Induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAb) against diverse isolates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains an unmet goal in AIDS vaccines research. Understanding the nature of the epitopes recognized by bNAb and the mechanisms by which such antibodies are generated are therefore of critical importance. Recent studies from Dr. L. Morris'lab in South Africa have identified a serum from a patient (CAP256), who possesses potent and broadly-reactive neutralizing activities for subtype C isolates. The key determinant of this reactivity maps to the V1V2 region and is likely to consist of highly discontinuous or quaternary structures. Similar structures may be targeted by novel monoclonal antibodies (MAb) characterized by several groups that also possess very potent neutralizing activities. The overall objective of this proposal is to develop macaque models to study the nature of the bNAb responses against the quaternary neutralizing epitopes (QNE) and factors that contribute to the generation of these antibodies. We hypothesize that antigenic stimulation in the context of infection by a replicating virus expressing QNE favors the generation of responses against these epitopes, and that repeated exposure by superinfection by viruses bearing related forms of such epitopes reinforces these responses: To test these hypotheses, we propose to adapt existing chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs) to express the V1V2 determinants of conserved QNEs and to test their infectivity and pathogenicity in macaques. The availability of such models would allow us to compare the immunogenicity of viruses expressing various forms of QNEs and to isolate Mab specific for these epitopes.
The Specific Aims of this Project are: (1) To determine the in vivo infectivity and immunogenicity of chimeric SHIV bearing the QNE of CAP256 and related isolates;(2) To examine superinfection by different QNE-bearing chimeras as an approach to enhance bNAb responses; and (3) To examine the evolution of envelope sequences in animals that develop differential responses against the QNE after SHIV infection. Results from these studies will provide further insight on the nature of the bNAb responses against HIV-1 and the design of novel immunogens to generate such responses

Public Health Relevance

major obstacle in AIDS vaccine research is the difficulty to generate broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV. Recent studies have identified a key target for such antibodies found in an HIV infected patient in South Africa. The goal of this Project is to develop a macaque model to study how these antibodies are generated. Results may provide insights on the nature of these antibodies and inform the design of effective vaccines

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
6P01AI088610-05
Application #
8710705
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-RB-A)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-02-28
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$1,281,787
Indirect Cost
$220,993
Name
Rutgers University
Department
Type
DUNS #
078795851
City
Newark
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
07103
Qualls, Zakiya M; Choudhary, Alok; Honnen, William et al. (2018) Identification of Novel Structural Determinants in MW965 Env That Regulate the Neutralization Phenotype and Conformational Masking Potential of Primary HIV-1 Isolates. J Virol 92:
Perez, Lautaro G; Martinez, David R; deCamp, Allan C et al. (2017) V1V2-specific complement activating serum IgG as a correlate of reduced HIV-1 infection risk in RV144. PLoS One 12:e0180720
Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt; Moore, Penny L; Morris, Lynn (2015) HIV broadly neutralizing antibody targets. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 10:135-43
Moore, Penny L; Williamson, Carolyn; Morris, Lynn (2015) Virological features associated with the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV-1. Trends Microbiol 23:204-11
Sheward, Daniel J; Ntale, Roman; Garrett, Nigel J et al. (2015) HIV-1 Superinfection Resembles Primary Infection. J Infect Dis 212:904-8
Salomon, Aidy; Krachmarov, Chavdar; Lai, Zhong et al. (2014) Specific sequences commonly found in the V3 domain of HIV-1 subtype C isolates affect the overall conformation of native Env and induce a neutralization-resistant phenotype independent of V1/V2 masking. Virology 448:363-74
Derdeyn, Cynthia A; Moore, Penny L; Morris, Lynn (2014) Development of broadly neutralizing antibodies from autologous neutralizing antibody responses in HIV infection. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 9:210-6
Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt; Bhiman, Jinal N; Gray, Elin S et al. (2013) Viral escape from HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies drives increased plasma neutralization breadth through sequential recognition of multiple epitopes and immunotypes. PLoS Pathog 9:e1003738
Sethi, Anurag; Tian, Jianhui; Derdeyn, Cynthia A et al. (2013) A mechanistic understanding of allosteric immune escape pathways in the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein. PLoS Comput Biol 9:e1003046
Murphy, Megan K; Yue, Ling; Pan, Ruimin et al. (2013) Viral escape from neutralizing antibodies in early subtype A HIV-1 infection drives an increase in autologous neutralization breadth. PLoS Pathog 9:e1003173

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