A group M consensus envelope glycoprotein induces antibodies that neutralize subsets of subtype B and C HIV-1 primary viruses.
HIV-1 subtype C is the most common HIV-1 group M subtype in Africa and many parts of Asia. However, to date HIV-1 vaccine candidate immunogens have not induced potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies against subtype C primary isolates. We have used a centralized gene strategy to address HIV-1 diversity and generated a group M consensus envelope gene with shortened consensus variable loops (CON-S) for comparative studies with wild-type (WT) Env immunogens. Our results indicate that the consensus HIV-1 group M CON-S Env elicited cross-subtype neutralizing antibodies of similar or greater breadth and titer than the WT Envs tested, indicating the utility of a centralized gene strategy. Our study also shows the feasibility of iterative improvements in Env immunogenicity by rational design of centralized genes.
Liao
Hua-Xin
HX
Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA. hilao@acpub.duke.edu
Sutherland
Laura L
LL
Xia
Shi-Mao
SM
Brock
Mary E
ME
Scearce
Richard M
RM
Vanleeuwen
Stacie
S
Alam
S Munir
SM
McAdams
Mildred
M
Weaver
Eric A
EA
Camacho
Zenaido
Z
Ma
Ben-Jiang
BJ
Li
Yingying
Y
Decker
Julie M
JM
Nabel
Gary J
GJ
Montefiori
David C
DC
Hahn
Beatrice H
BH
Korber
Bette T
BT
Gao
Feng
F
Haynes
Barton F
BF
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D003429:Cross Reactions; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C097729:gp140 envelope protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1