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Biology subjects

Kose, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Kose, N..

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Human coronavirus HKU1 neutralization by glycan receptor mimicry

Entry of seasonal human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) into host cells is facilitated by sequential binding to sialoglycans and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) receptors. However, the neutralizing capacity of antibodies disrupting these receptor interactions have not been examined. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of a human monoclonal antibody (mAb) HKU1-2 that recognizes the HCoV-HKU1 spike protein and exhibits dose-dependent neutralization of the virus. Epitope mapping and structural analysis revealed that HKU1-2 mAb targets the sialoglycan binding site in the N-terminal domain of the spike protein. A cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the spike-Fab complex further demonstrated the ability of HKU1-2 to mimic sialic acid binding thereby effectively blocking sialoglycan receptor engagement. HKU1-2 binding is primarily mediated by CDRH3 recognition of NTD residues K80 and W89 that are known to be critical for sialic acid engagement. Overall, our results demonstrate antibody recognition and neutralization of HCoV-HKU1 by receptor mimicry.

immunology↗

A potently neutralizing and protective human antibody targeting antigenic site V on RSV and hMPV fusion glycoprotein

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) are frequent drivers of morbidity and mortality in susceptible populations, most often infantile, older adults, and immunocompromised. The primary target of neutralizing antibodies is the fusion (F) glycoprotein on the surface of the RSV and hMPV virion. As a result of the structural conservation between RSV and hMPV F, three antigenic regions are known to induce cross-neutralizing responses: sites III, IV, and V. Leveraging LIBRA-seq, we identify five RSV/hMPV cross-reactive human antibodies. One antibody, 5-1, potently neutralizes all tested viruses from the major subgroups of RSV and hMPV and provides protection against RSV and hMPV in a mouse challenge model. Structural analysis reveals that 5-1 utilizes an uncommon genetic signature to bind an epitope that spans sites O, II and V, defining a new mode of antibody cross-reactivity between RSV and hMPV F. These findings highlight the molecular and structural elements influencing RSV and hMPV cross-reactivity as well as the potential of antibody 5-1 for translational development.

immunology↗

Potently neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies against the zoonotic pararubulavirus Sosuga virus

Sosuga virus (SOSV) is a recently discovered paramyxovirus with a single known human case of disease. There has been little laboratory research on SOSV pathogenesis or immunity, and no approved therapeutics or vaccines are available. Here, we report the discovery of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from the circulating memory B cells of the only known human case and survivor of SOSV infection. We isolated six mAbs recognizing the functional attachment protein (HN) and 18 mAbs against the fusion (F) protein. The anti-HN mAbs all target the globular head of the HN protein and can be organized into 4 competition-binding groups that exhibit epitope diversity. The anti-F mAbs can be divided into pre- or post-fusion conformation-specific categories and further into 8 competition-binding groups. Generally, pre-fusion conformation-specific anti-F mAbs showed higher potency in neutralization assays than did mAbs only recognizing the post-fusion conformation of F protein. Most of the anti-HN mAbs were more potently neutralizing than the anti-F mAbs, with mAbs in one of the HN competition-binding groups possessing ultra-potent (<1 ng/mL) half maximal inhibitory (IC50) virus neutralization values. These findings provide insight into the molecular basis for human antibody recognition of paramyxovirus surface proteins and the mechanisms of SOSV neutralization.

immunology↗

Isolation of a potently neutralizing and protective human monoclonal antibody targeting yellow fever virus

Yellow fever virus (YFV) causes sporadic outbreaks of infection in South America and sub-Saharan Africa. While live-attenuated yellow fever virus vaccines based on three substrains of 17D are considered some of the most effective vaccines in use, problems with production and distribution have created large populations of unvaccinated, vulnerable individuals in endemic areas. To date, specific antiviral therapeutics have not been licensed for human use against YFV or any other related flavivirus. Recent advances in monoclonal antibody (mAb) technology have allowed for identification of numerous candidate therapeutics targeting highly pathogenic viruses, including many flaviviruses. Here, we sought to identify a highly neutralizing antibody targeting YFV envelope (E) protein as a therapeutic candidate. We used human B cell hybridoma technology to isolate mAbs from the circulating memory B cells from human YFV vaccine recipients. These antibodies bound to recombinant YFV E protein and recognized at least five major antigenic sites on E. Two mAbs (designated YFV-136 and YFV-121) recognized a shared antigenic site and neutralized the YFV 17D vaccine strain in vitro. YFV-136 also potently inhibited infection by multiple wild-type YFV strains, in part, at a post-attachment step in the virus replication cycle. YFV-136 showed therapeutic protection in two animal models of YFV challenge including hamsters and immunocompromised mice engrafted with human hepatocytes. These studies define features of the antigenic landscape on YFV E protein recognized by the human B cell response and identify a therapeutic antibody candidate that inhibits infection and disease caused by highly virulent strains of YFV.

immunology↗

Structural mapping of antibody landscapes to human betacoronavirus spike proteins

Preexisting immunity against seasonal coronaviruses (CoV) represents an important variable in predicting antibody responses and disease severity to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-2) infections. We used electron microscopy based polyclonal epitope mapping (EMPEM) to characterize the antibody specificities against {beta}-CoV spike proteins in sera from healthy donors (HDs) or SARS-2 convalescent donors (CDs). We observed that most HDs possessed antibodies specific to seasonal human CoVs (HCoVs) OC43 and HKU1 spike proteins while the CDs showed reactivity across all human {beta}-CoVs. Detailed molecular mapping of spike-antibody complexes revealed epitopes that were differentially targeted by antibodies in preexisting and convalescent serum. Our studies provide an antigenic landscape to {beta}-HCoV spikes in the general population serving as a basis for cross-reactive epitope analyses in SARS-2 -infected individuals. One-Sentence summaryWe present the epitope mapping of polyclonal antibodies against beta-coronavirus spike proteins in human sera.

immunology↗

Functional cooperativity mediated by rationally selected combinations of human monoclonal antibodies targeting the henipavirus receptor binding protein

Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), the prototypic members of the Henipavirus (HNV) genus, are emerging, zoonotic paramyxoviruses known to cause severe disease across six mammalian orders, including humans (Eaton et al., 2006). While several research groups have made strides in developing candidate vaccines and therapeutics against henipaviruses, such countermeasures have not been licensed for human use, and significant gaps in knowledge about the human immune response to these viruses exist. To address these gaps, we isolated a large panel of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from the B cells of an individual with prior occupation-related exposure to the equine HeV vaccine (Equivac(R) HeV). Competition-binding and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) studies identified at least six distinct antigenic sites on the HeV/NiV receptor binding protein (RBP) that are recognized by human mAbs. Antibodies recognizing multiple antigenic sites potently neutralized NiV and/or HeV isolates in vitro. The most potent class of cross-reactive antibodies achieved neutralization by blocking viral attachment to the host cell receptors ephrin-B2 and ephrin-B3. Antibodies from this class mimic receptor binding by inducing a receptor-bound conformation to the HeV-RBP protein tetramer, exposing an epitope that appears to lie hidden in the interface between protomers within the HeV-RBP tetramer. Antibodies that recognize this cryptic epitope potently neutralized HeV and NiV. Flow cytometric studies using cell-surface-displayed HeV-RBP protein showed that cross-reactive, neutralizing mAbs from each of these classes cooperate for binding. In a highly stringent hamster model of NiVB infection, antibodies from both classes reduced morbidity and mortality and achieved synergistic protection in combination and provided therapeutic benefit when combined into two bispecific platforms. These studies identified multiple candidate mAbs that might be suitable for use in a cocktail therapeutic approach to achieve synergistic antiviral potency and reduce the risk of virus escape during treatment.

immunology↗

Canonical features of human antibodies recognizing the influenza hemagglutinin trimer interface

Broadly reactive antibodies targeting the influenza A hemagglutinin (HA) head domain are thought to be rare and to require extensive somatic mutations or unusual structural features to achieve breadth against divergent HA subtypes. Here we describe common genetic and structural features of diverse human antibodies from several individuals recognizing the trimer interface (TI) of the influenza HA head, a recently identified site of vulnerability1-3. We examined the sequence of TI-reactive antibodies, determined crystal structures for TI antibody-antigen complexes, and analyzed the contact residues of the antibodies on HA to discover common genetic and structural features of TI antibodies. Our data reveal that many TI antibodies are encoded by a light chain variable gene segment incorporating a shared somatic mutation. In addition, these antibodies have a shared acidic residue in the heavy chain despite originating from diverse heavy chain variable gene segments. These studies show that the TI region of influenza HA is a major antigenic site with conserved structural features that are recognized by a common human B cell public clonotype. The canonical nature of this antibody-antigen interaction suggests that the TI epitope might serve as an important new target for structure-based vaccine design.

immunology↗

Peptide Arrays of Three Collections of Human Sera from Patients Infected with Mosquito-Borne Viruses

Global outbreaks and epidemics caused by emerging or re-emerging mosquito-borne viruses are becoming more common. These viruses belong to multiple genera including Flavivirus and Alphavirus and often cause non-specific or asymptomatic infection, which can confound viral prevalence studies. In addition, many acute phase diagnostic tests rely on the detection of viral components such as RNA or antigen. Standard serological tests are often not reliable for diagnosis after the acute phase due to cross-reactivity among viruses (e.g. flaviviruses). In order to contribute to development efforts for mosquito-borne serodiagnostics, we incubated 137 human sera on individual custom peptide arrays that consisted of over 866 unique peptides in quadruplicate. Our bioinformatics workflow to analyze these data incorporated machine learning, statistics, and B-cell epitope prediction. The unprocessed array data can be useful in separate meta-analyses that can be applicable to diverse efforts including the development of new pan-flavivirus antibodies, more accurate epitope mapping, and vaccine development against these viral pathogens.

microbiology↗