重组HIV-AEgp145和SIV-envT基因的rAAV8在小鼠体内的免疫原性研究

病毒性载体疫苗是一种有前途的艾滋病疫苗.为了构建以重组腺相关病毒8型(recombinant adeno associated virus type 8,rAAV8)为载体,表达HIV或SIV包膜蛋白的艾滋病疫苗.同时在小鼠体内对其免疫原性进行评价,为下一步研究奠定基础.本研究分别构建了表达HIVAE亚型和SIVmac239株包膜蛋白(不含胞内区)的rAAV8-AEgp145和rAAV8-SIVenvT两种重组病毒,并通过PCR和WesternBlot方法对重组病毒进行了体外鉴定.将两种重组病毒分别接种BALB/c小鼠,应用ELISA和ELISPOT方法检测小鼠的HIV/SIV特异性抗体滴度和细胞免疫应答强度.结果显示,rAAV8能够在293T细胞中高效表达HIV AEgp145和SIVenvT基因.小鼠接种两种重组病毒3-5W后,均能检测到gp120特异性抗体和env特异性细胞免疫应答,并且在16-20W后反应强度仍显著高于对照组.以上结果提示,携带HIVAEgp145和SIVenvT基因的rAAV8载体能够在小鼠体内诱导中等强度并且持续时间较长的特异性体液和细胞免疫应答.     

表达猪瘟病毒E2蛋白的BacMam病毒的构建及其免疫原性分析

含具有哺乳动物细胞活性的启动子的重组杆状病毒(BacMam病毒)可有效转导多种哺乳动物细胞,并被广泛用于开发新型非复制型载体疫苗．将水泡性口炎病毒G蛋白(VSV-G)基因插入多角体启动子下游,得到经修饰的杆状病毒转移载体,将对虾白斑综合症病毒(WSSV)ie1启动子控制下的猪瘟病毒E2基因表达盒插入此载体中,构建了BacMam病毒BacMam/G-ie1-E2,以其感染Sf9细胞和转导HeLa细胞,通过间接免疫荧光试验和Western blot分析检测E蛋白的表达,同时用BacMam病毒直接免疫小鼠,用检测猪瘟病毒抗体的间接ELISA方法检测免疫小鼠血清抗体,用基于CFSE和WST-8的淋巴细胞增殖试验评价其细胞免疫应答．结果显示,BacMam/G-ie1-E2能同时在昆虫细胞和哺乳动物细胞中高效表达E2蛋白,免疫小鼠能诱导产生针对猪瘟病毒的特异性抗体,免疫小鼠脾细胞经猪瘟病毒刺激后能诱导特异性的淋巴细胞增殖．这表明,由BacMam病毒介导的基因转移有望用于开发针对猪瘟病毒的非复制型载体疫苗．     

表达HPV16 L1抗原的1型重组AAV载体免疫效果的研究

为研究1型重组腺病毒伴随病毒(Adeno-associated virus type 1,AAV1)载体作为HPV16预防性疫苗的可行性,构建含密码子优化型HPV16L1基因(mod.HPV16L1)的1型重组AAV载体rAAV1-mod.HPV16L1,将纯化的rAAV1-mod.HPV16L1以肌注和滴鼻途径分别免疫C57BL/6小鼠,使用体外中和实验检测血清中的特异性中和抗体.结果显示,rAAV1-mod.HPV16L1单针肌注及滴鼻免疫均可诱导特异性血清中和抗体,但二组抗体动态变化趋势不同,肌注组血清中和抗体滴度显著高于滴鼻组.rAAV1-mod.HPV16L1单针肌注免疫可诱导强而持久的血清中和抗体,是理想的候选HPV16预防性疫苗.     

重组HIV-1 gp120 AAV2/1在小鼠和恒河猴体内的免疫原性

本文旨在研究表达HIV-1中国流行株gp120基因的重组腺相关病毒疫苗在小鼠和恒河猴体内的免疫原性。用rAAV2/1-gp120免疫BALB/c小鼠和恒河猴,分别用ELISA和HIV-1假病毒中和试验检测免疫动物血清中HIV-1特异性IgG抗体水平和中和抗体水平,用ELISPOT方法和体内杀伤实验检测HIV-1特异性细胞免疫应答水平。结果显示在小鼠体内用rAAV2/1-gp120仅免疫一次就能诱导较高水平的IgG抗体,IgG抗体至少能持续21周,但没有检测到中和抗体。rAAV2/1-gp120在小鼠体内诱导微弱水平的HIV-1特异性细胞免疫应答。rAAV2/1-gp120在恒河猴体内诱导的HIV-1特异性细胞和抗体反应均很弱,且检测不到中和抗体。提示rAAV2/1载体在诱导抗体反应方面具有特殊优势,但若希望诱导HIV-1特异性中和抗体,则需要改造env基因以提高其免疫原性。     

表达丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)截短型NS3与core融合抗原的重组腺病毒疫苗在小鼠中的免疫原性与保护效果分析

为研发安全广谱有效的丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus,HCV)T细胞疫苗,本研究构建了表达HCV截短型非结构蛋白3(Nonstructural protein 3,NS3)与核心蛋白(core)融合抗原的重组腺病毒疫苗。体外免疫荧光及蛋白印迹实验表明该融合抗原可有效表达;小鼠免疫结果表明该重组腺病毒疫苗除了激发抗原特异的抗体反应外,还可激发较强的针对NS3抗原特异的T细胞免疫应答。该T细胞免疫应答主要表现为IFN-γ+与TNF-α+CD4+T细胞亚群。采用异型(JFH1,2a型)HCV重组痘病毒接种小鼠进行保护效果分析,与对照组相比,表达截短型NS3与core融合抗原的重组腺病毒疫苗2针免疫后可产生明显的交叉免疫保护。本研究为进一步研究HCV免疫保护机制及新型疫苗研制提供了参考。     

共表达PRRSV GP5蛋白和CSFV E2蛋白的“自杀性”DNA疫苗在小鼠体内诱导的免疫应答

为了获得新型双价"自杀性"DNA疫苗,将猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(Porcine reproductive and respiratorysyndrome virus,PRRSV)GP5基因克隆于此前构建的表达猪瘟病毒(Classical swine fever virus,CSFV)E2基因的甲病毒复制子载体疫苗pSFV1CS-E2中.为了增强免疫效果,在密码子优化的GP5基因中插入了泛DR表位(PADRE),在CSFV E2基因后融合伪狂犬病病毒(PrV)UL49基因,获得了6种重组质粒.间接免疫荧光试验显示,PRRSV GP5和CSFV E2基因在瞬时转染的293T细胞中得到同时表达,将6种重组质粒和空载体pSFV1CS分别免疫BALB/c小鼠,用间接ELISA方法检测血清抗体水平,通过基于CSFE/WST-8的淋巴细胞增殖试验和细胞因子ELISA评价疫苗诱导的细胞免疫.结果显示,除pSFV1CS组外,从各疫苗组小鼠血清中均可检测到低水平的针对GP5和E2蛋白的抗体;各疫苗组小鼠脾细胞经CSFV和PRRSV刺激后均能诱导特异性的淋巴细胞增殖:部分疫苗组小鼠脾细胞经CSFV和PRRSV刺激后可分泌较高水平的IFN-γ和IL-4;引入UL49的疫苗组细胞免疫应答显著高于其它疫苗组.结果表明,这些共表达GP5和E2蛋白的自杀性DNA疫苗可以诱导体液免疫和细胞免疫,PrV UL49可以增强其细胞免疫应答.     

Flt3配体增强HCV核心-包膜E2融合基因DNA疫苗诱导的细胞免疫应答

建立一种可高效诱导细胞免疫应答 ,对丙型肝炎病毒 (HCV)感染可能起预防和治疗作用的DNA疫苗。将小鼠Flt3配体 (FL)信号肽和胞外段cDNA插入结构优化的HCV核心 包膜E2融合抗原DNA疫苗pST CE2t,构建成pST CE2t FL。将pST CE2t FL转染COS7细胞 ,Westernblot和ELISA检测表明该重组质粒能表达HCV核心 包膜E2融合抗原和可溶性小鼠FL。分别将pST CE2t、pST CE2t FL和空载体pCI neo肌肉注射接种BALB c小鼠 ,检测小鼠的体液和细胞免疫应答。结果表明两种DNA结构均能在小鼠体内诱生细胞和体液免疫应答 ,但pST CE2t诱导的体液免疫应答强于pST CE2t FL ,而后者诱导的细胞免疫应答明显强于前者。FL能明显增强HCV核心 包膜E2融合抗原DNA疫苗诱导的细胞免疫应答 ,对于发展HCV预防和治疗性疫苗有潜在的应用价值。     

登革病毒2型E蛋白基因真核表达和DNA免疫的研究

将编码登革病毒2型(DV2)氨基末端80％的E蛋白的DNA片段克隆到真核表达载体pCXN2 AG强启动子下游,构建成DV2E重组真核表达质粒pCXN-E。间接免疫荧光显示其可在COS-7细胞中表达。ELISA法检测pCXN2-E DNA免疫BALB/c鼠血清中的E抗体变化和维持规律,结果显示三次免疫后2周已有抗体产生,15周时仍维持较高的水平;血清空斑减数中和实验显示其中和滴度高于1:640;流式细胞计数仪(FACS)检测DNA免疫鼠CD4~+、CD8~+T淋巴细胞变化情况,与注射空载体pCXN2的阴性鼠相比,CD4~+淋巴细胞水平略有上升。CD8~+细胞水平有较大升高(p<0.01);动物保护性实验结果显示,当用致死剂量登革病毒攻击免疫鼠时,其保护率为60％。以上结果表明:pCXN2-E在实验动物内表达出的DV2E蛋白可以诱导免疫动物的体液免疫和细胞免疫应答,尤其是MHC-I限制性杀伤性CD8~+T淋巴细胞水平的提高对清除病毒是十分有利的。因此,DV2 E DNA免疫为登革病毒DNA疫苗的发展进行了有益的探索。     

融合表达DEC205单链抗体和NS3蛋白的HCV DNA疫苗的免疫原性研究

为研发新型HCV DNA疫苗并探讨优化其免疫原性的策略,我们分析靶向树突状细胞(Dendritic cells,DC)的分子对HCV DNA疫苗免疫原性的影响。我们基于抗小鼠DC细胞表面分子DEC205/CD205的单克隆抗体DEC205的单链分子,构建可单独表达DEC205单链抗体或者与HCV非结构蛋白NS3融合表达的DNA表达质粒,并构建单独表达HCV非结构蛋白NS3的DNA表达质粒;经瞬时转染法鉴定HCV NS3及其与DEC205单链抗体融合蛋白的表达;随后采用注射结合电转的方式免疫Balb/C小鼠并研究各疫苗的体液(NS3特异性IgG抗体)与细胞免疫(IFN-γELISPOT)效果。结果表明:DEC205单链抗体基因与HCV NS3编码基因的融合可显著增强NS3特异的免疫应答;采用皮内注射加卡钳电极电转的方式可以产生最强的NS3特异性抗体和T细胞免疫反应。因此,通过DEC205单链抗体与HCV DNA疫苗靶抗原融合可明显增强免疫应答效果。该策略为HCV及其他类似病原的新型DNA疫苗研制提供重要依据。     

丙型肝炎病毒E2基因DNA 免疫实验动物研究

将编码丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)E2蛋白417～750位氨基酸的DNA片段克隆到真核表达载体pcDNA 3.1(-)中的CMVIE启动子下游,构建成HCV E2重组真核表达质粒pcE2.ELISA法检测pcE2 DNA免疫兔血清中的E2抗体变化和维持规律,结果显示免疫20d已有抗体产生,30d后开始进入高峰,40d时达到最高值,至第90d抗体水平保持平稳,抗体滴度达到11600左右.流式细胞计数仪(FACS)检测pcE2 DNA免疫鼠CD4+、CD8+T淋巴细胞变化情况,与注射空载体pCDNA3.1(-)的阴性鼠相比,CD4+淋巴细胞水平略有上升,CD8+细胞水平有较大升高,增幅达35.46%.免疫组化检测结果显示注射pcE2的小鼠组织中有明显的阳性着色,而注射pcDNA3.1(-)的对照组小鼠免疫组化结果为阴性.以上结果表明pcE2在实验动物内表达出的HCV E2蛋白可以引起免疫动物的体液免疫应答和细胞免疫应答,尤其是MHC-1限制性杀伤性CD8+T淋巴细胞水平的提高对清除病毒是十分有利的,因此HCV E2 DNA免疫有可能成为预防和治疗HCV感染的一条新途径.     

Broadly Neutralizing Immune Responses against Hepatitis C Virus Induced by Vectored Measles Viruses and a Recombinant Envelope Protein Booster

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a serious public health problem worldwide. Treatments are limited, and no preventive vaccine is available. Toward developing an HCV vaccine, we engineered two recombinant measles viruses (MVs) expressing structural proteins from the prototypic HCV subtype 1a strain H77. One virus directs the synthesis of the HCV capsid (C) protein and envelope glycoproteins (E1 and E2), which fold properly and form a heterodimer. The other virus expresses the E1 and E2 glycoproteins separately, with each one fused to the cytoplasmic tail of the MV fusion protein. Although these hybrid glycoproteins were transported to the plasma membrane, they were not incorporated into MV particles. Immunization of MV-susceptible, genetically modified mice with either vector induced neutralizing antibodies to MV and HCV. A boost with soluble E2 protein enhanced titers of neutralizing antibody against the homologous HCV envelope. In animals primed with MV expressing properly folded HCV C-E1-E2, boosting also induced cross-neutralizating antibodies against two heterologous HCV strains. These results show that recombinant MVs retain the ability to induce MV-specific humoral immunity while also eliciting HCV neutralizing antibodies, and that anti-HCV immunity can be boosted with a single dose of purified E2 protein. The use of MV vectors could have advantages for pediatric HCV vaccination.     

Repeated Delivery of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors to the Rabbit Airway

Efficient local expression from recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) vectors has been observed in the airways of rabbits and monkeys for up to 6 months following a single bronchoscopic delivery. However, it is likely that repeated administrations of rAAV vectors will be necessary for sustained correction of the CF defect in the airways. The current study was designed to test the feasibility of repeated airway delivery of rAAV vectors in the rabbit lung. After two doses of rAAV-CFTR to the airways, rabbits generated high titers of serum anti-AAV neutralizing antibodies. Rabbits then received a third dose of a rAAV vector containing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene packaged in either AAV serotype 2 (AAV2) or serotype 3 (AAV3) capsids. Each dose consisted of 1 ml containing 5 x 10(9) DNase-resistant particles of rAAV vector, having no detectable replication-competent AAV or adenovirus. Three weeks later, GFP expression was observed in airway epithelial cells despite high anti-AAV neutralizing titers at the time of delivery. There was no significant difference in the efficiency of DNA transfer or expression between the rAAV3 and rAAV2 groups. No significant inflammatory responses to either repeated airway exposure to rAAV2-CFTR vectors or to GFP expression were observed. These experiments demonstrate that serum anti-AAV neutralizing antibody titers do not predict airway neutralization in vivo and that repeated airway delivery rAAV allows for safe and effective gene transfer.     

Hepatitis C Virus E1 and E2 Proteins Used as Separate Immunogens Induce Neutralizing Antibodies with Additive Properties

Various strategies involving the use of hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1 and E2 envelope glycoproteins as immunogens have been developed for prophylactic vaccination against HCV. However, the ideal mode of processing and presenting these immunogens for effective vaccination has yet to be determined. We used our recently described vaccine candidate based on full-length HCV E1 or E2 glycoproteins fused to the heterologous hepatitis B virus S envelope protein to compare the use of the E1 and E2 proteins as separate immunogens with their use as the E1E2 heterodimer, in terms of immunogenetic potential and the capacity to induce neutralizing antibodies. The specific anti-E1 and anti-E2 antibody responses induced in animals immunized with vaccine particles harboring the heterodimer were profoundly impaired with respect to those in animals immunized with particles harboring E1 and E2 separately. Moreover, the anti-E1 and anti-E2 antibodies had additive neutralizing properties that increase the cross-neutralization of heterologous strains of various HCV genotypes, highlighting the importance of including both E1 and E2 in the vaccine for an effective vaccination strategy. Our study has important implications for the optimization of HCV vaccination strategies based on HCV envelope proteins, regardless of the platform used to present these proteins to the immune system.     

三种丙型肝炎包膜感染性假病毒颗粒的制备及初步应用研究

In this study, three expression vectors encoding unmodified glycoproteins E1 and E2 from H77 (1a), Hebei (1b) and JFH1 (2a) strains were constructed to form pVRC-H77-E1E2, pVRC-HeBei-E1E2 and pVRC-JFH1-E1E2 expressing constructs. The protein expression was confirmed by immunofluorescene assay(IFA) and Western blot. The Lentiviral vector has the ability to package the cellular membrane into pseudo-particles. The plasmid expressing HCV E1-E2 glycoproteins in native form was co-transfected into 293FT cells with a lentiviral packaging plasmid (pHR'CMV delta R8.2)and a self-inactivated (SIN) transfer plasmid (pCS-CG) containing a reporter EGFP gene to produce infectious HCV pseudo-particles(pp). Flow cytometry assays showed that the HCVpp could infect Huh7 and Huh7-CD81, and the infectivity in Huh7-CD81 was about 2-3 times higher than that in Huh7 cells. Meanwhile, HCVpp could neither infect non-liver cells, for example, the 293 cells, nor HepG2 cell . Titration of HCVpp by p24 ELISA assay or infection assay showed that this HCVpp may contain 5-25 ng/mL p24 or 10(4)-10(5) TU (transducing unit)/ ml. An in vitro HCV neutralizing assays based on HCVpp (1a, 1b, 2a) were then established using AP33, a monoclone antibody with cross-neutralizing ability to different HCV strains. The neutralizing ability of the antibodies from HCV infected patients was further studied with this HCVpp system. In summary, three kinds of HCVpp (1a, 1b, 2a subtype) were successfully developed; In vitro HCV neutralizing assays based on HCVpp and SIN lentiviral system were established. This system paves a way for characterization of early steps of HCV infection (host tropisms, receptor binding, membrane fusion, et al. ) or screening anti-HCV drugs (such as inhibitor to virus entry). This system can be further applied to assess the human immune responses in HCV patients or evaluate HCV vaccine candidates.     

A weak neutralizing antibody response to hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein enhances virus infection

We have completed a phase 1 safety and immunogenicity trial with hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, with MF59 adjuvant as a candidate vaccine. Neutralizing activity to HCV genotype 1a was detected in approximately 25% of the vaccinee sera. In this study, we evaluated vaccinee sera from poor responders as a potential source of antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) of HCV infection. Sera with poor neutralizing activity enhanced cell culture grown HCV genotype 1a or 2a, and surrogate VSV/HCV pseudotype infection titer, in a dilution dependent manner. Surrogate pseudotypes generated from individual HCV glycoproteins suggested that antibody to the E2 glycoprotein; but not the E1 glycoprotein, was the principle target for enhancing infection. Antibody specific to FcRII expressed on the hepatic cell surface or to the Fc portion of Ig blocked enhancement of HCV infection by vaccinee sera. Together, the results from in vitro studies suggested that enhancement of viral infectivity may occur in the absence of a strong antibody response to HCV envelope glycoproteins.     

The neutralizing activity of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies is modulated by specific glycans on the E2 envelope protein

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoproteins are highly glycosylated, with up to 5 and 11 N-linked glycans on E1 and E2, respectively. Most of the glycosylation sites on HCV envelope glycoproteins are conserved, and some of the glycans associated with these proteins have been shown to play an essential role in protein folding and HCV entry. Such a high level of glycosylation suggests that these glycans can limit the immunogenicity of HCV envelope proteins and restrict the binding of some antibodies to their epitopes. Here, we investigated whether these glycans can modulate the neutralizing activity of anti-HCV antibodies. HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp) bearing wild-type glycoproteins or mutants at individual glycosylation sites were evaluated for their sensitivity to neutralization by antibodies from the sera of infected patients and anti-E2 monoclonal antibodies. While we did not find any evidence that N-linked glycans of E1 contribute to the masking of neutralizing epitopes, our data demonstrate that at least three glycans on E2 (denoted E2N1, E2N6, and E2N11) reduce the sensitivity of HCVpp to antibody neutralization. Importantly, these three glycans also reduced the access of CD81 to its E2 binding site, as shown by using a soluble form of the extracellular loop of CD81 in inhibition of entry. These data suggest that glycans E2N1, E2N6, and E2N11 are close to the binding site of CD81 and modulate both CD81 and neutralizing antibody binding to E2. In conclusion, this work indicates that HCV glycans contribute to the evasion of HCV from the humoral immune response.     

Studies on the role of neutralizing antibodies against envelope genes in resolving HCV pseudo-particles infection

Characterization of antibodies targeting the attachment and entry of the viral particles into host cells is important for studding antibody mediated neutralization. Antibodies against the envelope glycoproteins (EGP) have neutralizing capacity and can prevent HCV infections. System based on HCV pseudo typed-particles (HCVpp) stably expressing EGP can be used for screening of HCV anti envelope neutralizing antibodies in the serum of patients with acute and chronic HCV infections. The aim of the current study was to check HCVpp as a useful tool for the detection of anti-HCV envelope antibodies in the serum of HCV infected patients and to test the binding potential of these antiviral molecules to EGP of HCV 3a. Previously developed HCVpp harboring unmodified glycoproteins from local isolates in 293T cell line were used in this study. HCVpp were pre incubated with different concentrations of anti E1 antibody and different E2 antibodies to check antiviral activity. Further we used serum samples with low/medium (≤800,000 IU/mL), and high (>800,000 IU/mL) viral titer from chronic HCV male and female patients. Infection was done in Huh-7 cells for 1 h at 37 oC. Infectivity was checked through Luciferase assay. Considerable decrease in HCVpp infectivity with anti-envelope antibodies was observed in dose dependent manner. Maximum inhibition was seen when 5 µg/ml of monoclonal anti E1 antibody used. Further increase in concentration exhibited no decrease in infectivity which suggests that other factors are also involved in causing infection. Various well characterized E2-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been screened for their capability to reduce infection in Huh-7 cells. Three of the four mAbs specific for the E2 had no effect on the infectivity of HCVpp. Confirmation sensitive antibody H53 showed maximum inhibition of infectivity. HCV ELISA positive samples from both male and female patients were used to neutralize the HCVpp. The neutralizing antibody response was observed in both males and females patients and do not assemble the rapidly evolving HCV envelope glycoproteins. That is why in spite the presence of neutralizing antibodies in the blood they fail to resolve infections. Moreover E1 antibodies insignificantly (>0.05) inhibit HCVpp infectivity while E2 antibodies significantly (<0.05) inhibit HCVpp infection. Based on the results of this study it is concluded that anti-envelope antibodies particularly the anti-E2 could be extremely valuable for characterizing the humoral immune response to HCV and for evaluating the potential for developing passive and active immunization for hepatitis C along with interferon therapy.     

Immune responses following salivary gland administration of recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 vectors

BACKGROUND: Gene transfer to salivary glands (SGs) can be accomplished in a minimally invasive manner, resulting in stable, long-term secretion of the transgene product. Therefore, SGs provide a novel target site for several potentially useful clinical gene therapeutics applications. Previous studies have indicated that intravenous, intramuscular and intranasal administration of recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (rAAV2) vectors induce host immune responses. There are no reported studies on immune responsiveness of rAAV2 vector administration to SGs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Vectors were administered by retrograde infusion to the SGs of Balb/c mice in various combinations. Thereafter, transgene expression was determined, and evaluations of host innate and adaptive immune responsiveness performed over a 56-day period. RESULTS: Histological examination of SGs from vector-treated mice showed no significant changes in appearance from controls, including the frequency of activated macrophage detection. There were also no differences in salivary flow rates among experimental groups. In vitro stimulation of splenocytes from mice administered rAAV2 showed elevated interferon-gamma levels in culture media. Significant titers of neutralizing antibodies to rAAV2 were detected in serum of mice following rAAV2 vector administration. While SGs could be transduced with low doses of vector it was not possible to repeat the administration and detect transduction with the same serotype at low doses. However, repeat administration was possible with an alternative serotype (rAAV4). CONCLUSIONS: Following a single administration of rAAV2 vectors to SGs there is no significant innate immune response. However, rAAV2 vector administration to SGs results in both cellular and humoral immune responses. The latter may interfere with the efficacy of repeated rAAV2 vector administration.     

Structure of Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoprotein E2 Antigenic Site 412 to 423 in Complex with Antibody AP33

We have determined the crystal structure of the broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) AP33, bound to a peptide corresponding to hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 envelope glycoprotein antigenic site 412 to 423. Comparison with bnAb HCV1 bound to the same epitope reveals a different angle of approach to the antigen by bnAb AP33 and slight variation in its β-hairpin conformation of the epitope. These structures establish two different modes of binding to E2 that antibodies adopt to neutralize diverse HCV.