Search

The rapid worldwide spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) mandates the development of successful vaccination strategies. Since live attenuated HIV is not accepted as a vaccine due to safety concerns, virus-like particles (VLPs) offer an attractive safe alternative because they lack the viral genome yet they are perceived by the immune system as a virus particle. We hypothesized that adding immunostimulatory signals to VLPs would enhance their efficacy. To accomplish this we generated chimeric simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) VLPs containing either glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or CD40 ligand (CD40L) and investigated their biological activity and ability to enhance immune responses in vivo. Immunization of mice with chimeric SIV VLPs containing GM-CSF induced SIV Env-specific antibodies as well as neutralizing activity at significantly higher levels than those induced by standard SIV VLPs, SIV VLPs containing CD40L, or standard VLPs mixed with soluble GM-CSF. In addition, mice immunized with chimeric SIV VLPs containing either GM-CSF or CD40L showed significantly increased CD4+- and CD8+-T-cell responses to SIV Env, compared to standard SIV VLPs. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the incorporation of immunostimulatory molecules enhances humoral and cellular immune responses. We propose that anchoring immunostimulatory molecules into SIV VLPs can be a promising approach to augmenting the efficacy of VLP antigens.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) 92UG046 Env protein, obtained from a CD4-independent HIV-1 primary isolate (Zerhouni et al., 2004), has the ability to initiate an infection in HeLa cells expressing CD4 when carrying the full-length (FL) Env, but uses CD8 molecules for receptor-mediated entry when carrying a truncated Env (CT84). To determine whether a specific length or structure in the cytoplasmic tail (CT) is responsible for this alteration of tropism, we compared a series of Env constructs with different CT truncations and the presence or absence of an amphipathic alpha- helical sequence. We found that truncated constructs containing the alpha-helical LLP-2 structure in their CT domains conferred a switch from CD4 to CD8 tropism. The results support the conclusion that the structure of the CT domain can play an important role in determining receptor specificity.

We investigated the effect of the conserved tyrosine-based endocytosis motif (YXXΦ) in the cytoplasmic domain of the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) envelope protein (Env) on its immunogenicity. Genes with codons optimized for mammalian expression were synthesized for the HIV 89.6 Env with a truncated cytoplasmic domain and a mutant Env in which the tyrosine residue in the YXXΦ motif was changed into a serine. Mutation of the Tyr residue enhanced surface expression of the Env protein. Analysis of immune responses induced by DNA immunization of mice showed that the DNA construct for the Tyr mutant Env induced moderately higher levels of T cell responses. More interestingly, the DNA construct for the mutant Env induced significantly higher levels of antibody responses against the Env protein in comparison to the construct for the wild type Env. Our results suggest that the YXXΦ motif in the HIV Env cytoplasmic domain may play a role in virus evasion of host immune responses through affecting its immunogenicity.

In an attempt to develop an immunization strategy to induce mucosal and circulatory antibodies against SIV antigens, we have investigated the potential of attenuated recombinant vaccinia virus to deliver SIV antigens (gp160 of SIVmac239) to mucosal surfaces of mice. After systemic or mucosal (intragastric, intranasal, or intrarectal) immunization with vaccinia virus-SIV Env recombinants the immune responses against the envelope glycoprotein of SIV, as well as against vaccinia virus antigens, were assessed by ELISA of serum, saliva, and intestinal and vaginal secretions. All immunization routes induced specific antibody titers against gp160 in both serum and external secretions. Recall responses against SIV were found to be acquired after administration of SIVmac239 Env and Gag antigens in a virus-like particle (VLP) form by the same mucosal routes as those used for the priming with recombinant vaccinia virus. The results obtained demonstrate the potential of vaccinia virus recombinants to elicit a primary immune response at mucosal surfaces, which could be enhanced by delivering the same antigen in the form of VLPs.

Two rubella virus DNA vaccines were constructed from a cDNA clone of the rubella virus genomic RNA, one which contained the coding sequences for all three virion proteins (C, E2 and E1) and one which contained the two envelope glycoproteins (E2 and E1). When used to immunize mice via gene gun delivery, both constructs induced an antibody response of equivalent titer to that induced by rubella virus that persisted for at least seven months. A booster injection given four weeks after the initial injection increased antibody titers by over thirty-fold. The antibody response in DNA vaccine-injected mice was directed primarily against the E1 glycoprotein, as was the case in rubella virus-injected mice, and neutralizing activity was detected. These DNA vaccines are thus prototypes for a nonreplicating rubella virus vaccine that could be used in specialized circumstances.

We have compared the immunogenicity of the full-length (FL) SIV envelope (Env) protein and a truncated (T) form of the Env protein which has a short cytoplasmic tail. The Env(T) protein was previously shown to be more fusogenic than Env(FL), has a higher level of incorporation into virus-like particles (VLPs) and membrane vesicles, and expands the viral host range. We have found that mice immunized with VLPs which contained an equal amount of Env(FL) or Env(T) produced similar titres of neutralizing antibody. Comparison of immune responses between animals that received DNA vaccines encoding Env(T) vs. Env (FL) by epidermal delivery demonstrated that a higher level of specific antibody was elicited by Env(T) than Env(FL). This result correlated with a higher level of expression of pCMVEnv(T) than pCMVEnv(FL) observed in vitro. DNA immunization combined with VLP boosting elicited a similar level of neutralizing antibody with both forms of Env proteins. These data indicate that the immunogenicity of Env(FL) and Env(T) is similar, and that either form of Env protein appears to be potentially suitable for use in further development of vaccine preparations.

We investigated the effects of introducing specific sequences that are predicted to affect trimer stability into the CT domain of the SIV Env protein. Two constructs, 3HBai and 3HBaa, with additional GCN4-related sequences in the CT domain (45 aa) had enhanced infectivity, and differed in their fusion activity and trimer stability. Another construct, 3HBii, exhibited a very stable trimeric structure. Pseudotyped virions containing 3HBii retained infectivity despite the lack of syncytia formation. In contrast, 3HBai and 3HBaa, which caused extensive syncytia formation, had a less stable trimeric structure. We observed an inverse correlation between trimer stability and fusion activity but no correlation between syncytia formation activity and infectivity. Quantitative cell–cell fusion assays, analysis of Env incorporation, measurement of ectodomain conformation by CD4 binding, and CCR5 blocking assays indicated differential effects on fusion activity and infectivity of the viruses with Env CT modifications. Differences in interaction with CD4 were not affected by trimer stability and were not related to fusion activity or infectivity. The results indicate that changes in the stability of the CT domain can have significant effects on functional activities of the Env external domain and can impact viral biological properties.

Previously, a modified HIV Env protein with a heterologous membrane anchor was found to be incorporated into HIV virus-like particles (VLPs) at 10-fold-higher levels than those of unmodified Env. To further improve the immunogenicity of such VLPs, membrane-anchored forms of bacterial flagellin (FliC) or a flagellin with a truncated variable region (tFliC) were constructed to be incorporated into the VLPs as adjuvants. HIV-specific immune responses induced by the resulting VLPs were determined in a guinea pig model. The VLPs induce enhanced systemic antibody responses by either systemic or mucosal vaccination and enhanced mucosal immunity by a mucosal immunization route, as demonstrated by high levels of HIV-specific serum IgG and mucosal IgG and IgA. The quality of the antibody responses was also improved, as shown by enhanced neutralization capacity. VLPs incorporating FliC were more effective in inducing systemic responses, while VLPs containing tFliC were more effective in inducing mucosal IgA responses. The IgG titers in sera were found to last for at least 5 months without a significant drop. These results indicate that HIV VLPs incorporating high levels of Env and a molecular adjuvant have excellent potential for further development as a prophylactic HIV vaccine., IMPORTANCE A prophylactic vaccine is urgently needed to control the spread of HIV/AIDS. Antigens inducing strong systemic and mucosal immune responses are promising as vaccines for this mucosally transmitted disease. We found that novel HIV virus-like particles (VLPs) presenting a high level of Env in its native membrane-bound form and coincorporating an innate immune-signaling adjuvant in the same particles were effective in inducing enhanced systemic and mucosal immunity. As new HIV vaccine candidates, these VLPs bridge the gaps of the innate and adaptive, as well as systemic and mucosal, immune responses, providing a new approach for HIV vaccine development.

CV-1 cells were infected with two recombinant vaccinia viruses carrying the gag gene with deletion of 231 bp from 3' terminus (strain vC5) and env gene (strain vE234L) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Both recombinant proteins synthesized in the cells (p50gag and gp160/120env) were localized predominantly in cell membranes; however, some amount of p50 was found in cell nuclei. Thin-section immunoelectron microscopy showed accumulation of viruslike particles undistinguished from immature HIV-1 virions in the culture medium of the cells infected with vC5. The similar particles containing gag and env proteins were produced into the culture medium when the cells were coinfected with vC5 and vE234L strains. The particles contained heterogeneous cellular RNA, but no virus-specific RNA as shown by Northern blot hybridization. Immunization of the rabbits with purified viruslike particles produced virus-specific antibodies against gag and env proteins. The titer of antibodies was significantly higher than after immunization with cell lysate or recombinant proteins purified from the infected cells. Highly immunogenic HIV-1-like particles containing gag and env proteins but no virus-specific RNA are good candidates for potential vaccine.

Extensive glycosylation and variable loops of the HIV envelope protein (Env) are reported to shield some neutralizing epitopes. Here, we investigated the immunogenicity of mutated HIV Envs presented in virus-like particles (VLPs). We immunized mice with simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) VLPs containing mutant HIV Env with reduced glycosylation (3G), variable loop-deleted mutations (dV1V2), or combinations of both types of mutations (3G-dV2-1G), and evaluated immune responses. Immune sera from mice that received VLPs with modified HIV Envs (3G or dV1V2) showed higher neutralizing activities against the homologous HIV 89.6 virus as well as heterologous viruses when compared with wild type SHIV VLP-immunized mice. Lymphocytes from immunized mice produced HIV Env-specific cytokines, with the 3G-dV2-1G mutant producing high levels of cytokines. Interestingly, both dendritic cells and B cells were found to interact with VLPs suggesting that VLPs are effective immunogens. Therefore, this study suggests that VLPs containing modified HIV Env have the potential to be developed as candidate vaccines capable of inducing cellular and humoral immune responses including neutralizing activities.

The effects of two functional domains, the membrane-proximal YXXΦ motif and the membrane-distal inhibitory sequence in the long cytoplasmic tail of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope protein (Env), on immunogenicity of the envelope protein were investigated. Genes with codons optimized for mammalian expression were synthesized for the HIV 89.6 Env and a truncated Env with 50 amino acids in the cytoplasmic domain to delete the membrane distal inhibitory sequence for surface expression. Additional genes were generated in which the tyrosine residue in the YXXΦ motif was changed into a serine. Pulse-chase radioactive labeling and immunoprecipitation studies indicated that both domains can mediate endocytosis of the HIV Env, and removal of both domains is required to enhance HIV Env protein surface stability. Analysis of immune responses induced by DNA immunization of mice showed that the DNA construct for the mutant Env exhibiting enhanced surface stability induced significantly higher levels of antibody responses against the HIV Env protein. Our results suggest that the HIV Env cytoplasmic domain may play important roles in virus infection and pathogenesis by modulating its immunogenicity.

To identify and explore the activity of compounds which may act as anti-HIV virucidal agents, we have investigated platinum compounds, especially those containing N-donor aromatic ligands. After screening over 70 related agents, including N-donor aromatic ligands and metal precursors, we have identified a novel class of platinum(II) complexes with 2-pyridyl-1,2,4-triazine derivatives and Pt(II) formulations with these derivatives (ptt compounds) as having the highest anti-HIV activity. The maximum activity was observed when the agents were added immediately post-infection. The ptt agents did not block cell fusion activity of HIV-1 Env proteins in cells bearing CD4X4 or CD4R5 receptors, indicating a lack of interaction with the Env protein. The ptt compounds exhibit low toxicity for human epithelial cells, and are thus promising candidates for use as microbicides or antiviral agents against HIV.

Both humoral and cellular immune responses are critical for the control of HIV infection and replication. We have established systems for production of HIV and SIV virus-like particles containing high levels of viral Env proteins using the baculovirus expression system. Evaluation of immunogenicity showed that immunization with virus-like particles induced both cellular and neutralizing antibody responses. Furthermore, mucosal administration of virus-like particles effectively induced both mucosal and systemic immune responses. These results indicate that virus-like particles consisting of HIV structural proteins are an attractive vaccine platform for eliciting anti-viral immune responses, especially neutralizing antibody responses. We have also synthesized codon-optimized genes for HIV Env proteins and evaluated their immunogenicity. Combinations of virus-like particle and DNA-based vaccination are promising for inducing strong cellular and neutralizing antibody responses against HIV.

Background The Env glycoproteins of retroviruses play an important role in the initial steps of infection involving the binding to cell surface receptors and entry by membrane fusion. The Env glycoprotein also plays an important role in viral assembly at a late step of infection. Although the Env glycoprotein interacts with viral matrix proteins and cellular proteins associated with lipid rafts, its possible role during the early replication events remains unclear. Truncation of the cytoplasmic tail (CT) of the Env glycoprotein is acquired by SIV in the course of adaptation to human cells, and is known to be a determinant of SIV pathogenicity. Results We compared SIV viruses with full length or truncated (T) Env glycoproteins to analyze possible differences in entry and post-entry events, and assembly of virions. We observed that early steps in replication of SIV with full length or T Env were similar in dividing and non-dividing cells. However, the proviral DNA of the pathogenic virus clone SIVmac239 with full length Env was imported to the nucleus about 20-fold more efficiently than proviral DNA of SIVmac239T with T Env, and 100-fold more efficiently than an SIVmac18T variant with a single mutation A239T in the SU subunit and with a truncated cytoplasmic tail (CT). In contrast, proviral DNA of SIVmac18 with a full length CT and with a single mutation A239T in the SU subunit was imported to the nucleus about 50-fold more efficiently than SIVmac18T. SIV particles with full length Env were released from rhesus monkey PBMC, whereas a restriction of release of virus particles was observed from human 293T, CEMx174, HUT78 or macrophages. In contrast, SIV with T Envs were able to overcome the inhibition of release in human HUT78, CEMx174, 293T or growth-arrested CEMx174 cells and macrophages resulting in production of infectious particles. We found that the long CT of the Env glycoprotein was required for association of Env with lipid rafts. An Env mutant C787S which eliminated palmitoylation did not abolish Env incorporation into lipid rafts, but prevented virus assembly. Conclusion The results indicate that the long cytoplasmic tail of the SIV Env glycoprotein may govern post-entry replication events and plays a role in the assembly process.

We investigated the effects on assembly and antigenic properties of specific modifications of the transmembrane spanning (TMS) and cytoplasmic tail (CT) domains of HIV-1 Env from a transmitted/founder (T/F) ZM53 Env glycoprotein. A construct containing a short version of the TMS domain derived from the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) Env with or without a GCN4 trimerization sequence in the CT exhibited the highest levels of incorporation into VLPs and induced the highest titers of anti-Env IgG immune responses in a VLP context. Sera from guinea pigs immunized by VLPs with high Env content, and containing the CT trimerization sequence, had increased neutralization activity and antibody avidity. A cross-clade prime-boost regimen with clade B SF162 or clade C ZM53 Env DNA priming and boosting with VLPs containing modified ZM53 Env further enhanced these immune responses. The modified VLPs demonstrate improved potential as HIV-1 vaccine antigens.

SIVmac239 and SIVmac1A11 are wild-type viruses encoding Env proteins with full-length or truncated cytoplasmic tails (CTs), respectively. A mutant designated SIVmac239T has a site-specific mutation which introduces a stop codon in the env gene resulting a truncated protein of similar length to SIVmac1A11 Env. To investigate the role of specific sequence differences in these Env proteins, we constructed SIV mutants encoding 1A11 or 239 Env proteins with reciprocal exchanges of the CT or exchanges of both the surface unit (SU) and CT sequences. A truncated CT in the context of the 1A11 SU subunit was found to significantly enhance replication in CEMx174 (human T-cell line) and rhesus PBMCs. However, similar Env CT truncation did not enhance replication of SIVmac239 in human or monkey cells. SIVmac1A11 with a full-length SIVmac239 CT did not replicate in human T-cell lines, but truncation of the CT by a stop codon resulted in replication. We also observed that these viruses differed significantly in sensitivity to neutralization by antibody. Taken together, the results indicated that the length of the CT domain as well as specific sequence differences in the SU domain affect viral replication capacity as well as sensitivity to neutralization.