Star nanoparticles delivering HIV-1 peptide minimal immunogens elicit near-native envelope antibody responses in nonhuman primates.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Peptide immunogens provide an approach to focus antibody responses to specific neutralizing sites on the HIV envelope protein (Env) trimer or on other pathogens. However, the physical characteristics of peptide immunogens can limit their pharmacokinetic and immunological properties. Here, we have designed synthetic "star" nanoparticles based on biocompatible N-[(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (HPMA)-based polymer arms extending from a poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer core. In mice, these star nanoparticles trafficked to lymph nodes (LNs) by 4 hours following vaccination, where they were taken up by subcapsular macrophages and then resident dendritic cells (DCs). Immunogenicity optimization studies revealed a correlation of immunogen density with antibody titers. Furthermore, the co-delivery of Env variable loop 3 (V3) and T-helper peptides induced titers that were 2 logs higher than if the peptides were given in separate nanoparticles. Finally, we performed a nonhuman primate (NHP) study using a V3 glycopeptide minimal immunogen that was structurally optimized to be recognized by Env V3/glycan broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). When administered with a potent Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonist adjuvant, these nanoparticles elicited high antibody binding titers to the V3 site. Similar to human V3/glycan bnAbs, certain monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) elicited by this vaccine were glycan dependent or targeted the GDIR peptide motif. To improve affinity to native Env trimer affinity, nonhuman primates (NHPs) were boosted with various SOSIP Env proteins; however, significant neutralization was not observed. Taken together, this study provides a new vaccine platform for administration of glycopeptide immunogens for focusing immune responses to specific bnAb epitopes.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Francica, JR; Laga, R; Lynn, GM; Mužíková, G; Androvič, L; Aussedat, B; Walkowicz, WE; Padhan, K; Ramirez-Valdez, RA; Parks, R; Schmidt, SD; Flynn, BJ; Tsybovsky, Y; Stewart-Jones, GBE; Saunders, KO; Baharom, F; Petrovas, C; Haynes, BF; Seder, RA
Published Date
- June 2019
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 17 / 6
Start / End Page
- e3000328 -
PubMed ID
- 31206510
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC6597128
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1545-7885
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000328
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States