Restricting HIV-1 pathways for escape using rationally designed anti-HIV-1 antibodies

J Exp Med. 2013 Jun 3;210(6):1235-49. doi: 10.1084/jem.20130221. Epub 2013 May 27.

Abstract

Recently identified broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that potently neutralize most HIV-1 strains are key to potential antibody-based therapeutic approaches to combat HIV/AIDS in the absence of an effective vaccine. Increasing bNAb potencies and resistance to common routes of HIV-1 escape through mutation would facilitate their use as therapeutics. We previously used structure-based design to create the bNAb NIH45-46(G54W), which exhibits superior potency and/or breadth compared with other bNAbs. We report new, more effective NIH45-46(G54W) variants designed using analyses of the NIH45-46-gp120 complex structure and sequences of NIH45-46(G54W)-resistant HIV-1 strains. One variant, 45-46m2, neutralizes 96% of HIV-1 strains in a cross-clade panel and viruses isolated from an HIV-infected individual that are resistant to all other known bNAbs, making it the single most broad and potent anti-HIV-1 antibody to date. A description of its mechanism is presented based on a 45-46m2-gp120 crystal structure. A second variant, 45-46m7, designed to thwart HIV-1 resistance to NIH45-46(G54W) arising from mutations in a gp120 consensus sequence, targets a common route of HIV-1 escape. In combination, 45-46m2 and 45-46m7 reduce the possible routes for the evolution of fit viral escape mutants in HIV-1YU-2-infected humanized mice, with viremic control exhibited when a third antibody, 10-1074, was added to the combination.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / genetics
  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / genetics
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HIV Antibodies / genetics
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / genetics
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology
  • HIV Infections / genetics
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Mutation / immunology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • gp120 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1

Associated data

  • PDB/4JKP