Host range, replicative, and cytopathic properties of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 are determined by very few amino acid changes in tat and gp120.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates display differences in a variety of in vitro biological properties, including the ability to infect different cell types, the kinetics of replication, and cytopathicity in the infected cells. Studies with isolates obtained from the same individual over time have shown that these in vitro properties of the viral isolates correlate with pathogenicity in the host. The later isolates, recovered when disease has developed, display a wider cellular host range, replicate rapidly and to high titers in the infected cells, and induce syncytia in these cells. In the present studies, the genomic determinants of these biological properties were defined with recombinant viruses generated between two HIV-1 isolates recovered sequentially from the same individual. The results show that the rate of HIV-1 replication in the HUT 78 T-cell line is controlled by the first coding exon of tat. Infection of T-cell and monocytic cell lines is determined by two specific regions in the envelope gp120, one of which also confers the ability of an isolate to induce syncytia. Amino acid sequence comparison of the regions identified revealed minor differences between the two viral isolates: 2 amino acids in the tat gene product and 10 and 12 amino acids in the two regions of envelope gp120. These data suggest that small changes in the tat and env proteins can have dramatic effects on the pathogenic potential of HIV-1.     

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.     

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 fitness is a determining factor in viral rebound and set point in chronic infection

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates from 20 chronically infected patients who participated in a structured treatment interruption (STI) trial were studied to determine whether viral fitness influences reestablishment of viremia. Viruses derived from individuals who spontaneously controlled viremia had significantly lower in vitro replication capacities than viruses derived from individuals that did not control viremia after interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and replication capacities correlated with pre-ART and post-STI viral set points. Of note, no clinically relevant improvement of viral loads upon STI occurred. Virus isolates from controlling and noncontrolling patients were indistinguishable in terms of coreceptor usage, genetic subtype, and sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, viruses from controlling patients exhibited increased sensitivity to inhibition by chemokines. Sensitivity to inhibition by RANTES correlated strongly with slower replication kinetics of the virus isolates, suggesting a marked dependency of these virus isolates on high coreceptor densities on the target cells. In summary, our data indicate that viral fitness is a driving factor in determining the magnitude of viral rebound and viral set point in chronic HIV-1 infection, and thus fitness should be considered as a parameter influencing the outcome of therapeutic intervention in chronic infection.     

ADCC-mediating non-neutralizing antibodies can exert immune pressure in early HIV-1 infection

Despite antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) responses being implicated in protection from HIV-1 infection, there is limited evidence that they control virus replication. The high mutability of HIV-1 enables the virus to rapidly adapt, and thus evidence of viral escape is a very sensitive approach to demonstrate the importance of this response. To enable us to deconvolute ADCC escape from neutralizing antibody (nAb) escape, we identified individuals soon after infection with detectable ADCC responses, but no nAb responses. We evaluated the kinetics of ADCC and nAb responses, and viral escape, in five recently HIV-1-infected individuals. In one individual we detected viruses that escaped from ADCC responses but were sensitive to nAbs. In the remaining four participants, we did not find evidence of viral evolution exclusively associated with ADCC-mediating non-neutralizing Abs (nnAbs). However, in all individuals escape from nAbs was rapid, occurred at very low titers, and in three of five cases we found evidence of viral escape before detectable nAb responses. These data show that ADCC-mediating nnAbs can drive immune escape in early infection, but that nAbs were far more effective. This suggests that if ADCC responses have a protective role, their impact is limited after systemic virus dissemination.     

Persistent infection of macaques with simian-human immunodeficiency viruses.

Chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIV) containing the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) tat, rev, env, and, in some cases, vpu genes were inoculated into eight cynomolgus monkeys. Viruses could be consistently recovered from the CD8-depleted peripheral blood lymphocytes of all eight animals for at least 2 months. After this time, virus isolation varied among the animals, with viruses continuing to be isolated from some animals beyond 600 days after inoculation. The level of viral RNA in plasma during acute infection and the frequency of virus isolation after the initial 2-month period were higher for the Vpu-positive viruses. All of the animals remained clinically healthy, and the absolute numbers of CD4-positive lymphocytes were stable. Antibodies capable of neutralizing HIV-1 were generated at high titers in animals exhibiting the greatest consistency of virus isolation. Strain-specific HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies were initially elicited, and then more broadly neutralizing antibodies were elicited. env sequences from two viruses isolated more than a year after infection were analyzed. In the Vpu-negative SHIV, for which virus loads were lower, a small amount of env variation, which did not correspond to that found in natural HIV-1 variants, was observed. By contrast, in the Vpu-positive virus, which was consistently isolated from the host animal, extensive variation of the envelope glycoproteins in the defined variable gp120 regions was observed. Escape from neutralization by CD4 binding site monoclonal antibodies was observed for the viruses with the latter envelope glycoproteins, and the mechanism of escape appears to involve decreased binding of the antibody to the monomeric gp120 glycoproteins. The consistency with which SHIV infection of cynomolgus monkeys is initiated and the similarities in the neutralizing antibody response to SHIV and HIV-1 support the utility of this model system for the study of HIV-1 prophylaxis.     

Role of maternal autologous neutralizing antibody in selective perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 escape variants

Perinatal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission is characterized by acquisition of a homogeneous viral quasispecies, yet the selective factors responsible for this genetic bottleneck are unclear. We examined the role of maternal autologous neutralizing antibody (aNAB) in selective transmission of HIV-1 escape variants to infants. Maternal sera from 38 infected mothers at the time of delivery were assayed for autologous neutralizing antibody activity against maternal time-of-delivery HIV-1 isolates in vitro. Maternal sera were also tested for cross-neutralization of infected-infant-first-positive-time-point viral isolates. Heteroduplex and DNA sequence analyses were then performed to identify the initial infecting virus as a neutralization-sensitive or escape HIV-1 variant. In utero transmitters (n = 14) were significantly less likely to have aNAB to their own HIV-1 strains at delivery than nontransmitting mothers (n = 17, 14.3% versus 76.5%, P = 0.003). Cross-neutralization assays of infected-infant-first-positive-time-point HIV-1 isolates indicated that while 14/21 HIV-1-infected infant first positive time point isolates were resistant to their own mother's aNAB, no infant isolate was inherently resistant to antibody neutralization by all sera tested. Furthermore, both heteroduplex (n = 21) and phylogenetic (n = 9) analyses showed that selective perinatal transmission and/or outgrowth of maternal autologous neutralization escape HIV-1 variants occurs in utero and intrapartum. These data indicate that maternal autologous neutralizing antibody can exert powerful protective and selective effects in perinatal HIV-1 transmission and therefore has important implications for vaccine development.     

In vitro inhibition of HIV-1 replication in autologous CD4~+ T cells indicates viral containment by multifactorial mechanisms

HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTLs) and neutralizing antibodies(NAbs) are present during chronic infection, but the relative contributions of these effector mechanisms to viral containment remain unclear. Here, using an in vitro model involving autologous CD4+ T cells,primary HIV-1 isolates, HIV-1-specific CTLs, and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, we show that b12, a potent and broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody to HIV-1, was able to block viral infection when preincubated with virus prior to infection, but was much less effective than CTLs at limiting virus replication when added to infected cell cultures. However, the same neutralizing antibody was able to contain viruses by antibody-dependent cell-mediated virus inhibition in vitro,which was mediated by natural killer cells(NKs) and dependent on an Fc-Fc receptor interaction.Meanwhile, bulk CTLs from HIV-1 controllers were more effective in suppression of virus replication than those from progressors. These findings indicate that control of HIV-1 replication in activated CD4~+ T cells is ineffectively mediated by neutralizing antibodies alone, but that both CTLs and antibody-dependent NK-mediated immune mechanisms contribute to viral containment. Our study systemically compared three major players in controlling HIV-1 infection, CTLs, NAbs, and NKs, in an autologous system and highlighted the multifactorial mechanisms for viral containment and vaccine success.     

Variation in the biological properties of HIV-1 R5 envelopes: implications of envelope structure, transmission and pathogenesis

HIV-1 R5 viruses predominantly use CCR5 as a coreceptor to infect CD4(+) T cells and macrophages. While R5 viruses generally infect CD4(+) T cells, research over the past few years has demonstrated that they vary extensively in their capacity to infect macrophages. Thus, R5 variants that are highly macrophage tropic have been detected in late disease and are prominent in brain tissue of subjects with neurological complications. Other R5 variants that are less sensitive to CCR5 antagonists and use CCR5 differently have also been identified in late disease. These latter variants have faster replication kinetics and may contribute to CD4 T-cell depletion. In addition, R5 viruses are highly variable in many other properties, including sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies and inhibitors that block HIV-1 entry into cells. Here, we review what is currently known about how HIV-1 R5 viruses vary in cell tropism and other properties, and discuss the implications of this variation on transmission, pathogenesis, therapy and vaccines.     

Increased envelope spike density and stability are not required for the neutralization resistance of primary human immunodeficiency viruses.

Previous observations that the gp120 envelope glycoprotein contents of some primary, clade B human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates were higher than those of laboratory-passaged HIV-1 isolates suggested the hypothesis that increased envelope glycoprotein spike density or stability contributes to the relative neutralization resistance of the primary viruses. To test this, the structural, replicative, and neutralization properties of a panel of recombinant viruses with HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins from divergent clades were examined in an env complementation assay. In this system, although the spike density and stability of envelope glycoproteins from primary HIV-1 isolates were not greater than those from a laboratory-adapted isolate, relative resistance to neutralizing antibodies and soluble CD4 was observed for the viruses with primary envelope glycoproteins. Thus, neither high envelope glycoprotein spike density nor stability is necessary for the relative neutralization resistance of primary HIV-1 viruses.     

Primary isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 are relatively resistant to neutralization by monoclonal antibodies to gp120, and their neutralization is not predicted by studies with monomeric gp120.

A panel of anti-gp120 human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs), CD4-IgG, and sera from people infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was tested for neutralization of nine primary HIV-1 isolates, one molecularly cloned primary strain (JR-CSF), and two strains (IIIB and MN) adapted for growth in transformed T-cell lines. All the viruses were grown in mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and were tested for their ability to infect these cells in the presence and absence of the reagents mentioned above. In general, the primary isolates were relatively resistant to neutralization by the MAbs tested, compared with the T-cell line-adapted strains. However, one HuMAb, IgG1b12, was able to neutralize most of the primary isolates at concentrations of < or = 1 microgram/ml. Usually, the inability of a HuMAb to neutralize a primary isolate was not due merely to the absence of the antibody epitope from the virus; the majority of the HuMAbs bound with high affinity to monomeric gp120 molecules derived from various strains but neutralized the viruses inefficiently. We infer therefore that the mechanism of resistance of primary isolates to most neutralizing antibodies is complex, and we suggest that it involves an inaccessibility of antibody binding sites in the context of the native glycoprotein complex on the virion. Such a mechanism would parallel that which was previously postulated for soluble CD4 resistance. We conclude that studies of HIV-1 neutralization that rely on strains adapted to growth in transformed T-cell lines yield the misleading impression that HIV-1 is readily neutralized. The more relevant primary HIV-1 isolates are relatively resistant to neutralization, although these isolates can be potently neutralized by a subset of human polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies.     

CD4, CXCR-4, and CCR-5 dependencies for infections by primary patient and laboratory-adapted isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

We have used a focal infectivity method to quantitatively analyze the CD4, CXCR-4, and CCR-5 dependencies for infections by diverse primary patient (PR) and laboratory-adapted (LA) isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Infectivities of T-cell-tropic viruses were analyzed in a panel of HeLa-CD4 cell clones that have distinct quantities of CD4 and in human astroglioma U87MG-CD4 cells that express a large quantity of CD4 and become highly susceptible to infection after transfection with a CXCR-4 expression vector. The latter analysis indicated that PR as well as LA T-cell-tropic viruses efficiently employ CXCR-4 as a coreceptor in an optimal human cell line that contains abundant CD4. Previous uncertainties regarding coreceptor usage by PR T-cell-tropic HIV-1 isolates may therefore have derived from the assay conditions. As reported previously, unrelated LA and PR T-cell-tropic HIV-1 isolates differ in infectivities for the HeLa-CD4 clonal panel, with LA viruses infecting all clones equally and PR viruses infecting the clones in proportion to cellular CD4 quantities (D. Kabat, S. L. Kozak, K. Wherly, and B. Chesebro, J. Virol. 68:2570-2577, 1994). To analyze the basis for this difference, we used the HeLa-CD4 panel to compare a molecularly cloned T-cell-tropic PR virus (ELI1) with six of its variants that grow to different extents in CD4-positive leukemic cell lines and that differ only at specific positions in their gp120 and gp41 envelope glycoproteins. All mutations in gp120 or gp41 that contributed to laboratory adaptation preferentially enhanced infectivity for cells that had little CD4 and thereby decreased the CD4 dependencies of the infections. There was a close correlation between abilities of T-cell-tropic ELI viruses to grow in an expanded repertoire of leukemic cell lines, the reduced CD4 dependencies of their infections of the HeLa-CD4 panel, and their sensitivities to inactivation by soluble CD4 (sCD4). Since all of the ELI viruses can efficiently use CXCR-4 as a coreceptor, we conclude that an increase in viral affinity for CD4 rather than a switch in coreceptor specificity is principally responsible for laboratory adaption of T-cell-tropic HIV-1. Syncytium-inducing activities of the ELI viruses, especially when analyzed on cells with low amounts of CD4, were also highly correlated with their laboratory-adapted properties. Results with macrophage-tropic HIV-1 were strikingly different in both coreceptor and CD4 dependencies. When assayed in HeLa-CD4 cells transfected with an expression vector for CCR-5, macrophage-tropic HIV-1 isolates that had been molecularly cloned shortly after removal from patients were equally infectious for cells that had low or high CD4 quantities. Moreover, despite their substantial infectivities for cells that had only a trace of CD4, macrophage-tropic isolates were relatively resistant to inactivation by sCD4. We conclude that T-cell-tropic PR viruses bind weakly to CD4 and preferentially infect cells that coexpress CXCR-4 and large amounts of CD4. Their laboratory adaptation involves corresponding increases in affinities for CD4 and in abilities to infect cells that have relatively little CD4. In contrast, macrophage-tropic HIV-1 appears to interact weakly with CD4 although it can infect cells that coexpress CCR-5 and small quantities of CD4. We propose that cooperative binding of macrophage-tropic HIV-1 onto CCR-5 and CD4 may enhance virus adsorption and infectivity for cells that have only a trace of CD4.     

Replicative function and neutralization sensitivity of envelope glycoproteins from primary and T-cell line-passaged human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates.

The structure, replicative properties, and sensitivity to neutralization by soluble CD4 and monoclonal antibodies were examined for molecularly cloned envelope glycoproteins derived from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viruses either isolated directly from patients or passaged in T-cell lines. Complementation of virus entry into peripheral blood mononuclear cell targets by primary patient envelope glycoproteins exhibited efficiencies ranging from that observed for the HXBc2 envelope glycoproteins, which are derived from a T-cell line-passaged virus, to approximately fivefold-lower values. The ability of the envelope glycoproteins to complement virus entry roughly correlated with sensitivity to neutralization by soluble CD4. Laboratory-adapted viruses were sensitive to neutralization by monoclonal antibodies directed against the CD4-binding site and the third variable (V3) loop of the gp120 glycoprotein. By comparison, viruses with envelope glycoproteins from primary patient isolates exhibited decreased sensitivity to neutralization by these monoclonal antibodies; for these viruses, neutralization sensitivity correlated with replicative ability. Subinhibitory concentrations of soluble CD4 and a CD4-binding site-directed antibody significantly enhanced the entry of viruses containing envelope glycoproteins from some primary patient isolates. The sensitivity of viruses containing the different envelope glycoproteins to neutralization by soluble CD4 or monoclonal antibodies could be predicted by assays dependent on the binding of the inhibitory molecule to the oligomeric envelope glycoprotein complex but less well by assays measuring binding to the monomeric gp120 glycoprotein. These results indicate that the intrinsic structure of the oligomeric envelope glycoprotein complex of primary HIV-1 isolates, while often less than optimal with respect to the mediation of early events in virus replication, allows a relative degree of resistance to neutralizing antibodies. The interplay of selective forces for higher virus replication efficiency and resistance to neutralizing antibodies could explain the temporal course described for the in vivo emergence of HIV-1 isolates with differing phenotypes.     

Stoichiometry of antibody neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1

The human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoproteins function as trimers on the viral surface, where they are targeted by neutralizing antibodies. Different monoclonal antibodies neutralize human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infectivity by binding to structurally and functionally distinct moieties on the envelope glycoprotein trimer. By measuring antibody neutralization of viruses with mixtures of neutralization-sensitive and neutralization-resistant envelope glycoproteins, we demonstrate that the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer is inactivated by the binding of a single antibody molecule. Virus neutralization requires essentially all of the functional trimers to be occupied by at least one antibody. This model applies to antibodies differing in neutralizing potency and to virus isolates with various neutralization sensitivities. Understanding these requirements for HIV-1 neutralization by antibodies will assist in establishing goals for an effective AIDS vaccine.     

HIV-Specific Antibodies Capable of ADCC Are Common in Breastmilk and Are Associated with Reduced Risk of Transmission in Women with High Viral Loads

There are limited data describing the functional characteristics of HIV-1 specific antibodies in breast milk (BM) and their role in breastfeeding transmission. The ability of BM antibodies to bind HIV-1 envelope, neutralize heterologous and autologous viruses and direct antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) were analyzed in BM and plasma obtained soon after delivery from 10 non-transmitting and 9 transmitting women with high systemic viral loads and plasma neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Because subtype A is the dominant subtype in this cohort, a subtype A envelope variant that was sensitive to plasma NAbs was used to assess the different antibody activities. We found that NAbs against the subtype A heterologous virus and/or the woman''s autologous viruses were rare in IgG and IgA purified from breast milk supernatant (BMS) – only 4 of 19 women had any detectable NAb activity against either virus. Detected NAbs were of low potency (median IC50 value of 10 versus 647 for the corresponding plasma) and were not associated with infant infection (p = 0.58). The low NAb activity in BMS versus plasma was reflected in binding antibody levels: HIV-1 envelope specific IgG titers were 2.2 log₁₀ lower (compared to 0.59 log₁₀ lower for IgA) in BMS versus plasma. In contrast, antibodies capable of ADCC were common and could be detected in the BMS from all 19 women. BMS envelope-specific IgG titers were associated with both detection of IgG NAbs (p = 0.0001)and BMS ADCC activity (p = 0.014). Importantly, BMS ADCC capacity was inversely associated with infant infection risk (p = 0.039). Our findings indicate that BMS has low levels of envelope specific IgG and IgA with limited neutralizing activity. However, this small study of women with high plasma viral loads suggests that breastmilk ADCC activity is a correlate of transmission that may impact infant infection risk.     

Infection of primary human microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates: evidence of differential tropism.

To ascertain whether viruses present at the time of primary viremia can infect the central nervous system and to determine if microglial tropism is distinct from tropism for monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM), 27 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates obtained from acutely infected individuals, as well as laboratory strains, were assayed for their ability to replicate in primary adult microglial cultures and in MDM. Most of the isolates replicated equally well in both microglia and MDM, but several isolates replicated preferentially in one of the two cell types, differing by as much as 40-fold in p24gag production. This indicated that while MDM and microglial tropism overlap, a subset of isolates is particularly tropic for one of the two cell types. One isolate was further adapted to microglia by 15 sequential passages, raising the peak p24 concentration produced by 1,000-fold. In addition, the passaged virus induced marked cytopathologic changes (vacuolization and syncytium formation) in infected microglial cultures. Sequence comparison of the V3 loop of unpassaged and multiply passaged virus revealed amino acid changes shown to be associated with isolates from patients with HIV dementia. Our data support the hypothesis that HIV-1 infection can be established in the central nervous system by viruses present early in HIV infection, that some of these viruses are particularly tropic for microglia, and that adaptation in this cell type can result in the selection of a pool of predominantly microglia-tropic (neurotropic) viruses.     

Combination of CCR5 and CXCR4 inhibitors in therapy of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection: in vitro studies of mixed virus infections

We studied the combined anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) effects of a derivative of stroma-derived factor 1beta (SDF-1beta), Met-SDF-1beta, and a modified form of RANTES, aminooxypentane (AOP)-RANTES. The antiviral agents were tested singly or in combination at 95 and 99% virus inhibitory concentrations. Clinical R5 and X4 HIV-1 isolates were used. AOP-RANTES inhibited R5 but not X4 viruses, whereas Met-SDF-1beta had the opposite effect. Combinations of these compounds inhibited mixed infections with R5 and X4 viruses (95 to 99%), whereas single drugs were less inhibitory (32 to 61%). Combinations of R5 and X4 inhibitors are promising and deserve further evaluation.     

Autologous and heterologous neutralizing antibody responses following initial seroconversion in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals.

In the course of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, patients develop a strong and persistent immune response characterized by the production of HIV-specific antibodies. The aim of our study was to analyze the appearance of autologous and heterologous neutralizing antibodies in the sera of HIV-infected individuals. For this purpose, primary strains have been isolated from 18 HIV-1-infected subjects prior to seroconversion (in one case) or within 1 to 8 months after seroconversion. Sera, collected at the same time as the virus was isolated and at various times after isolation, have been analyzed for their ability to neutralize the autologous primary strains isolated early after infection, heterologous primary isolates, and cell-line adapted strains. Our neutralization assay, which combines serial dilutions of virus and serial dilutions of sera, is based on the determination of the serum dilution at which a fixed reduction in virus titer (90%) occurs. We have shown that (i) we could not detect autologous neutralizing antibodies in sera collected at the same time as we isolated viruses; (ii) we detected neutralizing antibodies against the autologous strains about 1 year after seroconversion, occasionally after 8 months, but sera were not always available to exclude the presence of neutralizing antibodies at earlier times; (iii) after 1 year, the neutralization response was highly specific to virus present during the early phase of HIV infection; and (iv) heterologous neutralization of primary isolates was detected later (after about 2 years). These results reveal the enormous diversity of neutralization determinants on primary isolates as well as a temporal evolution of the humoral response generating cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies.     

The ability of an oligomeric human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope antigen to elicit neutralizing antibodies against primary HIV-1 isolates is improved following partial deletion of the second hypervariable region

Partial deletion of the second hypervariable region from the envelope of the primary-like SF162 virus increases the exposure of certain neutralization epitopes and renders the virus, SF162DeltaV2, highly susceptible to neutralization by clade B and non-clade B human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-positive) sera (L. Stamatatos and C. Cheng-Mayer, J. Virol. 78:7840-7845, 1998). This observation led us to propose that the modified, SF162DeltaV2-derived envelope may elicit higher titers of cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies than the unmodified SF162-derived envelope. To test this hypothesis, we immunized rabbits and rhesus macaques with the gp140 form of these two envelopes. In rabbits, both immunogens elicited similar titers of binding antibodies but the modified immunogen was more effective in eliciting neutralizing antibodies, not only against the SF162DeltaV2 and SF162 viruses but also against several heterologous primary HIV type 1 (HIV-1) isolates. In rhesus macaques both immunogens elicited potent binding antibodies, but again the modified immunogen was more effective in eliciting the generation of neutralizing antibodies against the SF162DeltaV2 and SF162 viruses. Antibodies capable of neutralizing several, but not all, heterologous primary HIV-1 isolates tested were elicited only in macaques immunized with the modified immunogen. The efficiency of neutralization of these heterologous isolates was lower than that recorded against the SF162 isolate. Our results strongly suggest that although soluble oligomeric envelope subunit vaccines may elicit neutralizing antibody responses against heterologous primary HIV-1 isolates, these responses will not be broad and potent unless specific modifications are introduced to increase the exposure of conserved neutralization epitopes.     

Potential bias regarding birth weight in historical and contemporary twin data bases.

In this study we examine the hypothesis that monozygotic (MZ) twins in historical databases are less discordant for birth weight due to negative selection of severely discordant MZ twins. Furthermore, we test the hypothesis that MZ twins are less discordant for birth weight when comparing a volunteer based twin registry with a population based twin registry, due to selective registration. Data were available on 3927 twin pairs from the volunteer Australian Twin Registry born before 1964, 3059 volunteer twin pairs from the Netherlands Twin Register born 1987-1989 and 454 Belgian twin pairs from The East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey born 1987-1989. Intrapair relative birth weight differences (RBWD) were computed for MZ and dizygotic (DZ) twins from each twin registry. Comparing birth weight differences between MZ and DZ twins provides support for the hypothesis that MZ twins are subject to a negative selection in historical databases. Furthermore, Australian MZ twins have a lower RBWD compared to Dutch MZ twins when corrected for the RBWD of Australian and Dutch DZ twins, indicating circumstances which only affect MZ twins. Our hypothesis that MZ twins are less discordant for birth weight in a volunteer based twin registry compared to a population based twin registry had to be rejected. We suggest that investigators using historical databases to test the fetal origins hypothesis should be aware of this increased likelihood of selective exclusion of individuals with extreme morphometric parameters at time of birth.     

Cross-neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 and simian immunodeficiency virus isolates.

In contrast to infrequent and low-titer cross-neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates by HIV-2- and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-positive sera, extensive cross-neutralization of HIV-2NIH-Z, SIVMAC251, and SIVAGM208K occurs with high titer, suggesting conservation of epitopes and mechanism(s) of neutralization. The V3 regions of HIV-2 and SIV isolates, minimally related to the HIV-1 homolog, share significant sequence homology and are immunogenic in monkeys as well as in humans. Whereas the crown of the V3 loop is cross-reactive among HIV-1 isolates and elicits neutralizing antibodies of broad specificity, the SIV and especially HIV-2 crown peptides were not well recognized by cross-neutralizing antisera. V3 loop peptides of HIV-2 isolates did not elicit neutralizing antibodies in mice, guinea pigs, or a goat and together with SIV V3 peptides did not inhibit serum neutralization of HIV-2 and SIV. Thus, the V3 loops of HIV-2 and SIV do not appear to constitute simple linear neutralizing epitopes. In view of the immunogenicity of V3 peptides, the failure of conserved crown peptides to react with natural sera implies a significant role of loop conformation in antibody recognition. Our studies suggest that in addition to their grouping by envelope genetic relatedness, HIV-2 and SIV are neutralized similarly to each other but differently from HIV-1. The use of linear peptides of HIV-2 and SIV as immunogens may require greater attention to microconformation, and alternate subunit approaches may be needed in exploiting these viruses as vaccine models. Such approaches may also be applicable to the HIV-1 system in which conformational epitopes, in addition to the V3 loop, participate in virus neutralization.