Human Rhinovirus Presenting 4E10 Epitope of HIV-1 MPER Elicits Neutralizing Antibodies in Human ICAM-1 Transgenic Mice

Mol Ther. 2015 Oct;23(10):1663-70. doi: 10.1038/mt.2015.107. Epub 2015 Jun 10.

Abstract

Attempts at eliciting neutralizing antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 have generally failed. Computationally designed epitope-scaffold platforms allow transplantation of structural epitopes to scaffold proteins. Human rhinovirus (HRV) allows such engrafting of HIV-1 epitopes on the surface scaffold proteins. However, since HRV infects only humans and great apes, the efficacy of chimeric HRV-based live viral vaccines is difficult to assess in animal models. Here, we used human ICAM-1 transgenic (hICAM-1 Tg) mice that support productive HRV infection to assess the efficacy of chimeric HRV expressing the HIV-1 membrane proximal external region (MPER) epitope, 4E10. Intranasal immunization with chimeric HRV in transgenic mice effectively induced antibodies that recognized 4E10 peptide as well as HIV-1 Env trimer. Importantly, the immunized mouse sera were able to neutralize HIV strains including those belonging to clades B and C. Moreover, intranasal immunization could bypass pre-existing immunity to HRV. Thus, chimeric HRV appears to provide a viable vaccine vehicle for HIV-1 immunization in humans.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epitopes / chemistry
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • HIV Antibodies / blood
  • HIV Antibodies / chemistry
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / genetics
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / immunology
  • HIV Infections / genetics*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding / immunology
  • Protein Conformation
  • Rhinovirus / immunology*

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Epitopes
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41
  • gp41 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1