9p6g
eN49P7-FRv1-23 Fab in complex with BG505 MD39 SOSIP and RM20A3 Fab
Structural highlights
FunctionQ2N0S5_HV1 Envelope glycoprotein gp160: Oligomerizes in the host endoplasmic reticulum into predominantly trimers. In a second time, gp160 transits in the host Golgi, where glycosylation is completed. The precursor is then proteolytically cleaved in the trans-Golgi and thereby activated by cellular furin or furin-like proteases to produce gp120 and gp41.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_04083] Surface protein gp120: Attaches the virus to the host lymphoid cell by binding to the primary receptor CD4. This interaction induces a structural rearrangement creating a high affinity binding site for a chemokine coreceptor like CXCR4 and/or CCR5. Acts as a ligand for CD209/DC-SIGN and CLEC4M/DC-SIGNR, which are respectively found on dendritic cells (DCs), and on endothelial cells of liver sinusoids and lymph node sinuses. These interactions allow capture of viral particles at mucosal surfaces by these cells and subsequent transmission to permissive cells. HIV subverts the migration properties of dendritic cells to gain access to CD4+ T-cells in lymph nodes. Virus transmission to permissive T-cells occurs either in trans (without DCs infection, through viral capture and transmission), or in cis (following DCs productive infection, through the usual CD4-gp120 interaction), thereby inducing a robust infection. In trans infection, bound virions remain infectious over days and it is proposed that they are not degraded, but protected in non-lysosomal acidic organelles within the DCs close to the cell membrane thus contributing to the viral infectious potential during DCs' migration from the periphery to the lymphoid tissues. On arrival at lymphoid tissues, intact virions recycle back to DCs' cell surface allowing virus transmission to CD4+ T-cells.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_04083] Transmembrane protein gp41: Acts as a class I viral fusion protein. Under the current model, the protein has at least 3 conformational states: pre-fusion native state, pre-hairpin intermediate state, and post-fusion hairpin state. During fusion of viral and target intracellular membranes, the coiled coil regions (heptad repeats) assume a trimer-of-hairpins structure, positioning the fusion peptide in close proximity to the C-terminal region of the ectodomain. The formation of this structure appears to drive apposition and subsequent fusion of viral and target cell membranes. Complete fusion occurs in host cell endosomes and is dynamin-dependent, however some lipid transfer might occur at the plasma membrane. The virus undergoes clathrin-dependent internalization long before endosomal fusion, thus minimizing the surface exposure of conserved viral epitopes during fusion and reducing the efficacy of inhibitors targeting these epitopes. Membranes fusion leads to delivery of the nucleocapsid into the cytoplasm.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_04083] Publication Abstract from PubMedBroadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against HIV hold promise as therapeutic and prophylactic agents, but realizing this potential requires antibodies that function across the antigenic heterogeneity of the HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env). Although numerous bnAbs have been isolated from infected individuals, their breadth and potency may not be sufficient to tackle global viral diversity, motivating efforts to further improve their neutralization capacity. Here, we address this challenge using a multistate antibody engineering approach integrating deep mutational scanning with combinatorial library screening across diverse Env variants. This strategy enables identification of mutation patterns that confer improved binding across antigenically distinct targets. Starting from one of the best-in-class CD4-binding site bnAbs, we performed iterative optimization to increase binding affinity across diverse Env variants. The resulting lead candidate exhibited improved breadth and up to 100-fold higher potency against pseudoviruses from large cross-clade historical and contemporary panels while maintaining biophysical and pharmacokinetic profiles conducive to clinical development. Structural and molecular dynamics analyses revealed a unique tri-tyrosine aromatic triad and reinforced electrostatic contacts that stabilized the bnAb/Env interface. These findings demonstrate that systematic in vitro engineering can generate bnAbs with enhanced breadth and potency, providing a generalizable strategy for developing therapeutic antibodies against highly diverse pathogens. Engineering HIV antibodies with enhanced breadth and potency of neutralization through multistate affinity maturation.,Kedzior M, Phulera S, Fernandez-Quintero ML, Loeffler JR, Joyce C, Woehl J, Abbasi A, Karimi M, Aslanabadi A, Hojabri M, Zareidoodeji R, Atkinson B, Burgos EFP, Heredia A, Saye-Francisco K, Tran Q, Kim Y, Acosta-Puente F, Shahin L, Zhou A, Altman PX, Felbinger NR, Pierce BG, Sok D, Seaman MS, Burton DR, DeVico AL, Ward AB, Ozorowski G, Sajadi MM, Jardine JG bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Oct 23:2025.10.22.684031. doi: , 10.1101/2025.10.22.684031. PMID:41279620[1] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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