engrafted onto the unrelated CAP63 viral envelope (called 63-88C3). On the basis of this, a differential sorting of memory B cells was performed using gp120s made from 63-88C3 and CAP63 labeled with different fluorochromes as positive and negative probes, respectively. This strategy resulted in the isolation of a highly specific monoclonal antibody (MAb), called CAP88-CH06, that neutralized the CAP88 transmitted/founder virus and viruses from acute infection but was unable to neutralize CAP88 viruses isolated at 6 and 12 months postinfection. The latter viruses contained 2 amino acid changes in the alpha-2 helix of C3 that mediated escape from this MAb. One of these changes involved the introduction of an N-linked glycan at position 339 that occluded the epitope, while the other mutation (either E343K or E350K) was a charge change. Our data validate the use of differential sorting to isolate a MAb targeting a specific epitope in the envelope glycoprotein and provided insights into the mechanisms of autologous neutralization escape.
Limited Neutralizing Antibody Specificities Drive Neutralization Escape in Early HIV-1 Subtype C Infection.
(Plos, 2009) Moore, Penelope L.; Ranchobe, Nthabeleng.; Lambson, Bronwen Elizabeth.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Cave, Eleanor.; Abrahams, Melissa-Rose.; Bandawe, Gama P.; Mlisana, Koleka Patience.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Morris, Lynn.
We previously showed that HIV-1 subtype C viruses elicit potent but highly type-specific neutralizing antibodies (nAb) within the first year of infection. In order to determine the specificity and evolution of these autologous nAbs, we examined neutralization escape in four individuals whose responses against the earliest envelope differed in magnitude and potency. Neutralization escape occurred in all participants, with later viruses showing decreased sensitivity to contemporaneous sera, although they retained sensitivity to new nAb responses. Early nAb responses were very restricted, occurring sequentially and targeting only two regions of the envelope. In V1V2, limited amino acid changes often involving indels or glycans, mediated partial or complete escape, with nAbs targeting the V1V2 region directly in 2 cases. The alpha-2 helix of C3 was also a nAb target, with neutralization escape associated with changes to positively charged residues. In one individual, relatively high titers of anti-C3 nAbs were required to drive genetic escape, taking up to 7 weeks for the resistant variant to predominate. Thereafter titers waned but were still measurable. Development of this single anti-C3 nAb specificity was associated with a 7-fold drop in HIV-1 viral load and a 4-fold rebound as the escape mutation emerged. Overall, our data suggest the development of a very limited number of neutralizing antibody specificities during the early stages of HIV-1 subtype C infection, with temporal fluctuations in specificities as escape occurs. While the mechanism of neutralization escape appears to vary between individuals, the involvement of limited regions suggests there might be common vulnerabilities in the HIV-1 subtype C transmitted envelope.
Mannose-rich glycosylation patterns on HIV-1 subtype C gp120 and sensitivity to the lectins, Griffithsin, Cyanovirin-N and Scytovirin.
(Elsevier., 2010) Alexandre, Kabamba B.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Lambson, Bronwen Elizabeth.; Moore, Penelope L.; Choge, Isaac Ang'Ang'A.; Mlisana, Koleka Patience.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; McMahon, James.; O'Keefe, Barry.; Chikwamba, Rachel.; Morris, Lynn.
Griffithsin (GRFT), Cyanovirin-N (CV-N) and Scytovirin (SVN) are lectins that inhibit HIV-1 infection by binding to multiple mannose-rich glycans on the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env). Here we show that these lectins neutralize subtype C primary virus isolates in addition to Env-pseudotyped viruses obtained from plasma and cervical vaginal lavages. Among 15 subtype C pseudoviruses, the median IC50 values were 0.4, 1.8 and 20.1 nM for GRFT, CV-N and SVN, respectively, similar to what was found for subtype B and A. Analysis of Env sequences suggested that concomitant lack of glycans at positions 234 and 295 resulted in natural resistance to these compounds, which was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. Furthermore, the binding sites for these lectins overlapped that of the 2G12 monoclonal antibody epitope, which is generally absent on subtype C Env. This data support further research on these lectins as potential microbicides in the context of HIV-1 subtype C infection.
Multiple pathways of escape from HIV broadly cross-neutralizing V2-dependent antibodies.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2012) Moore, Penelope L.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Nonyane, Molati.; Ranchobe, Nthabeleng.; Hermanus, Tandile.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Morris, Lynn.
Broadly cross-neutralizing (BCN) antibodies are likely to be critical for an effective HIV vaccine. However, the ontogeny of such antibodies and their relationship with autologous viral evolution is unclear. Here, we characterized viral evolution in CAP256, a subtype C-infected individual who developed potent BCN antibodies targeting positions R166 and K169 in the V2 region. CAP256 was superinfected at 3 months postinfection with a virus that was highly sensitive to BCN V2-dependent monoclonal antibodies. The autologous neutralizing response in CAP256 was directed at V1V2, reaching extremely high titers (>1:40,000) against the superinfecting virus at 42 weeks, just 11 weeks prior to the development of the BCN response targeting the same region. Recombination between the primary and superinfecting viruses, especially in V2 and gp41, resulted in two distinct lineages by 4 years postinfection. Although neutralization of some CAP256 clones by plasma from as much as 2 years earlier suggested incomplete viral escape, nonetheless titers against later clones were reduced at least 40-fold to less than 1:1,000. Escape mutations were identified in each lineage, either at R166 or at K169, suggesting that strain-specific and BCN antibodies targeted overlapping epitopes. Furthermore, the early dependence of CAP256 neutralizing antibodies on the N160 glycan decreased with the onset of neutralization breadth, indicating a change in specificity. These data suggest rapid maturation, within 11 weeks, of CAP256 strain-specific antibodies to acquire breadth, with implications for the vaccine elicitation of BCN V2-dependent antibodies. Overall these studies demonstrate that ongoing viral escape is possible, even from BCN antibodies.
The Neutralization Breadth of HIV-1 Develops Incrementally over Four Years and Is Associated with CD4+ T Cell Decline and High Viral Load during Acute Infection.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2011) Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Madiga, Maphuti C.; Hermanus, Tandile.; Moore, Penelope L.; Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Tumba, Nancy Lola.; Werner, Lise.; Mlisana, Koleka Patience.; Sibeko, Sengeziwe.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Morris, Lynn.
An understanding of how broadly neutralizing activity develops in HIV-1-infected individuals is needed to guide vaccine design and immunization strategies. Here we used a large panel of 44 HIV-1 envelope variants (subtypes A, B, and C) to evaluate the presence of broadly neutralizing antibodies in serum samples obtained 3 years after seroconversion from 40 women enrolled in the CAPRISA 002 acute infection cohort. Seven of 40 participants had serum antibodies that neutralized more than 40% of viruses tested and were considered to have neutralization breadth. Among the samples with breadth, CAP257 serum neutralized 82% (36/44 variants) of the panel, while CAP256 serum neutralized 77% (33/43 variants) of the panel. Analysis of longitudinal samples showed that breadth developed gradually starting from year 2, with the number of viruses neutralized as well as the antibody titer increasing over time. Interestingly, neutralization breadth peaked at 4 years postinfection, with no increase thereafter. The extent of cross-neutralizing activity correlated with CD4+T cell decline, viral load, and CD4+T cell count at 6 months postinfection but not at later time points, suggesting that early events set the stage for the development of breadth. However, in a multivariate analysis, CD4 decline was the major driver of this association, as viral load was not an independent predictor of breadth. Mapping of the epitopes targeted by cross-neutralizing antibodies revealed that in one individual these antibodies recognized the membrane-proximal external region (MPER), while in two other individuals, cross-neutralizing activity was adsorbed by monomeric gp120 and targeted epitopes that involved the N-linked glycan at position 332 in the C3 region. Serum antibodies from the other four participants targeted quaternary epitopes, at least 2 of which were PG9/16-like and depended on the N160 and/or L165 residue in the V2 region. These data indicate that fewer than 20% of HIV-1 subtype C-infected individuals develop antibodies with cross-neutralizing activity after 3 years of infection and that these antibodies target different regions of the HIV-1 envelope, including as yet uncharacterized epitopes.
Neutralizing antibody responses in acute human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C infection.
(American society for Microbiology., 2007-03-22) Moore, Penelope L.; Decker, Julie M.; Bibollet-Ruche, F.; Li, Hui.; Leseka, N.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Choge, Isaac Ang'Ang'A.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Treurnicht, Florette K.; Mlisana, Koleka Patience.; Shaw, George M.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Morris, Lynn.
The study of the evolution and specificities of neutralizing antibodies during the course of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection may be important in the discovery of possible targets for vaccine design. In this study, we assessed the autologous and heterologous neutralization responses of 14 HIV-1 subtype C-infected individuals, using envelope clones obtained within the first 2 months postinfection. Our data show that potent but relatively strain-specific neutralizing antibodies develop within 3 to 12 months of HIV-1 infection. The magnitude of this response was associated with shorter V1-to-V5 envelope lengths and fewer glycosylation sites, particularly in the V1-V2 region. Anti-MPER antibodies were detected in 4 of 14 individuals within a year of infection, while antibodies to CD4-induced (CD4i) epitopes developed to high titers in 12 participants, in most cases before the development of autologous neutralizing antibodies. However, neither anti-MPER nor anti-CD4i antibody specificity conferred neutralization breadth. These data provide insights into the kinetics, potency, breadth, and epitope specificity of neutralizing antibody responses in acute HIV-1 subtype C infection.
Potent and Broad Neutralization of HIV-1 Subtype C by Plasma Antibodies Targeting a Quaternary Epitope Including Residues in the V2 Loop.
(American Society for Microbiology., 2010) Moore, Penelope L.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Madiga, Maphuti C.; Ranchobe, Nthabeleng.; Honnen, William J.; Nonyane, Molati.; Tumba, Nancy Lola.; Hermanus, Tandile.; Sibeko, Sengeziwe.; Mlisana, Koleka Patience.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Pinter, Abraham.; Morris, Lynn.; Lai, Zhong.
The targets of broadly cross-neutralizing (BCN) antibodies are of great interest in the HIV vaccine field. We have identified a subtype C HIV-1-superinfected individual, CAP256, with high-level BCN activity, and characterized the antibody specificity mediating breadth. CAP256 developed potent BCN activity peaking at 3 years postinfection, neutralizing 32 (76%) of 42 heterologous viruses, with titers of antibodies against some viruses exceeding 1:10,000. CAP256 showed a subtype bias, preferentially neutralizing subtype C and A viruses over subtype B viruses. CAP256 BCN serum targeted a quaternary epitope which included the V1V2 region. Further mapping identified residues F159, N160, L165, R166, D167, K169, and K171 (forming the FN/LRD-K-K motif) in the V2 region as crucial to the CAP256 epitope. However, the fine specificity of the BCN response varied over time and, while consistently dependent on R166 and K169, became gradually less dependent on D167 and K171, possibly contributing to the incremental increase in breadth over 4 years. The presence of an intact FN/LRD-K-K motif in heterologous viruses was associated with sensitivity, although the length of the adjacent V1 loop modulated the degree of sensitivity, with a shorter V1 region significantly associated with higher titers. Repair of the FN/LRD-K-K motif in resistant heterologous viruses conferred sensitivity, with titers sometimes exceeding 1:10,000. Comparison of the CAP256 epitope with that of the PG9/PG16 monoclonal antibodies suggested that these epitopes overlapped, adding to the mounting evidence that this may represent a common neutralization target that should be further investigated as a potential vaccine candidate.
South African HIV-1 subtype C transmitted variants with a specific V2 motif show higher dependence on α4β7 for replication.
(BioMed Central., 2015) Richardson, Simone I.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Mkhize, Nonhlanhla N.; Sheward, Daniel J.; Lambson, Bronwen Elizabeth.; Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Masson, Lindi.; Werner, Lise.; Garrett, Nigel Joel.; Passmore, Jo-Ann Shelley.; Abdool Karim, Quarraisha.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Moore, Penelope L.; Morris, Lynn.
Abstract available in pdf.
Viral escape from HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies drives increased plasma neutralization breadth through sequential recognition of multiple epitopes and immunotypes.
(Plos., 2013) Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt.; Bhiman, Jinal N.; Gray, Elin Solomonovna.; Tumba, Nancy Lola.; Abdool Karim, Salim Safurdeen.; Williamson, Carolyn.; Morris, Lynn.; Moore, Penelope L.
Identifying the targets of broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV-1 and understanding how these antibodies develop remain important goals in the quest to rationally develop an HIV-1 vaccine. We previously identified a participant in the CAPRISA Acute Infection Cohort (CAP257) whose plasma neutralized 84% of heterologous viruses. In this study we showed that breadth in CAP257 was largely due to the sequential, transient ppearance of three distinct broadly neutralizing antibody specificities spanning the first 4.5 years of infection. The first specificity targeted an epitope in the V2 region of gp120 that was also recognized by strain-specific antibodies 7 weeks earlier. Specificity for the autologous virus was determined largely by a rare N167 antigenic variant of V2, with viral escape to the more common D167 immunotype coinciding with the development of the first wave of broadly neutralizing antibodies. Escape from these broadly neutralizing V2 antibodies through deletion of the glycan at N160 was associated with exposure of an epitope in the CD4 binding site that became the target for a second wave of broadly neutralizing antibodies. Neutralization by these CD4 binding site antibodies was almost entirely dependent on the glycan at position N276. Early viral escape mutations in the CD4 binding site drove an increase in wave two neutralization breadth, as this second wave of heterologous neutralization matured to recognize multiple immunotypes within this site. The third wave targeted a quaternary epitope that did not overlap any of the four known sites of vulnerability on the HIV-1 envelope and remains undefined. Altogether this study showed that the human immune system is capable of generating multiple broadly neutralizing antibodies in response to a constantly evolving viral population that exposes new targets as a consequence of escape from earlier neutralizing antibodies.