Mapping the immunogenic landscape of near-native HIV-1 envelope trimers in non-human primates

PLoS Pathog. 2020 Aug 31;16(8):e1008753. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008753. eCollection 2020 Aug.

Abstract

The induction of broad and potent immunity by vaccines is the key focus of research efforts aimed at protecting against HIV-1 infection. Soluble native-like HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins have shown promise as vaccine candidates as they can induce potent autologous neutralizing responses in rabbits and non-human primates. In this study, monoclonal antibodies were isolated and characterized from rhesus macaques immunized with the BG505 SOSIP.664 trimer to better understand vaccine-induced antibody responses. Our studies reveal a diverse landscape of antibodies recognizing immunodominant strain-specific epitopes and non-neutralizing neo-epitopes. Additionally, we isolated a subset of mAbs against an epitope cluster at the gp120-gp41 interface that recognize the highly conserved fusion peptide and the glycan at position 88 and have characteristics akin to several human-derived broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / genetics
  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / immunology
  • Epitope Mapping*
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • HIV Antibodies / genetics
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / genetics
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Protein Multimerization / genetics
  • Protein Multimerization / immunology

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Epitopes
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41
  • gp120 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • gp41 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1