Cross-subtype neutralizing antibodies induced in baboons by a subtype E gp120 immunogen based on an R5 primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope

J Virol. 1999 Jun;73(6):4640-50. doi: 10.1128/JVI.73.6.4640-4650.1999.

Abstract

Global human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) diversity may require engineering vaccines to express antigens representing strains prevalent in the target population of vaccine testing. The majority (90%) of incident infections in Thailand are genetic subtype E, with a small percentage of subtype B infections in the intravenous drug user populations. We have evaluated and compared the binding and HIV-1 neutralizing properties of serum antibodies induced in baboons by CHO cell-expressed monomeric gp120 derived from a CCR5-using (R5) subtype E primary HIV-1CM235 or a CXCR4-using (X4) subtype B T-cell line-adapted (TCLA) HIV-1SF2 isolate. In contrast to the subtype-specific HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies induced with recombinant HIV-1SF2 gp120 (rgp120SF2), rgp120CM235 immunization induced antibodies capable of neutralizing both subtype E and subtype B TCLA HIV-1 isolates. However, neither immunogen induced antibodies capable of neutralizing primary HIV-1 isolates. Antibody induced by rgp120CM235 preferentially bound natively folded gp120 and retained strong cross-reactivity against multiple gp120 strains within subtype E as well as subtype B. In contrast, antibody responses to rgp120SF2 were directed predominantly to linear epitopes poorly exposed on native gp120 and had more limited cross-recognition of divergent gp120. Fine epitope mapping revealed differences in antibody specificities. While both rgp120CM235 and rgp120SF2 induced antibodies to regions within C1, V1/V2, V3, and C5, unique responses were induced by rgp120CM235 to multiple epitopes within C2 and by rgp120SF2 to multiple epitopes within C3, V4, and C4. These data demonstrate that strain and/or phenotypic differences of HIV-1 subunit gp120 immunogens can substantially alter antibody binding specificities and subsequent HIV-1 neutralizing capacity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Epitope Mapping
  • HIV Antibodies / blood*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Immunization
  • Papio
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology*

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Vaccines, Synthetic