Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) are the specialized CD4 T cells for B cell help and are limiting for GCs. We propose that the features of GC biology important for developing high affinity B cells to a very difficult epitope, such as a Tier 2 nAb epitope on HIV Env trimer, are very different than the well characterized features of GC biology for conventional antigens, such as haptens or even HIV gp120 V3 loop (a non-Tier 2 neutralizing epitope) for which a very small number of mutations (1-5 aa) suffice for maturation of high affinity B cells. Major limitations in our understanding of the biology of GCs to difficult antigens include (1) Is sustained exposure to antigen in GCs necessary for the extensive somatic hypermutation (SHM) associated with the generation of bnAbs? and (2) How much sequence space is explored by GCs in response to protein immunization, and how does that compare with the SHM seen in HIV Tier 2 neutralizing Abs? We will use novel slow release technologies as tools to probe the biology of germinal centers relevant to affinity maturation against a difficult HIV trimer immunogen in non-human primates (NHP, rhesus macaques).

Public Health Relevance

A broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb)-directed HIV vaccine is possible in concept, but exceptional immunological hurdles must be overcome to reach that goal. Major limitations in our understanding of the biology of GCs to difficult antigens include (1 'Is sustained exposure to antigen in GCs necessary for the extensive somatic hypermutation (SHM) associated with the generation of bnAbs?', and (2) 'How much sequence space is explored by GCs in response to protein immunization, and how does that compare with the SHM seen in HIV Tier 2 neutralizing Abs?' We will explore these questions in the context of a candidate HIV vaccine.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI125068-05
Application #
9859324
Study Section
HIV/AIDS Vaccines Study Section (VACC)
Program Officer
Malaspina, Angela
Project Start
2016-02-01
Project End
2021-01-31
Budget Start
2020-02-01
Budget End
2021-01-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
La Jolla Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
603880287
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
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Havenar-Daughton, Colin; Carnathan, Diane G; Torrents de la Peña, Alba et al. (2016) Direct Probing of Germinal Center Responses Reveals Immunological Features and Bottlenecks for Neutralizing Antibody Responses to HIV Env Trimer. Cell Rep 17:2195-2209
Havenar-Daughton, Colin; Reiss, Samantha M; Carnathan, Diane G et al. (2016) Cytokine-Independent Detection of Antigen-Specific Germinal Center T Follicular Helper Cells in Immunized Nonhuman Primates Using a Live Cell Activation-Induced Marker Technique. J Immunol 197:994-1002
Tam, Hok Hei; Melo, Mariane B; Kang, Myungsun et al. (2016) Sustained antigen availability during germinal center initiation enhances antibody responses to vaccination. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:E6639-E6648
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