Epitopes for broad and potent neutralizing antibody responses during chronic infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Virology. 2010 Jan 20;396(2):339-48. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.10.044. Epub 2009 Nov 17.

Abstract

Neutralizing antibody (nAb) response is sporadic and has limited potency and breadth during infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In rare cases, broad and potent nAbs are actually induced in vivo. Identifying specific epitopes targeted by such broad and potent nAb response is valuable in guiding the design of a prophylactic vaccine aimed to induce nAb. In this study, we have defined neutralizing epitope usage in 7 out of 17 subjects with broad and potent nAbs by using targeted mutagenesis in known neutralizing epitopes of HIV-1 glycoproteins and by using in vitro depletion of serum neutralizing activity by various recombinant HIV-1 glycoproteins. Consistent with recent reports, the CD4 binding site (CD4BS) is targeted by nAbs in vivo (4 of the 7 subjects with defined neutralizing epitopes). The new finding from this study is that epitopes in the gp120 outer domain are also targeted by nAbs in vivo (5 of the 7 subjects). The outer domain epitopes include glycan-dependent epitopes (2 subjects), conserved nonlinear epitope in the V3 region (2 subjects), and a CD4BS epitope composed mainly of the elements in the outer domain (1 subject). Importantly, we found indication for epitope poly-specificity, a dual usage of the V3 and CD4BS epitopes, in only one subject. This study provides a more complete profile of epitope usage for broad and potent nAb responses during HIV-1 infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • CD4 Antigens / immunology
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology*
  • HIV Antigens / immunology
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • CD4 Antigens
  • Epitopes
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Antigens
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • gp120 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1