title: Inactivation of retroviruses with preservation of structural integrity by targeting the hydrophobic domain of the viral envelope.
abstract: We describe a new approach for the preparation of inactivated retroviruses for vaccine application. The lipid domain of the viral envelope was selectively targeted to inactivate proteins and lipids therein and block fusion of the virus with the target cell membrane. In this way, complete elimination of the infectivity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) could be achieved with preservation of antigenic determinants on the surface of the viral envelope. Inactivation was accomplished by modification of proteins and lipids in the viral envelope using the hydrophobic photoinduced alkylating probe 1,5 iodonaphthylazide (INA). Treatment of HIV and SIV isolates with INA plus light completely blocked fusion of the viral envelope and abolished infectivity. The inactivated virus remained structurally unchanged, with no detectable loss of viral proteins. Modifications to envelope and nucleocapsid proteins were detected by changes in their elution pattern on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. These modifications had no effect on primary and secondary structure epitopes as determined by monoclonal antibodies. Likewise, the inactivated HIV reacted as well as the live virus with the conformation-sensitive and broadly neutralizing anti-HIV type 1 monoclonal antibodies 2G12, b12, and 4E10. Targeting the lipid domain of biological membranes with hydrophobic alkylating compounds could be used as a general approach for inactivation of enveloped viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms for vaccine application.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer Research Nanobiology Program, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. yraviv@ncifcrf.gov
authors.forename: Yossef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Raviv
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viard
authors.forename: Julian W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bess
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chertova
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001386:Azides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000187:drug effects; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D038301:Virus Inactivation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001386:Azides; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C015298:iodonaphthylazide