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Title: Analysis of antibodies from HCV elite neutralizers identifies genetic determinants of broad neutralization

Journal Article · · Immunity
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3];  [4];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [5];  [1];  [6];  [1];  [7];  [1];  [1];  [6];  [8];  [9]; ORCiD logo [10] more »; ORCiD logo [3];  [2]; ORCiD logo [11]; ORCiD logo [9]; ORCiD logo [5] « less
  1. University of Cologne (Germany)
  2. Univ. of Tubingen (Germany)
  3. Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research (Germany)
  4. University of Cologne (Germany); University Hospital of Bonn (Germany); German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) (Germany)
  5. University of Cologne (Germany); German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) (Germany)
  6. University Hospital of Bonn (Germany); German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) (Germany)
  7. Hannover Medical School (Germany)
  8. German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) (Germany); University of Cologne (Germany)
  9. California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
  10. Hannover Medical School (Germany); University of Lubeck (Germany); Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) (Germany); German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) (Germany)
  11. Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research (Germany); Hannover Medical School (Germany); German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) (Germany)

The high genetic diversity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) complicates effective vaccine development. We screened a cohort of 435 HCV-infected individuals and found that 2%–5% demonstrated outstanding HCV-neutralizing activity. From four of these patients, we isolated 310 HCV antibodies, including neutralizing antibodies with exceptional breadth and potency. High neutralizing activity was enabled by the use of the VH1-69 heavy-chain gene segment, somatic mutations within CDRH1, and CDRH2 hydrophobicity. Structural and mutational analyses revealed an important role for mutations replacing the serines at positions 30 and 31, as well as the presence of neutral and hydrophobic residues at the tip of the CDRH3. Based on these characteristics, we computationally created a de novo antibody with a fully synthetic VH1-69 heavy chain that efficiently neutralized multiple HCV genotypes. Finally, our findings provide a deep understanding of the generation of broadly HCV-neutralizing antibodies that can guide the design of effective vaccine candidates.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
1981642
Journal Information:
Immunity, Journal Name: Immunity Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 55; ISSN 1074-7613
Publisher:
Cell PressCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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