利用细胞筛选法从噬菌体抗体库鉴定人源HIV-1单克隆中和抗体

以细胞法从HIV-1CRF07_BC特异性噬菌体抗体库中筛选和鉴定针对病毒包膜蛋白(Envelope,Env)的人源单克隆中和抗体。将pCH064.2-Env质粒转染293T细胞,以表达Env的活细胞淘洗噬菌体抗体库;利用细胞ELISA方法筛选Env特异性噬菌体阳性克隆,并测定抗体重链可变区(VH)和轻链可变区(VL)序列;以Ni+2-NTA层析柱纯化抗体Fab,SDS-PAGE分析抗体纯度;采用基于转染细胞和重组蛋白的ELISA以及流式细胞技术分析抗体的结合活性;以HIV-1假病毒系统评价抗体的中和活性。四轮淘洗使细胞特异性噬菌体得到约650倍的高度富集,细胞ELISA筛选到28个抗HIV Env的阳性克隆,序列分析发现五个具有不同VH和VL序列的抗体Fab(2801、2837、2863、2870和2920)。这些抗体与转染env的293T细胞反应,但不与重组表达的可溶性gp120蛋白反应,说明它们有可能针对依赖于Env复合物的空间构象表位。我们发现2801、2863和2870三个Fab抗体对HIV-1CRF07_BC亚型CH120.6毒株具有较强的中和活性,其IC50值分别为2.24μg/mL、0.89μg/mL和3.09μg/mL。其中,2801和2863对B亚型HIV-1毒株SF162具有较强的交叉中和作用,其IC50值分别为0.69μg/mL和3.52μg/mL。提示表达于293T细胞表面的HIV-1 Env可以有效富集和筛选噬菌体抗体库,并能成功分离和鉴定依赖于Env空间构象表位的HIV-1中和抗体。因此本研究为探讨HIV-1中和抗体的反应机制和研发艾滋病疫苗提供了新的技术平台。     

血清学检测H-Y噬菌体Fab抗体阳性克隆的分析

目的 为分析H-Y噬菌体Fab抗体特异性,筛选用于抗体亲和力提高的H-Y噬菌体Fab抗体阳性克隆.方法 以从噬菌体Fab抗体库中筛选到具有雄性特异性结合活性的阳性克隆A6、A8、E6为基础,通过C57BL/6鼠脾细胞为抗原的ELISA分析3株阳性克隆的特异性,镜下观察亲和力较好的A8阳性克隆ELISA结果,利用生物信息学方法预测分析该克隆的抗体基因可变区序列和结构.结果 ELISA分析显示3株阳性克隆具有雄性特异性,其中A8阳性克隆具备较好的雄性特异性.A8克隆具有免疫球蛋白轻链和重链可变区结构,其重链、轻链可变区分别属于VHI和VκIV基因家族.结论 A8阳性克隆可用于后续的导向筛选和抗体基因改造等研究工作.     

免疫球蛋白变区基因的体外扩增及人－鼠嵌合抗体的表达

应用聚合酶链反应法体外扩增抗人小细胞肺癌单克隆抗体的变区基因,经核苷酸序列分析,轻链变区基因为３２４ｂｐ,编码１０８个氨基酸;重链变区基因为３５１ｂｐ,编码１１７个氨基酸。将重链变区基因克隆至ｐＳＶ_２△ＨｇｐｔＨｕγ_３质粒,经一系列克隆、筛选,得一插入方向正确的表达人－鼠嵌合重链抗体的载体－ｐＳＶ_２△Ｈｇｐｔ２Ｆ７ＶＨＨｕγ_３。用电穿孔方法将该质粒导入鼠源骨髓瘤细胞Ｊ５５８Ｌ,用霉酚酸进行初步筛选,最终用兔抗人免疫球蛋白ＩｇＧＦｃ片段的抗体筛选得七株阳性克隆,免疫印迹法结果表明在与人ＩｇＧ相同位置上有一阳性条带。     

人源抗狂犬病毒单克隆抗体Fab段基因的获得和表达

运用噬菌体表面呈现（phage display）技术获得了人源抗狂犬病毒糖蛋白基因工程单克隆抗体Fab段基因及其表达。从狂犬病毒PM株Vero细胞疫苗免疫的人抗凝血中分离获得外周淋巴细胞,提取细胞总RNA,通过RTPCR方法,用一组人IgG Fab基因4特异性引物,从合成的cDNA中扩增了一组轻链和重链Fab段基因,将轻链和重链Fab段基因,将轻链和重链先后克隆入噬菌体载体pComb3,成功地建立了抗狂犬病毒抗原的方法,对此抗体库进行富积筛选表达,成功地获得了抗狂犬病毒的人源单抗Fab段基因及其在大肠杆菌中的有效表达,对其中一株单抗G10进行了较为系统的分析,发现它与一株鼠源中和性狂犬病毒糖蛋白特异性单抗存在竞争,证实该单抗能识别狂犬病毒糖蛋白,其序列资料分析表明,该单抗为一株新的抗狂犬病毒人源基因工程抗体。     

人源中和性抗狂犬病毒基因工程抗体的研制

从具有高滴度狂犬病毒抗体的多位疫苗注射者采集外周血淋巴细胞,构建人源抗狂犬病毒Fab基因工程抗体文库。用纯化的狂犬aG和CTN株病毒颗粒富集筛选所得Fab噬菌体抗体文库,利用ELISA和间接免疫荧光法IFA鉴定所得人源单克隆抗体Fab段基因的功能特性,并通过序列测定确定所得抗体的轻链和重链的型别,成功获得11株抗狂犬病毒糖蛋白的人源单克隆Fab抗体。将其中5株人源单克隆Fab抗体的轻链和重链分别克隆入全抗体表达载体pAC-L-Fc后转染昆虫Sf9细胞,利用杆状病毒系统实现全抗体的分泌型表达。5株全抗体在体外与狂犬病毒CVS-11株的中和反应中均显示具有狂犬病毒中和活性。人源中和性抗狂犬病毒基因工程全抗体的获得为我国自行生产抗狂犬病单克隆抗体鸡尾酒奠定了物质基础。     

人源抗狂犬病毒糖蛋白Ⅲ号表位链置换基因工程抗体研究

为获得针对狂犬病毒糖蛋白Ⅲ号表位的人源单抗,本研究采用噬菌体展示平台,对一株狂犬病毒糖蛋白Ⅲ号抗原表位的人源单抗CR4098采用链置换法进行改造。以CR4098单链抗体为骨架,从狂犬疫苗接种者外周血分离淋巴细胞,提核酸逆转录,PCR扩增抗体轻链可变区基因,替换CR4098的轻链基因,构建轻链置换文库。经纯化狂犬病毒aG株富集筛选,以上述筛选出的轻链阳性克隆为骨架,构建重链置换抗体库,富集筛选后通过ELISA和IFA鉴定阳性抗体克隆并进行序列测定。利用IgG表达载体VH/VK双质粒系统瞬时转染293T细胞实现IgG抗体的分泌型表达,通过亲和力测定和中和试验鉴定IgG抗体功能。结果显示,通过轻链置换,我们获得14株抗狂犬病毒scFv抗体,通过ELISA、IFA、亲和力测定及中和试验确定人源抗体RV3A5特异性结合狂犬病毒糖蛋白,对狂犬病毒CVS株和aG株均具有良好的中和活性,亲和力达到2.8×10-9 M。通过竞争ELISA对抗体结合表位进行鉴定,结果表明RV3A5特异性识别糖蛋白Ⅲ号抗原表位。通过链置换法成功获得1株全新的针对狂犬病毒糖蛋白Ⅲ号表位的高亲和力人源中和抗体,为狂犬病毒抗体制剂鸡尾酒治疗奠定了基础。     

抗HEV嵌合抗体的构建及在CHO细胞中的表达

通过RT-PCR方法从分泌戊型肝炎(戊肝)病毒中和性鼠源单克隆抗体(单抗)8C11的杂交瘤细胞中克隆出抗体基因的重链可变区(VH)、轻链可变区(VK)序列,并分别克隆到含有人gamma 1重链和kappa轻链恒定区序列的pcDNA3.1/Hygro和pcDNA3.1( )质粒中,共转染中华仓鼠卵巢癌细胞(CHO)细胞.RT-PCR结果表明,转染的CHO细胞转录了嵌合重链及轻链基因,间接ELISA及Western blot结果表明:翻译出的两种多肽在细胞内正确组装成嵌合抗体分子,并可分泌至细胞外,表达的嵌合抗体保留了原鼠单抗的抗原结合特异性及对8H3结合抗原的增强作用.8C11嵌合抗体的成功表达可降低鼠源性,为探讨戊肝抗体治疗的可能性奠定了基础.     

抗人CD3单抗重,轻链可变区基因的体外扩增,克隆和序列分析

根据免疫球蛋白重链和轻链可变区基因５＇端序列和Ｊ区序列,化学合成适合于体外扩增抗体重、轻链可变区基因的二对引物。从体外培养的ＯＫＴ３杂交瘤细胞中提取总ＲＮＡ,反转录生成ｃＤＮＡ,以ｃＤＮＡ为模板,分别加入合成的重、轻链可变区引物进行ＰＣＲ,扩增出抗体重、轻链可变区基因片段。将扩增产物分别插入ｐＵＣ１９质粒,筛选出阳性克隆,用链终止法进行ＤＮＡ序列测定。所测重链可变区基因全长３５７ｂｐ,编码１１９个     

单克隆抗体S2C4对2型志贺毒素及其亚型毒性的中和作用

纯化的2型志贺毒素(Shiga toxin 2,Stx2)经福尔马林脱毒后免疫BALB/c小鼠制备Stx2单克隆抗体,用体外中和试验对具有中和活性的阳性抗体克隆进行初筛,对所获得的中和抗体的重、轻链同种型及结合特异性进行鉴定,其中和保护作用通过体内、体外中和试验加以验证,最后,中和抗体对Stx2亚型Stx2c和Stx2vha的中和谱用体内中和试验验证．结果显示,12株抗Stx2的阳性抗体克隆中,只有1株具有中和活性,命名为S2C4,其重、轻链同种型为G₁/κ,其靶分子为Stx2的A亚单位,与Stx2的B亚单位或Stx1不结合．在体外中和试验中S2C4可有效中和Stx2对Vero细胞的杀伤作用,同样,S2C4可中和致死量的Stx2及其亚型Stx2c和Stx2vha对小鼠的毒性作用．该抗体有望成为治疗产志贺毒素大肠杆菌感染的候选分子．     

单克隆抗体S2C4对2型志贺毒素及其亚型毒性的中和作用(英文)

纯化的2型志贺毒素（Shiga toxin2,Stx2）经福尔马林脱毒后免疫BALB/c小鼠制备Stx2单克隆抗体,用体外中和试验对具有中和活性的阳性抗体克隆进行初筛,对所获得的中和抗体的重、轻链同种型及结合特异性进行鉴定,其中和保护作用通过体内、体外中和试验加以验证,最后,中和抗体对Stx2亚型Stx2c和Stx2vha的中和谱用体内中和试验验证.结果显示,12株抗Stx2的阳性抗体克隆中,只有1株具有中和活性,命名为S2C4,其重、轻链同种型为G1/κ,其靶分子为Stx2的A亚单位,与Stx2的B亚单位或Stx1不结合.在体外中和试验中S2C4可有效中和Stx2对Vero细胞的杀伤作用,同样,S2C4可中和致死量的Stx2及其亚型Stx2c和Stx2vha对小鼠的毒性作用.该抗体有望成为治疗产志贺毒素大肠杆菌感染的候选分子.     

A型肉毒毒素中和抗体S25全抗体的表达

目的:用HEK293细胞表达A型肉毒毒素(BoNT/A)中和抗体S25。方法:按哺乳动物偏好密码子设计合成S25可变区编码序列,κ链可变区序列构建到带有轻链恒定区的载体L293,重链可变区构建到带有重链恒定区的载体H293,轻、重链载体共转染至HEK293细胞,进行瞬时表达;用重链C端(HCC)及S25中和表位突变的HCC与细胞培养上清ELISA检测S25表达。结果:测序结果表明正确设计合成了S25可变区编码序列;ELISA结果显示分泌表达上清可以与抗原结合,而不能与S25中和表位突变的HCC结合。结论:按哺乳动物偏好密码子设计的S25编码序列可以用HEK293细胞进行表达,并且具有活性。     

HIV-1 gp120 vaccine induces affinity maturation in both new and persistent antibody clonal lineages

Most antibodies that broadly neutralize HIV-1 are highly somatically mutated in antibody clonal lineages that persist over time. Here, we describe the analysis of human antibodies induced during an HIV-1 vaccine trial (GSK PRO HIV-002) that used the clade B envelope (Env) gp120 of clone W6.1D (gp120_W6.1D). Using dual-color antigen-specific sorting, we isolated Env-specific human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and studied the clonal persistence of antibodies in the setting of HIV-1 Env vaccination. We found evidence of V_H somatic mutation induced by the vaccine but only to a modest level (3.8% ± 0.5%; range 0 to 8.2%). Analysis of 34 HIV-1-reactive MAbs recovered over four immunizations revealed evidence of both sequential recruitment of naïve B cells and restimulation of previously recruited memory B cells. These recombinant antibodies recapitulated the anti-HIV-1 activity of participant serum including pseudovirus neutralization and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). One antibody (3491) demonstrated a change in specificity following somatic mutation with binding of the inferred unmutated ancestor to a linear C2 peptide while the mutated antibody reacted only with a conformational epitope in gp120 Env. Thus, gp120_W6.1D was strongly immunogenic but over four immunizations induced levels of affinity maturation below that of broadly neutralizing MAbs. Improved vaccination strategies will be needed to drive persistent stimulation of antibody clonal lineages to induce affinity maturation that results in highly mutated HIV-1 Env-reactive antibodies.     

RV144 HIV-1 vaccination impacts post-infection antibody responses

The RV144 vaccine efficacy clinical trial showed a reduction in HIV-1 infections by 31%. Vaccine efficacy was associated with stronger binding antibody responses to the HIV Envelope (Env) V1V2 region, with decreased efficacy as responses wane. High levels of Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) together with low plasma levels of Env-specific IgA also correlated with decreased infection risk. We investigated whether B cell priming from RV144 vaccination impacted functional antibody responses to HIV-1 following infection. Antibody responses were assessed in 37 vaccine and 63 placebo recipients at 6, 12, and 36 months following HIV diagnosis. The magnitude, specificity, dynamics, subclass recognition and distribution of the binding antibody response following infection were different in RV144 vaccine recipients compared to placebo recipients. Vaccine recipients demonstrated increased IgG1 binding specifically to V1V2, as well as increased IgG2 and IgG4 but decreased IgG3 to HIV-1 Env. No difference in IgA binding to HIV-1 Env was detected between the vaccine and placebo recipients following infection. RV144 vaccination limited the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies post-infection, but enhanced Fc-mediated effector functions indicating B cell priming by RV144 vaccination impacted downstream antibody function. However, these functional responses were not associated with clinical markers of disease progression. These data reveal that RV144 vaccination primed B cells towards specific binding and functional antibody responses following HIV-1 infection.     

A Novel Assay for Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity against HIV-1- or SIV-Infected Cells Reveals Incomplete Overlap with Antibodies Measured by Neutralization and Binding Assays

The resistance of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to antibody-mediated immunity often prevents the detection of antibodies that neutralize primary isolates of HIV-1. However, conventional assays for antibody functions other than neutralization are suboptimal. Current methods for measuring the killing of virus-infected cells by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) are limited by the number of natural killer (NK) cells obtainable from individual donors, donor-to-donor variation, and the use of nonphysiological targets. We therefore developed an ADCC assay based on NK cell lines that express human or macaque CD16 and a CD4⁺ T-cell line that expresses luciferase from a Tat-inducible promoter upon HIV-1 or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. NK cells and virus-infected targets are mixed in the presence of serial plasma dilutions, and ADCC is measured as the dose-dependent loss of luciferase activity. Using this approach, ADCC titers were measured in plasma samples from HIV-infected human donors and SIV-infected macaques. For the same plasma samples paired with the same test viruses, this assay was approximately 2 orders of magnitude more sensitive than optimized assays for neutralizing antibodies—frequently allowing the measurement of ADCC in the absence of detectable neutralization. Although ADCC correlated with other measures of Env-specific antibodies, neutralizing and gp120 binding titers did not consistently predict ADCC activity. Hence, this assay affords a sensitive method for measuring antibodies capable of directing ADCC against HIV- or SIV-infected cells expressing native conformations of the viral envelope glycoprotein and reveals incomplete overlap of the antibodies that direct ADCC and those measured in neutralization and binding assays.     

Analysis of Memory B Cell Responses and Isolation of Novel Monoclonal Antibodies with Neutralizing Breadth from HIV-1-Infected Individuals

Background

The isolation of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that neutralize a broad spectrum of primary HIV-1 isolates and the characterization of the human neutralizing antibody B cell response to HIV-1 infection are important goals that are central to the design of an effective antibody-based vaccine.

Methods and Findings

We immortalized IgG⁺ memory B cells from individuals infected with diverse clades of HIV-1 and selected on the basis of plasma neutralization profiles that were cross-clade and relatively potent. Culture supernatants were screened using various recombinant forms of the envelope glycoproteins (Env) in multiple parallel assays. We isolated 58 mAbs that were mapped to different Env surfaces, most of which showed neutralizing activity. One mAb in particular (HJ16) specific for a novel epitope proximal to the CD4 binding site on gp120 selectively neutralized a multi-clade panel of Tier-2 HIV-1 pseudoviruses, and demonstrated reactivity that was comparable in breadth, but distinct in neutralization specificity, to that of the other CD4 binding site-specific neutralizing mAb b12. A second mAb (HGN194) bound a conserved epitope in the V3 crown and neutralized all Tier-1 and a proportion of Tier-2 pseudoviruses tested, irrespective of clade. A third mAb (HK20) with broad neutralizing activity, particularly as a Fab fragment, recognized a highly conserved epitope in the HR-1 region of gp41, but showed striking assay-dependent selectivity in its activity.

Conclusions

This study reveals that by using appropriate screening methods, a large proportion of memory B cells can be isolated that produce mAbs with HIV-1 neutralizing activity. Three of these mAbs show unusual breadth of neutralization and therefore add to the current panel of HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies with potential for passive protection and template-based vaccine design.     

Profiles of human serum antibody responses elicited by three leading HIV vaccines focusing on the induction of Env-specific antibodies

In the current report, we compared the specificities of antibody responses in sera from volunteers enrolled in three US NIH-supported HIV vaccine trials using different immunization regimens. HIV-1 Env-specific binding antibody, neutralizing antibody, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), and profiles of antibody specificity were analyzed for human immune sera collected from vaccinees enrolled in the NIH HIV Vaccine Trial Network (HVTN) Study #041 (recombinant protein alone), HVTN Study #203 (poxviral vector prime-protein boost), and the DP6-001 study (DNA prime-protein boost). Vaccinees from HVTN Study #041 had the highest neutralizing antibody activities against the sensitive virus along with the highest binding antibody responses, particularly those directed toward the V3 loop. DP6-001 sera showed a higher frequency of positive neutralizing antibody activities against more resistant viral isolate with a significantly higher CD4 binding site (CD4bs) antibody response compared to both HVTN studies #041 and #203. No differences were found in CD4-induced (CD4i) antibody responses, ADCC activity, or complement activation by Env-specific antibody among these sera. Given recent renewed interest in realizing the importance of antibody responses for next generation HIV vaccine development, different antibody profiles shown in the current report, based on the analysis of a wide range of antibody parameters, provide critical biomarker information for the selection of HIV vaccines for more advanced human studies and, in particular, those that can elicit antibodies targeting conformational-sensitive and functionally conserved epitopes.     

Antigenicity and Immunogenicity of a Trimeric Envelope Protein from an Indian Clade C HIV-1 Isolate

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates from India mainly belong to clade C and are quite distinct from clade C isolates from Africa in terms of their phylogenetic makeup, serotype, and sensitivity to known human broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. Because many of these properties are associated with the envelope proteins of HIV-1, it is of interest to study the envelope proteins of Indian clade C isolates as part of the ongoing efforts to develop a vaccine against HIV-1. To this end, we purified trimeric uncleaved gp145 of a CCR5 tropic Indian clade C HIV-1 (93IN101) from the conditioned medium of 293 cells. The purified protein was shown to be properly folded with stable structure by circular dichroism. Conformational integrity was further demonstrated by its high affinity binding to soluble CD4, CD4 binding site antibodies such as b12 and VRC01, quaternary epitope-specific antibody PG9, and CD4-induced epitope-specific antibody 17b. Sera from rabbits immunized with gp145 elicited high titer antibodies to various domains of gp120 and neutralized a broad spectrum of clade B and clade C HIV-1 isolates. Similar to other clade B and clade C envelope immunogens, most of the Tier 1 neutralizing activity could be absorbed with the V3-specific peptide. Subsequent boosting of these rabbits with a clade B HIV-1 Bal gp145 resulted in an expanded breadth of neutralization of HIV-1 isolates. The present study strongly supports the inclusion of envelopes from Indian isolates in a future mixture of HIV-1 vaccines.     

Comparing domain interactions within antibody Fabs with kappa and lambda light chains

IgG antibodies are multi-domain proteins with complex inter-domain interactions. Human IgG heavy chains (HCs) associate with light chains (LCs) of the κ or λ isotype to form mature antibodies capable of binding antigen. The HC/LC interaction involves 4 domains: VH and CH1 from the HC and VL and CL from the LC. Human Fabs with κ LCs have been well characterized for their unfolding behaviors and demonstrate a significant level of cooperativity and stabilization when all 4 domains are intact. Very little is known regarding the thermodynamic properties of human Fabs with λ LCs. Here, we dissect the domain contributions to Fab stability for both κ and λ LC-containing Fabs. We find the cooperativity of unfolding between the constant domains, CH1/Cλ, and variable domains, VH/Vλ, within λ LC-containing Fabs is significantly weaker than that of κ LC-containing Fabs. The data suggests there may not be an evolutionary necessity for strong variable/constant domain cooperativity within λ LC-containing Fabs. After investigating the biophysical properties of Fabs with mismatched variable and constant domain subunits (e.g., VH/Vκ paired with CH1/Cλ or T cell receptor Cα/Cβ), the major role of the constant domains for both κ- and λ-containing Fabs may be to reduce the hydrophobic exposure at the VH/VL interface. Even though Fabs with these non-native pairings were thermodynamically less stable, they secreted well from mammalian cells as well behaved monodisperse proteins, which was in contrast to what was observed with the VH/Vκ and VH/Vλ scFvs that secreted as a mixture of monomer and aggregates.     

Trimeric gp120-specific bovine monoclonal antibodies require cysteine and aromatic residues in CDRH3 for high affinity binding to HIV Env

We isolated HIV-1 Envelope (Env)-specific memory B cells from a cow that had developed high titer polyclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) with broad neutralizing activity after a long duration vaccination with HIV-1_AD8 Env gp140 trimers. We cloned the bovine IgG matched heavy (H) and light (L) chain variable (V) genes from these memory B cells and constructed IgG monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with either a human constant (C)-region/bovine V-region chimeric or fully bovine C and V regions. Among 42 selected Ig+ memory B cells, two mAbs (6A and 8C) showed high affinity binding to gp140 Env. Characterization of both the fully bovine and human chimeric isoforms of these two mAbs revealed them as highly type-specific and capable of binding only to soluble AD8 uncleaved gp140 trimers and covalently stabilized AD8 SOSIP gp140 cleaved trimers, but not monomeric gp120. Genomic sequence analysis of the V genes showed the third heavy complementarity-determining region (CDRH3) of 6A mAb was 21 amino acids in length while 8C CDRH3 was 14 amino acids long. The entire V heavy (VH) region was 27% and 25% diverged for 6A and 8C, respectively, from the best matched germline V genes available, and the CDRH3 regions of 6A and 8C were 47.62% and 78.57% somatically mutated, respectively, suggesting a high level of somatic hypermutation compared with CDRH3 of other species. Alanine mutagenesis of the VH genes of 6A and 8C, showed that CDRH3 cysteine and tryptophan amino acids were crucial for antigen binding. Therefore, these bovine vaccine-induced anti-HIV antibodies shared some of the notable structural features of elite human broadly neutralizing antibodies, such as CDRH3 size and somatic mutation during affinity-maturation. However, while the 6A and 8C mAbs inhibited soluble CD4 binding to gp140 Env, they did not recapitulate the neutralizing activity of the polyclonal antibodies against HIV infection.     

Different pattern of immunoglobulin gene usage by HIV-1 compared to non-HIV-1 antibodies derived from the same infected subject

A biased usage of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes is observed in human anti-HIV-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) resulting probably from compensation to reduced usage of the VH3 family genes, while the other alternative suggests that this bias usage is due to antigen requirements. If the antigen structure is responsible for the preferential usage of particular Ig genes, it may have certain implications for HIV vaccine development by the targeting of particular Ig gene-encoded B cell receptors to induce neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibodies. To address this issue, we have produced HIV-1 specific and non-HIV-1 mAbs from an infected individual and analyzed the Ig gene usage. Green-fluorescence labeled virus-like particles (VLP) expressing HIV-1 envelope (Env) proteins of JRFL and BaL and control VLPs (without Env) were used to select single B cells for the production of 68 recombinant mAbs. Ten of these mAbs were HIV-1 Env specific with neutralizing activity against V3 and the CD4 binding site, as well as non-neutralizing mAbs to gp41. The remaining 58 mAbs were non-HIV-1 Env mAbs with undefined specificities. Analysis revealed that biased usage of Ig genes was restricted only to anti-HIV-1 but not to non-HIV-1 mAbs. The VH1 family genes were dominantly used, followed by VH3, VH4, and VH5 among anti-HIV-1 mAbs, while non-HIV-1 specific mAbs preferentially used VH3 family genes, followed by VH4, VH1 and VH5 families in a pattern identical to Abs derived from healthy individuals. This observation suggests that the biased usage of Ig genes by anti-HIV-1 mAbs is driven by structural requirements of the virus antigens rather than by compensation to any depletion of VH3 B cells due to autoreactive mechanisms, according to the gp120 superantigen hypothesis.