Adenovirus-Vectored Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Directed Against gp120 Prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Acquisition in Humanized Mice

Hum Gene Ther. 2015 Sep;26(9):622-34. doi: 10.1089/hum.2014.146. Epub 2015 Aug 11.

Abstract

Despite nearly three decades of research, a safe and effective vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has yet to be achieved. More recently, the discovery of highly potent anti-gp160 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) has garnered renewed interest in using antibody-based prophylactic and therapeutic approaches. Here, we encoded bNAbs in first-generation adenoviral (ADV) vectors, which have the distinctive features of a large coding capacity and ease of propagation. A single intramuscular injection of ADV-vectorized bNAbs in humanized mice generated high serum levels of bNAbs that provided protection against multiple repeated challenges with a high dose of HIV-1, prevented depletion of peripheral CD4(+) T cells, and reduced plasma viral loads to below detection limits. Our results suggest that ADV vectors may be a viable option for the prophylactic and perhaps therapeutic use of bNAbs in humans.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Antibodies, Viral / genetics*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Vaccination*

Substances

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