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94 records · Page 6

Complementary antibody lineages achieve neutralization breadth in an HIV-1 infected elite neutralizer

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) have remarkable breadth and potency against most HIV-1 subtypes and are able to prevent HIV-1 infection in animal models. However, bNAbs are extremely difficult to induce by vaccination. Defining the developmental pathways towards neutralization breadth can assist in the design of strategies to elicit protective bNAb responses by vaccination. Here, HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env)-specific IgG + B cells were isolated at various time points post infection from an HIV-1 infected elite neutralizer to obtain monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Multiple antibody lineages were isolated targeting distinct epitopes on Env, including the gp120-gp41 interface, CD4-binding site, silent face and V3 region. The mAbs each neutralized a diverse set of HIV-1 strains from different clades indicating that the patient’s remarkable serum breadth and potency might have been the result of a polyclonal mixture rather than a single bNAb lineage. High-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of the neutralizing mAbs (NAbs) in complex with an Env trimer generated from the same individual revealed that the NAbs used multiple strategies to neutralize the virus; blocking the receptor binding site, binding to HIV-1 Env N-linked glycans, and disassembly of the trimer. These results show that diverse NAbs can complement each other to achieve a broad and potent neutralizing serum response in HIV-1 infected individuals. Hence, the induction of combinations of moderately broad NAbs might be a viable vaccine strategy to protect against a wide range of circulating HIV-1 viruses.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Multiscale affinity maturation simulations to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV

The design of vaccines against highly mutable pathogens, such as HIV and influenza, requires a detailed understanding of how the adaptive immune system responds to encountering multiple variant antigens (Ags). Here, we describe a multiscale model of B cell receptor (BCR) affinity maturation that employs actual BCR nucleotide sequences and treats BCR/Ag interactions in atomistic detail. We apply the model to simulate the maturation of a broadly neutralizing Ab (bnAb) against HIV. Starting from a germline precursor sequence of the VRC01 anti-HIV Ab, we simulate BCR evolution in response to different vaccination protocols and different Ags, which were previously designed by us. The simulation results provide qualitative guidelines for future vaccine design and reveal unique insights into bnAb evolution against the CD4 binding site of HIV. Our model makes possible direct comparisons of simulated BCR populations with results of deep sequencing data, which will be explored in future applications.

Conti, Simone (ORCID:000000017986567X)↗

Parallel Multi-Omics in High-Risk Subjects for the Identification of Integrated Biomarker Signatures of Type 1 Diabetes

Background: Biomarkers are crucial for detecting early type-1 diabetes (T1D) and preventing significant β-cell loss before the onset of clinical symptoms. Here, we present proof-of-concept studies to demonstrate the potential for identifying integrated biomarker signature(s) of T1D using parallel multi-omics. Methods: Blood from human subjects at high risk for T1D (and healthy controls; n = 4 + 4) was subjected to parallel unlabeled proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and transcriptomics. The integrated dataset was analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software for disturbances in the at-risk subjects compared to controls. Results: The final quadra-omics dataset contained 2292 proteins, 328 miRNAs, 75 metabolites, and 41 lipids that were detected in all samples without exception. Disease/function enrichment analyses consistently indicated increased activation, proliferation, and migration of CD4 T-lymphocytes and macrophages. Integrated molecular network predictions highlighted central involvement and activation of NF-κB, TGF-β, VEGF, arachidonic acid, and arginase, and inhibition of miRNA Let-7a-5p. IPA-predicted candidate biomarkers were used to construct a putative integrated signature containing several miRNAs and metabolite/lipid features in the at-risk subjects. Conclusions: Preliminary parallel quadra-omics provided a comprehensive picture of disturbances in high-risk T1D subjects and highlighted the potential for identifying associated integrated biomarker signatures. With further development and validation in larger cohorts, parallel multi-omics could ultimately facilitate the classification of T1D progressors from non-progressors.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Modeling HIV-1 Within-Host Dynamics After Passive Infusion of the Broadly Neutralizing Antibody VRC01

VRC01 is a broadly neutralizing antibody that targets the CD4 binding site of HIV-1 gp120. Passive administration of VRC01 in humans has assessed the safety and the effect on plasma viremia of this monoclonal antibody (mAb) in a phase 1 clinical trial. After VRC01 infusion, the plasma viral load in most of the participants was reduced but had particular dynamics not observed during antiretroviral therapy. In this paper, we introduce different mathematical models to explain the observed dynamics and fit them to the plasma viral load data. Based on the fitting results we argue that a model containing reversible Ab binding to virions and clearance of virus-VRC01 complexes by a two-step process that includes (1) saturable capture followed by (2) internalization/degradation by phagocytes, best explains the data. This model predicts that VRC01 may enhance the clearance of Ab-virus complexes, explaining the initial viral decay observed immediately after antibody infusion in some participants. Because Ab-virus complexes are assumed to be unable to infect cells, i.e., contain neutralized virus, the model predicts a longer-term viral decay consistent with that observed in the VRC01 treated participants. By assuming a homogeneous viral population sensitive to VRC01, the model provides good fits to all of the participant data. However, the fits are improved by assuming that there were two populations of virus, one more susceptible to antibody-mediated neutralization than the other.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗