Direct antibody access to the HIV-1 membrane-proximal external region positively correlates with neutralization sensitivity

On the prereceptor-engaged HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike, epitope access by the membrane-proximal external region (MPER)-directed broadly neutralizing antibodies 2F5 and 4E10 remains unresolved. Data on binding to cell surface Env and entry data using primary isolates suggest inaccessibility of the 2F5 and 4E10 epitopes on the viral spike prior to receptor engagement, but trimer gel shift analysis and slow kinetics of shedding induced by 2F5 and 4E10 indicate otherwise. Therefore, it remains unclear if the epitopes themselves are formed in their antibody-bound state (or at least sampled) prior to receptor/coreceptor engagement or if receptor interactions both expose and form the MPER epitopes, presumably in the putative prefusion transitional intermediate. Here, we performed antibody-virus "washout experiments" using both lab-adapted and a panel of clade B primary isolates to analyze MPER accessibility. The neutralization activity of 2F5 and 4E10 against lab-adapted viruses and sensitive and moderately resistant viruses was largely unaffected by relatively rapid antibody-virus washing, suggesting direct interaction with the "static" spike. However, for more neutralization-resistant viruses, the 2F5 and 4E10 antibodies could neutralize only under the "no antibody-virus wash" conditions, implying that the MPER epitopes were not accessible prior to receptor engagement. Accessibility in the washout conditions could be precisely predicted by the relative resistance to neutralization in a standard neutralization format. These data are consistent with a model in which the local MPER antibody epitope conformations may be sampled on the native spike but are occluded to antibody by local steric or distal quaternary constraints adopted by highly resistant HIV-1 isolates.     

Antibody to gp41 MPER Alters Functional Properties of HIV-1 Env without Complete Neutralization

Human antibody 10E8 targets the conserved membrane proximal external region (MPER) of envelope glycoprotein (Env) subunit gp41 and neutralizes HIV-1 with exceptional potency. Remarkably, HIV-1 containing mutations that reportedly knockout 10E8 binding to linear MPER peptides are partially neutralized by 10E8, producing a local plateau in the dose response curve. Here, we found that virus partially neutralized by 10E8 becomes significantly less neutralization sensitive to various MPER antibodies and to soluble CD4 while becoming significantly more sensitive to antibodies and fusion inhibitors against the heptad repeats of gp41. Thus, 10E8 modulates sensitivity of Env to ligands both pre- and post-receptor engagement without complete neutralization. Partial neutralization by 10E8 was influenced at least in part by perturbing Env glycosylation. With unliganded Env, 10E8 bound with lower apparent affinity and lower subunit occupancy to MPER mutant compared to wild type trimers. However, 10E8 decreased functional stability of wild type Env while it had an opposite, stabilizing effect on MPER mutant Envs. Clade C isolates with natural MPER polymorphisms also showed partial neutralization by 10E8 with altered sensitivity to various gp41-targeted ligands. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism of virus neutralization by demonstrating how antibody binding to the base of a trimeric spike cross talks with adjacent subunits to modulate Env structure and function. The ability of an antibody to stabilize, destabilize, partially neutralize as well as alter neutralization sensitivity of a virion spike pre- and post-receptor engagement may have implications for immunotherapy and vaccine design.     

Envelope deglycosylation enhances antigenicity of HIV-1 gp41 epitopes for both broad neutralizing antibodies and their unmutated ancestor antibodies

The HIV-1 gp41 envelope (Env) membrane proximal external region (MPER) is an important vaccine target that in rare subjects can elicit neutralizing antibodies. One mechanism proposed for rarity of MPER neutralizing antibody generation is lack of reverted unmutated ancestor (putative naive B cell receptor) antibody reactivity with HIV-1 envelope. We have studied the effect of partial deglycosylation under non-denaturing (native) conditions on gp140 Env antigenicity for MPER neutralizing antibodies and their reverted unmutated ancestor antibodies. We found that native deglycosylation of clade B JRFL gp140 as well as group M consensus gp140 Env CON-S selectively increased the reactivity of Env with the broad neutralizing human mAbs, 2F5 and 4E10. Whereas fully glycosylated gp140 Env either did not bind (JRFL), or weakly bound (CON-S), 2F5 and 4E10 reverted unmutated ancestors, natively deglycosylated JRFL and CON-S gp140 Envs did bind well to these putative mimics of naive B cell receptors. These data predict that partially deglycoslated Env would bind better than fully glycosylated Env to gp41-specific naïve B cells with improved immunogenicity. In this regard, immunization of rhesus macaques demonstrated enhanced immunogenicity of the 2F5 MPER epitope on deglyosylated JRFL gp140 compared to glycosylated JRFL gp140. Thus, the lack of 2F5 and 4E10 reverted unmutated ancestor binding to gp140 Env may not always be due to lack of unmutated ancestor antibody reactivity with gp41 peptide epitopes, but rather, may be due to glycan interference of binding of unmutated ancestor antibodies of broad neutralizing mAb to Env gp41.     

The broadly neutralizing anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 4E10 monoclonal antibody is better adapted to membrane-bound epitope recognition and blocking than 2F5

The broadly neutralizing 2F5 and 4E10 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) recognize epitopes within the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) that connects the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope gp41 ectodomain with the transmembrane anchor. By adopting different conformations that stably insert into the virion external membrane interface, such as helical structures, a conserved aromatic-rich sequence within the MPER is thought to participate in HIV-1-cell fusion. Recent experimental evidence suggests that the neutralizing activity of 2F5 and 4E10 might correlate with the MAbs' capacity to recognize epitopes inserted into the viral membrane, thereby impairing MPER fusogenic activity. To gain new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying viral neutralization by these antibodies, we have compared the capacities of 2F5 and 4E10 to block the membrane-disorganizing activity of MPER peptides inserted into the surface bilayer of solution-diffusing unilamellar vesicles. Both MAbs inhibited leakage of vesicular aqueous contents (membrane permeabilization) and intervesicular lipid mixing (membrane fusion) promoted by MPER-derived peptides. Thus, our data support the idea that antibody binding to a membrane-inserted epitope may interfere with the function of the MPER during gp41-induced fusion. Antibody insertion into a cholesterol-containing, uncharged virion-like membrane is mediated by specific epitope recognition, and moreover, partitioning-coupled folding into a helix reduces the efficiency of 2F5 MAb binding to its epitope in the membrane. We conclude that the capacity to interfere with the membrane activity of conserved MPER sequences is best correlated with the broad neutralization of the 4E10 MAb.     

Association of enhanced HIV-1 neutralization by a single Y681H substitution in gp41 with increased gp120-CD4 interaction and macrophage infectivity

HIV-1 variants that show unusual sensitivity to autologous antibodies due to presence of critical neutralization signatures would likely contribute towards rational envelope based HIV-1 vaccine design. In the present study, we found that presence of a naturally occurring H681 in gp41 membrane proximal external region (MPER) of a clade C envelope (Env) obtained from a recently infected Indian patient conferred increased sensitivity to autologous and heterologous plasma antibodies. Furthermore, Env-pseudotyped viruses expressing H681 showed increased sensitivity to soluble CD4, b12 and 4E10 monoclonal antibodies both in related and unrelated Envs and was corroborated with increased Env susceptibility and binding to cellular CD4 as well as with prolonged exposure of MPER epitopes. The increased gp120-CD4 interaction was further associated with relative exposure of CD4-induced epitopes and macrophage infectivity. In summary, our data indicate that Y681H substitution exposes neutralizing epitopes in CD4bs and MPER towards comprehensive interference in HIV-1 entry.     

4E10-resistant variants in a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C-infected individual with an anti-membrane-proximal external region-neutralizing antibody response

The broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) 4E10 recognizes a linear epitope in the C terminus of the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of gp41. This epitope is particularly attractive for vaccine design because it is highly conserved among human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains and neutralization escape in vivo has not been observed. Multiple env genes were cloned from an HIV-1 subtype C virus isolated from a 7-year-old perinatally infected child who had anti-MPER neutralizing antibodies. One clone (TM20.13) was resistant to 4E10 neutralization as a result of an F673L substitution in the MPER. Frequency analysis showed that F673L was present in 33% of the viral variants and in all cases was linked to the presence of an intact 2F5 epitope. Two other envelope clones were sensitive to 4E10 neutralization, but TM20.5 was 10-fold less sensitive than TM20.6. Substitutions at positions 674 and 677 within the MPER rendered TM20.5 more sensitive to 4E10 but had no effect on TM20.6. Using chimeric and mutant constructs of these two variants, we further demonstrated that the lentivirus lytic peptide-2 domain in the cytoplasmic tail affected the accessibility of the 4E10 epitope, as well as virus infectivity. Collectively, these genetic changes in the face of a neutralizing antibody response to the MPER strongly suggested immune escape from antibody responses targeting this region.     

Anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antibodies 2F5 and 4E10 require surprisingly few crucial residues in the membrane-proximal external region of glycoprotein gp41 to neutralize HIV-1

The conserved membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 is a target of two broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies, 2F5 and 4E10, and is an important lead for vaccine design. However, immunogens that bear MPER epitopes so far have not elicited neutralizing antibodies in laboratory animals. One explanation is that the immunogens fail to recreate the proper molecular environment in which the epitopes of 2F5 and 4E10 are presented on the virus. To explore this molecular environment, we used alanine-scanning mutagenesis across residues 660 to 680 in the MPER of a pseudotyped variant of HIV-1(JR-FL), designated HIV-1(JR2), and examined the ability of 2F5 and 4E10 to neutralize the Ala mutant viruses. The results show that the only changes to produce neutralization resistance to 2F5 occurred in residue D, K, or W of the core epitope (LELDKWANL). Likewise, 4E10 resistance arose by replacing one of three residues; two (W and F) were in the core epitope, and one (W) was seven residues C-terminal to these two (NWFDISNWLW). Importantly, no single substitution resulted in resistance of virus to both 2F5 and 4E10. Surprisingly, 8 out of 21 MPER Ala mutants were more sensitive than the parental pseudovirus to 2F5 and/or 4E10. At most, only small differences in neutralization sensitivity to anti-gp120 monoclonal antibody b12 and peptide T20 were observed with the MPER Ala mutant pseudoviruses. These data suggest that MPER substitutions can act locally and enhance the neutralizing activity of antibodies to this region and imply a distinct role of the MPER of gp41 during HIV-1 envelope-mediated fusion. Neutralization experiments showing synergy between and T20 and 4E10 against HIV-1 are also presented. The data presented may aid in the design of antigens that better present the MPER of gp41 to the immune system.     

4E10-Resistant HIV-1 Isolated from Four Subjects with Rare Membrane-Proximal External Region Polymorphisms

Human antibody 4E10 targets the highly conserved membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the HIV-1 transmembrane glycoprotein, gp41, and has extraordinarily broad neutralizing activity. It is considered by many to be a prototype for vaccine development. In this study, we describe four subjects infected with viruses carrying rare MPER polymorphisms associated with resistance to 4E10 neutralization. In one case resistant virus carrying a W680G substitution was transmitted from mother to infant. We used site-directed mutagenesis to demonstrate that the W680G substitution is necessary for conferring the 4E10-resistant phenotype, but that it is not sufficient to transfer the phenotype to a 4E10-sensitive Env. Our third subject carried Envs with a W680R substitution causing variable resistance to 4E10, indicating that residues outside the MPER are required to confer the phenotype. A fourth subject possessed a F673L substitution previously associated with 4E10 resistance. For all three subjects with W680 polymorphisms, we observed additional residues in the MPER that co-varied with position 680 and preserved charged distributions across this region. Our data provide important caveats for vaccine development targeting the MPER. Naturally occurring Env variants described in our study also represent unique tools for probing the structure-function of HIV-1 envelope.     

Broad and potent neutralizing antibody responses elicited in natural HIV-2 infection

Compared with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), little is known about the susceptibility of HIV-2 to antibody neutralization. We characterized the potency and breadth of neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses in 64 subjects chronically infected with HIV-2 against three primary HIV-2 strains: HIV-2(7312A), HIV-2(ST), and HIV-2(UC1). Surprisingly, we observed in a single-cycle JC53bl-13/TZM-bl virus entry assay median reciprocal 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) NAb titers of 1.7 × 10(5), 2.8 × 10(4), and 3.3 × 10(4), respectively. A subset of 5 patient plasma samples tested against a larger panel of 17 HIV-2 strains where the extracellular gp160 domain was substituted into the HIV-2(7312A) proviral backbone showed potent neutralization of all but 4 viruses. The specificity of antibody neutralization was confirmed using IgG purified from patient plasma, HIV-2 Envs cloned by single-genome amplification, viruses grown in human CD4(+) T cells and tested for neutralization sensitivity on human CD4(+) T target cells, and, as negative controls, env-minus viruses pseudotyped with HIV-1, vesicular stomatitis virus, or murine leukemia virus Env glycoproteins. Human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for HIV-2 V3 (6.10F), V4 (1.7A), CD4 binding site (CD4bs; 6.10B), CD4 induced (CD4i; 1.4H), and membrane-proximal external region (MPER; 4E10) epitopes potently neutralized the majority of 32 HIV-2 strains bearing Envs from 13 subjects. Patient antibodies competed with V3, V4, and CD4bs MAbs for binding to monomeric HIV-2 gp120 at titers that correlated significantly with NAb titers. HIV-2 MPER antibodies did not contribute to neutralization breadth or potency. These findings indicate that HIV-2 Env is highly immunogenic in natural infection, that high-titer broadly neutralizing antibodies are commonly elicited, and that unlike HIV-1, native HIV-2 Env trimers expose multiple broadly cross-reactive epitopes readily accessible to NAbs.     

Nef enhances human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infectivity resulting from intervirion fusion: evidence supporting a role for Nef at the virion envelope

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accessory protein Nef stimulates viral infectivity by facilitating an early event in the HIV-1 life cycle. Although no structural or biochemical defects in Nef-defective HIV-1 particles have been demonstrated, the Nef protein is incorporated into HIV-1 particles. To localize the function of Nef within the virus particle, we developed a novel technology involving fusion of enveloped donor HIV-1 particles bearing core defects with envelope-defective target virions bearing HIV-1 receptors. Although neither virus alone was capable of infecting CD4(+) target cells, the incubation of donor and target virions prior to addition to target cells resulted in infection. This effect, termed "virion transcomplementation," required a functional Env protein on the donor virus and CD4 and an appropriate coreceptor on target virions. To provide evidence for intervirion fusion as the mechanism of complementation, experiments were performed using dual-enveloped HIV-1 particles bearing both HIV-1 and ecotropic murine leukemia virus (E-MLV) Env proteins as donor virions. Infection of CD4-negative target cells bearing E-MLV receptors was prevented by HIV-1 entry inhibitors when added before, but not after, incubation of donor and target virions prior to the addition to cells. When we used Nef(+) and Nef(-) donor and target virions, Nef enhanced infection when present in donor virions. In contrast, no effect of Nef was detected when present in the target virus. These results reveal a potential mechanism for enhancing HIV-1 diversity in vivo through the rescue of defective viral genomes and provide a novel genetic system for the functional analysis of virion-associated proteins in HIV-1 infection.     

Targeting antibody responses to the membrane proximal external region of the envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus

Although human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) infection induces strong antibody responses to the viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) only a few of these antibodies possess the capacity to neutralize a broad range of strains. The induction of such antibodies represents an important goal in the development of a preventive vaccine against the infection. Among the broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies discovered so far, three (2F5, Z13 and 4E10) target the short and hidden membrane proximal external region (MPER) of the gp41 transmembrane protein. Antibody responses to MPER are rarely observed in HIV-infected individuals or after immunization with Env immunogens. To initiate antibody responses to MPER in its membrane-embedded native conformation, we generated expression plasmids encoding the membrane-anchored ectodomain of gp41 with N-terminal deletions of various sizes. Following transfection of these plasmids, the MPER domains are displayed on the cell surface and incorporated into HIV virus like particles (VLP). Transfected cells displaying MPER mutants bound as efficiently to both 2F5 and 4E10 as cells transfected with a plasmid encoding full-length Env. Mice immunized with VLPs containing the MPER mutants produced MPER-specific antibodies, the levels of which could be increased by the trimerization of the displayed proteins as well as by a DNA prime-VLP boost immunization strategy. Although 2F5 competed for binding to MPER with antibodies in sera of some of the immunized mice, neutralizing activity could not be detected. Whether this is due to inefficient binding of the induced antibodies to MPER in the context of wild type Env or whether the overall MPER-specific antibody response induced by the MPER display mutants is too low to reveal neutralizing activity, remains to be determined.     

Nef can enhance the infectivity of receptor-pseudotyped human immunodeficiency virus type 1 particles

Nef is an accessory protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) that enhances the infectivity of progeny virions when expressed in virus-producing cells. The requirement for Nef for optimal infectivity is, at least in part, determined by the envelope (Env) glycoprotein, because it can be eliminated by pseudotyping HIV-1 particles with pH-dependent Env proteins. To investigate the role of Env in the function of Nef, we have examined the effect of Nef on the infectivity of Env-deficient HIV-1 particles pseudotyped with viral receptors for cells expressing cognate Env proteins. We found that Nef significantly enhances the infectivity of CD4-chemokine receptor pseudotypes for cells expressing HIV-1 Env. Nef also increased the infectivity of HIV-1 particles pseudotyped with Tva, the receptor for subgroup A Rous sarcoma virus (RSV-A), even though Nef had no effect if the pH-dependent Env protein of RSV-A was used for pseudotyping. However, Nef does not always enhance viral infectivity if the normal orientation of the Env-receptor interaction is reversed, because the entry of Env-deficient HIV-1 into cells expressing the vesicular stomatitis virus G protein was unaffected by Nef. Together, our results demonstrate that the presence of a viral Env protein during virus production is not required for the ability of Nef to increase viral infectivity. Furthermore, since the infectivity of Tva pseudotypes was blocked by inhibitors of endosomal acidification, we conclude that low-pH-dependent entry does not always bypass the requirement for Nef.     

Binding of anti-membrane-proximal gp41 monoclonal antibodies to CD4-liganded and -unliganded human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and simian immunodeficiency virus virions

The broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 4E10, 2F5, and Z13e1 target membrane-proximal external region (MPER) epitopes of HIV-1 gp41 in a manner that remains controversial. The requirements for initial lipid bilayer binding and/or CD4 ligation have been proposed. To further investigate these issues, we probed for binding of these MAbs to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) virions with protein A-conjugated gold (PAG) nanoparticles using negative-stain electron microscopy. We found moderate levels of PAG associated with unliganded HIV-1 and SIV virions incubated with the three MAbs. Significantly higher levels of PAG were associated with CD4-liganded HIV-1 (epitope-positive) but not SIV (epitope-negative) virions. A chimeric SIV virion displaying the HIV-1 4E10 epitope also showed significantly higher PAG association after CD4 ligation and incubation with 4E10. MAbs accumulated rapidly on CD4-liganded virions and slowly on unliganded virions, although both reached similar levels in time. Anti-MPER epitope-specific binding was stable to washout. Virions incubated with an irrelevant MAb or CD4-only (no MAb) showed negligible PAG association, as did a vesicle-rich fraction devoid of virions. Preincubation with Fab 4E10 inhibited both specific and nonspecific 4E10 IgG binding. Our data provide evidence for moderate association of anti-MPER MAbs to viral surfaces but not lipid vesicles, even in the absence of cognate epitopes. Significantly greater MAb interaction occurs in epitope-positive virions following long incubation or CD4 ligation. These findings are consistent with a two-stage binding model where these anti-MPER MAbs bind first to the viral lipid bilayer and then to the MPER epitopes following spontaneous or induced exposure.     

Induction of antibodies in rhesus macaques that recognize a fusion-intermediate conformation of HIV-1 gp41

A component to the problem of inducing broad neutralizing HIV-1 gp41 membrane proximal external region (MPER) antibodies is the need to focus the antibody response to the transiently exposed MPER pre-hairpin intermediate neutralization epitope. Here we describe a HIV-1 envelope (Env) gp140 oligomer prime followed by MPER peptide-liposomes boost strategy for eliciting serum antibody responses in rhesus macaques that bind to a gp41 fusion intermediate protein. This Env-liposome immunization strategy induced antibodies to the 2F5 neutralizing epitope ⁶⁶⁴DKW residues, and these antibodies preferentially bound to a gp41 fusion intermediate construct as well as to MPER scaffolds stabilized in the 2F5-bound conformation. However, no serum lipid binding activity was observed nor was serum neutralizing activity for HIV-1 pseudoviruses present. Nonetheless, the Env-liposome prime-boost immunization strategy induced antibodies that recognized a gp41 fusion intermediate protein and was successful in focusing the antibody response to the desired epitope.     

An affinity-enhanced neutralizing antibody against the membrane-proximal external region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 recognizes an epitope between those of 2F5 and 4E10

The membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 bears the epitopes of two broadly neutralizing antibodies (Abs), 2F5 and 4E10, making it a target for vaccine design. A third Ab, Fab Z13, had previously been mapped to an epitope that overlaps those of 2F5 and 4E10 but only weakly neutralizes a limited set of primary isolates. Here, libraries of Fab Z13 variants displayed on phage were engineered and affinity selected against an MPER peptide and recombinant gp41. A high-affinity variant, designated Z13e1, was isolated and found to be approximately 100-fold improved over the parental Fab not only in binding affinity for the MPER antigens but also in neutralization potency against sensitive HIV-1. Alanine scanning of MPER residues 664 to 680 revealed that N671 and D674 are crucial for peptide recognition as well as for the neutralization of HIV-1 by Z13e1. Ab competition studies and truncation of MPER peptides indicate that Z13e1 binds with high affinity to an epitope between and overlapping with those of 2F5 and 4E10, with the minimal peptide epitope WASLWNWFDITN. Still, Z13e1 remained about an order of magnitude less potent than 4E10 against several isolates of pseudotyped HIV-1. The sum of our molecular analyses with Z13e1 suggests that the segment on the MPER of gp41 between the 2F5 and 4E10 epitopes is exposed on the functional envelope trimer but that access to the specific Z13e1 epitope within this segment is limited. Thus, the ability of MPER-bearing immunogens to elicit potent HIV-1-neutralizing Abs may depend in part on recapitulating the particular constraints that the functional envelope trimer imposes on the segment of the MPER to which Z13e1 binds.     

N-terminal residues of an HIV-1 gp41 membrane-proximal external region antigen influence broadly neutralizing 2F5-like antibodies

The Human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1) gp41 membrane proximal external region(MPER) is targeted by broadly neutralizing antibodies(e.g. 2F5, 4E10, Z13 e and m66.6), which makes this region a promising target for vaccine design. One strategy to elicit neutralizing antibodies against the MPER epitope is to design peptide immunogens mimicking neutralization structures. To probe 2F5-like neutralizing antibodies, two yeast-displayed antibody libraries from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a HIV-1 patient were screened against the 2F5 epitope peptide SP62. Two 2F5-like antibodies were identified that specifically recognized SP62. However,these antibodies only weakly neutralized HIV-1 primary isolates. The epitopes recognized by these two 2F5-like antibodies include not only the 2F5 epitope(amino acids(aa) 662–667 in the MPER)but also several other residues(aa 652–655) locating at the N-terminus in SP62. Experimental results suggest that residues of SP62 adjacent to the 2F5 epitope influence the response of broadly neutralizing 2F5-like antibodies in vaccination. Our findings may aid the design of vaccine immunogens and development of therapeutics against HIV-1 infection.     

Stoichiometry of Monoclonal Antibody Neutralization of T-Cell Line-Adapted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

In order to study the stoichiometry of monoclonal antibody (MAb) neutralization of T-cell line-adapted human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in antibody excess and under equilibrium conditions, we exploited the ability of HIV-1 to generate mixed oligomers when different env genes are coexpressed. By the coexpression of Env glycoproteins that either can or cannot bind a neutralizing MAb in an env transcomplementation assay, virions were generated in which the proportion of MAb binding sites could be regulated. As the proportion of MAb binding sites in Env chimeric virus increased, MAb neutralization gradually increased. Virus neutralization by virion aggregation was minimal, as MAb binding to HIV-1 Env did not interfere with an AMLV Env-mediated infection by HIV-1(AMLV/HIV-1) pseudotypes of CD4(-) HEK293 cells. MAb neutralization of chimeric virions could be described as a third-order function of the proportion of Env antigen refractory to MAb binding. This scenario is consistent with the Env oligomer constituting the minimal functional unit and neutralization occurring incrementally as each Env oligomer binds MAb. Alternatively, the data could be fit to a sigmoid function. Thus, these data could not exclude the existence of a threshold for neutralization. However, results from MAb neutralization of chimeric virus containing wild-type Env and Env defective in CD4 binding was readily explained by a model of incremental MAb neutralization. In summary, the data indicate that MAb neutralization of T-cell line-adapted HIV-1 is incremental rather than all or none and that each MAb binding an Env oligomer reduces the likelihood of infection.     

The membrane-proximal tyrosine-based sorting signal of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 is required for optimal viral infectivity

The membrane-proximal tyrosine-based sorting motif in the cytoplasmic domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Env glycoprotein is important for endocytosis from the plasma membrane, basolateral targeting of viral budding in polarized epithelial cells, and polarized budding from a localized region of the lymphocyte plasma membrane. To study the role of the Env sorting motif (Y712XXL) in infectivity, the incorporation of Env into virions, and viral entry, we disrupted the motif with a tyrosine-to-alanine substitution. To investigate the relationship between the Env sorting motif and the enhancement of infectivity by Nef, the EnvY712A substitution was made in both Nef-positive and Nef-negative backgrounds. In spreading infections, including those using primary lymphocytes, the growth of the Y712A mutant was as impaired as Nef-negative virus, and the EnvY712A/Delta-Nef combination mutant was almost completely defective. In single-round infections using CD4-positive HeLa cells, the EnvY712A mutation impaired infectivity, and Nef retained the ability to enhance the infectivity in the context of EnvY712A. EnvY712 and Nef were required for the optimal infectivity of virions produced from either HEK293T or MT4 cells, but these sequences were required for the optimal incorporation of Env only when virions were produced from MT4 cells. Despite the wild-type levels of Env in viruses produced from 293T cells, the entry of the EnvY712A and Delta-Nef mutants into target cells was impaired. We conclude that the membrane-proximal tyrosine-based sorting motif of gp41 Env is, like Nef, important for optimal viral infectivity and, in the case of MT4 T cells, virion incorporation of Env. Nef does not require the Y712XXL motif to enhance viral infectivity. The finding that EnvY712 and Nef each affect the efficiency of viral entry independently of the Env content of virions suggests that both viral proteins are involved in trafficking events that influence morphogenesis to produce maximally fusogenic virus.     

Cell-surface expression of CD4 reduces HIV-1 infectivity by blocking Env incorporation in a Nef- and Vpu-inhibitable manner.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection decreases the cell-surface expression of its cellular receptor, CD4, through the combined actions of Nef, Env and Vpu. Such functional convergence strongly suggests that CD4 downregulation is critical for optimal viral replication, yet the significance of this phenomenon has so far remained a puzzle. RESULTS: We show that high levels of CD4 on the surface of HIV-infected cells induce a dramatic reduction in the infectivity of released virions by the sequestering of the viral envelope by CD4. CD4 is able to accumulate in viral particles while at the same time blocking incorporation of Env into the virion. Nef and Vpu, through their ability to downregulate CD4, counteract this effect. CONCLUSIONS: The CD4-mediated 'envelope interference' described here probably explains the plurality of mechanisms developed by HIV to downregulate the cell-surface expression of its receptor.     

Vpu exerts a positive effect on HIV-1 infectivity by down-modulating CD4 receptor molecules at the surface of HIV-1-producing cells

Human immunodeficiencey virus, type 1 (HIV-1) encodes three proteins, Nef, Vpu, and gp160, that down-modulate surface expression of the CD4 receptor during viral infection. In the present study, we have investigated the role of CD4 down-modulation in the HIV-1 infection cycle, primarily from the perspective of Vpu function. We report here that, like Nef, Vpu-mediated CD4 degradation modulates positively HIV-1 infectivity. Our data reveal that accumulation of CD4 at the cell surface of Vpu-deficient HIV-1-producing cells leads to an efficient recruitment of CD4 into virions and to an impairment of viral infectivity. This CD4-mediated inhibition of viral infectivity was not observed when a CD4 mutant unable to bind Env gp120 was used or when VSV-G glycoprotein was utilized to pseudotype viruses, suggesting that an interaction between CD4 and gp120 is required for interference. Indeed, protein analysis of Vpu-defective viral particles reveals that CD4 recruitment is associated with an increased formation of gp120-CD4 complexes at the virion surface. Interestingly, we did not detect any difference at the level of total virion-associated Env glycoproteins between wild-type and Vpu-defective virus, indicating that accumulation of CD4 at the cell surface and recruitment of CD4 into Vpu-defective HIV-1 particles exert a negative effect on viral infectivity, most likely by promoting the formation of nonfunctional gp120-CD4 complexes at the virion surface. Finally, we show that both Vpu- and Nef-induced CD4 down-modulation activities are required for production of fully infectious particles in CD4+ T cell lines and primary cells, an observation that has clear implications for viral spread in vivo.