The Glycan Hole Area of HIV-1 Envelope Trimers Contributes Prominently to the Induction of Autologous Neutralization

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01552-21
• Publication Date: 2021-10-20T17:50:35Z
• Authors: Anna Schorcht; Christopher A. Co...; Pavel Pugach; Rajesh P. Ringe; Alvin X. Han; Joel D. Allen; Tom L. G. M. van ...; Gemma E. Seabright; Edith E. Schermer; Thomas J. Ketas; Judith A. Burger; Jelle van Schooten; Celia C. LaBranche; Gabriel Ozorowski; Natalia de Val; Daniel L. V. Bader; Hanneke Schuitemaker; Colin A. Russell; David C. Montefiori; Marit J. van Gils; Max Crispin; P. J. Klasse; Andrew B. Ward; John P. Moore; Rogier W. Sanders
• Keywords: Trimer; HIV vaccine

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) trimeric envelope glycoprotein (Env) is heavily glycosylated, creating a dense glycan shield that protects the underlying peptidic surface from antibody recognition. absence of conserved glycans, due to missing potential N-linked glycosylation sites (PNGS), can result in strain-specific, autologous neutralizing (NAb) responses. Here, we sought gain deeper understanding neutralization by introducing holes otherwise shields AMC011 and AMC016 SOSIP trimers. Specifically, when knocked out N130 N289 which are absent well-characterized B41 trimer, observed stronger NAb We also analyzed highly variable responses induced rabbits diverse trimers subtypes A, B, C. Statistical analysis, using linear regression, revealed cumulative area exposed on trimer correlates with magnitude response.