Exploiting Natural Cross-reactivity between Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 p17 Protein and Anti-gp41 2F5 Antibody to Induce HIV-1 Neutralizing Responses In Vivo.

ABSTRACT: Anti-p17 antibodies are able to neutralize human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) entry in a mouse model. In this study, we identified a region of sequence similarity between the epitopes of anti-p17 neutralizing antibodies and anti-gp41 neutralizing 2F5 antibody and verified cross-reactivity between p17 and 2F5 in vitro. The p17 sequence was modified to increase sequence identity between the p17 and 2F5 epitopes, which resulted in enhanced cross-reactivity in vitro. Immunogenicity of wild-type and modified p17 was characterized in a rabbit model. Both wild-type and mutated p17 induced anti-gp41 responses in rabbits; sera from these animals reacted with gp41 from different HIV clades. Moreover, introduction of the 2F5 sequence in p17 resulted in induction of antibodies with parti

SUBMITTER: Verrier B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5491952 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature