Antibody-resistant Mutants Research Articles

Phenotypic hiding: the carryover of mutations in RNA viruses as shown by detection of mar mutants in influenza virus.

When influenza virus monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants are selected by incubation in vitro with excess antibody, 90 to 99% of the mutants are not detectable. This observation may be explained by encapsidation of mar mutant RNAs within phenotypically wild-type envelopes. This phenotypic hiding can be revealed by selection of mar mutants in vivo after virus uncoating. Using experimental procedures appropriate to detect all viable mar mutants in a virus population, we determined precisely the mutation rates to the mar genotype by the fluctuation test for two nonoverlapping monoclonal antibodies.

Evidence for At Least Four Antigenic Sites on Type O Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Involved in Neutralization; Identification by Single and Multiple Site Monoclonal Antibody-resistant Mutants

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies raised against type O foot-and-mouth disease virus have been characterized on the basis of their reactivity with a panel of single site monoclonal antibody-resistant mutants which had defined three antigenic sites. Five antibodies neutralized all these mutants, but by selecting further single site mutants with one of these antibodies it was possible to define a fourth site involved in virus neutralization. Two monoclonal antibodies still neutralized these mutants and all multiple site resistant mutants. One multiple site resistant mutant was resistant to neutralization at each of four antigenic sites but was still efficiently neutralized by type O convalescent cattle sera. The relationship between sites recognized by different monoclonal antibodies generated in different laboratories is discussed.

Identification of mar mutations in herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein B which alter antigenic structure and function in virus penetration

Analysis of six monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants in herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein B identified two type-common (II and III) and two type-specific (I and IV) antigenic sites on this molecule. To derive additional information on the location of these sites, mar mutations were mapped and nucleotide alterations were identified by DNA sequencing. Each mutant carried a single amino acid substitution resulting from a G-to-A base transition. Alterations affecting antibody neutralization were identified at residues 473, 594, 305, and 85 for mutants in sites I through IV, respectively. Two clonally distinct site II antibodies each selected mar mutants (Gly to Arg at residue 594) that exhibited a reduction in the rate of entry (roe) into host cells. A site II mar revertant that regained sensitivity to neutralization by site II antibodies also showed normal entry kinetics. DNA sequencing of this virus identified a single base reversion of the site II mar mutation, resulting in restoration of the wild-type sequence (Arg to Gly). This finding demonstrated that the mar and roe phenotypes were the result of a single mutation. To further define structures that contributed to antibody recognition, monoclonal antibodies specific for all four sites were tested for their ability to immune precipitate a panel of linker-insertion mutant glycoprotein B molecules. Individual polypeptides that contained single insertions of 2 to 28 amino acids throughout the external domain were not recognized or were recognized poorly by antibodies specific for sites II and III, whereas no insertion affected antibody recognition of sites I and IV. mar mutations affecting either site II or III were previously shown to cause temperature-sensitive defects in glycoprotein B glycosylation, and variants altered in both these sites were temperature sensitive for virus production. Taken together, the data indicate that antigenic sites II and III are composed of higher-order structures whose integrity is linked with the ability of glycoprotein B to function in virus infectivity.

Antigenic analysis of a major neutralization site of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D, using deletion mutants and monoclonal antibody-resistant mutants.

Herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D is a component of the virion envelope and appears to be involved in attachment, penetration, and cell fusion. Monoclonal antibodies against this protein can be arranged in groups on the basis of a number of biological and biochemical properties. Group I antibodies are type common, have high complement-independent neutralization titers, and recognize discontinuous (conformational) epitopes; they are currently being used in several laboratories to study the functions of glycoprotein D. We have used a panel of neutralization-resistant mutants to examine the relationships between these antibodies in detail. We found that they can be divided into two subgroups, Ia and Ib, such that mutations selected with Ia antibodies have little or no effect on binding and neutralization by Ib antibodies and vice versa. In addition, Ia antibodies are able to bind deletion and truncation mutants of glycoprotein D that Ib antibodies do not recognize, suggesting that their epitopes are physically distinct. However, with one exception, Ia and Ib antibodies block each other strongly in binding assays with purified glycoprotein D, whereas antibodies from other groups have no effect. We have therefore defined the sum of the Ia and Ib epitopes as antigenic site 1.

Location of a Neutralizing Epitope for the Haemagglutinin-Neuraminidase Glycoprotein of Newcastle Disease Virus

The binding site of a monoclonal antibody to the haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) polypeptide of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has been located. Complementary DNA or synthetic oligonucleotides corresponding to portions of the HN gene were cloned into the Escherichia coli vector pUC19 and fragments of the HN protein were thereby fused to the alpha-peptide of beta-galactosidase. Western blot analysis of E. coli lysates containing expressed fragments of the HN cDNA or synthetic oligonucleotides identified an antibody-binding peptide (Asp-Glu-Gln-Asp-Tyr-Gln-Ile-Arg; amino acid residues 346 to 353). Nucleotide sequence analysis of an antibody-resistant mutant of NDV revealed a Glu (wild-type) to Lys (mutant) substitution within the above sequence. The methods described could be useful for the location of continuous epitopes of other polypeptides.

Antigen chimaeras of poliovirus as potential new vaccines

Polioviruses occur as three distinct serotypes, 1, 2 and 3, and are composed of a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome of approximately 7,450 nucleotides enclosed in an icosahedral particle of diameter 27 nm. The three-dimensional crystallographic structure of poliovirus type 1 has been determined at 2.9 A resolution, providing a detailed knowledge of the folding and arrangement of the individual virus proteins, VP1-VP4. From this and the characterization of monoclonal antibody-resistant mutants, the amino acids contributing to antigenic sites have been identified and located on the surface of the virus particle. Here we describe the construction and characterization of a poliovirus chimaera having a defined region of type 3 inserted into type 1. This virus has composite antigenicity and the substitute site is immunogenic in small animals and primates. The ability to construct such viruses has implications for the design of improved poliovirus vaccine strains or vaccines against other picornaviruses, such as hepatitis A.

Identification of haemagglutinin-neuraminidase antibody binding sites by Western blot analysis of antibody-resistant mutants and partial digest fragments of Newcastle disease virus.

A collection of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) which react with the haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has been used to isolate MAb-resistant mutants of the Beaudette C strain of NDV. The patterns of cross-reactivity of the HN proteins of these mutants against the collection of MAbs determined by Western blotting allowed the MAbs to be sorted into different groups. Protease V8 partial digest fragments of purified wild-type virions and subsequent reaction against the collection of MAbs using Western blotting provided an alternative method of grouping MAbs which broadly agreed with the former method. Chemical cleavage of the HN protein at aspartate-proline bonds followed by Western blotting of the fragments allowed the approximate position of certain MAb binding sites to be determined.

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies specific for herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D inhibit virus penetration

Nine monoclonal antibodies specific for glycoprotein D (gD) of herpes simplex virus type 1 were selected for their ability to neutralize virus in the presence of complement. Four of these antibodies exhibited significant neutralization titers in the absence of complement, suggesting that their epitope specificities are localized to site(s) which contribute to the role of gD in virus infectivity. Each of these antibodies was shown to effectively neutralize virus after virion adsorption to cell surfaces, indicating that neutralization did not involve inhibition of virus attachment. Although some of the monoclonal antibodies partially inhibited adsorption of radiolabeled virions, this effect was only observed at concentrations much higher than that required to neutralize virus and did not correlate with complement-independent virus-neutralizing activity. All of the monoclonal antibodies slowed the rate at which virus entered cells, further suggesting that antibody binding of gD inhibits virus penetration. Experiments were carried out to determine the number of different epitopes recognized by the panel of monoclonal antibodies and to identify epitopes involved in complement-independent virus neutralization. Monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants were selected by escape from neutralization with individual gD-specific monoclonal antibodies. The reactivity patterns of the mutants and antibodies were then used to construct an operational antigenic map for gD. This analysis identified a minimum of six epitopes on gD that could be grouped into four antigenic sites. Antibodies recognizing four distinct epitopes contained in three antigenic sites were found to neutralize virus in a complement-independent fashion. Moreover, mar mutations in these sites did not affect the processing of gD, rate of virus penetration, or the ability of the virus to replicate at high temperature (39 degrees C). Taken together, these results (i) confirm that gD is a major target antigen for neutralizing antibody, (ii) indicate that the mechanism of neutralization can involve inhibition of virus penetration of the cell surface membrane, and (iii) strongly suggest that gD plays a direct role in the virus entry process.

Isolation and characterization of a monoclonal anti-P30 antibody resistant mutant of Toxoplasma gondii.

Of the possible iodine-labelled Toxoplasma gondii surface proteins, P30 (apparent Mr 30,000) is the principal one recognized by acute and convalescent anti-toxoplasma sera. This protein which comprises from 3 to 5% of the total parasite protein was used to raise a panel of parasiticidal monoclonal anti-P30 antibodies. One of these monoclonal antibodies was able to select a resistant mutant from a large population of chemically mutagenized wild-type P strain parasites. This mutant retained the wild type sensitivity to other non-P30 parasiticidal monoclonal antibodies as well as polyclonal anti-P30 rabbit sera. Analysis of surface radioiodinated wild type and mutant parasites showed that the mutant had a quantitative reduction in the amount of P30. A comparison of surface biotin labelled wild type and resistant parasites by two dimensional electrophoresis showed that the mutant lacked one and possibly two of several proteins that make up wild type P30. Western blot analysis indicated that the mutant was devoid of antigenically reactive P30. These findings further support the hypothesis that antigenic variants of T. gondii can be induced and may involve the major surface membrane antigens of the parasite.

Antigenic variation (mar mutations) in herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B can induce temperature-dependent alterations in gB processing and virus production

Monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants altered in the antigenic structure of glycoprotein B (gB) of herpes simplex virus type 1, strain KOS-321, were selected by neutralization with each of six independently derived gB-specific monoclonal antibodies. Analysis of the reactivity patterns of these mar mutants with a panel of 16 virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies identified at least five nonoverlapping epitopes on this antigen, designated groups I through V. Multiple mar mutations were also introduced into the gB structural gene by recombination and sequential antibody selection to produce a set of mar mutants with double, triple, and quadruple epitope alterations. Group II (B2) and group III (B4) antibodies were used to select the corresponding mutants, mar B2.1 and mar B4.1, which in addition to carrying the mar phenotype were temperature sensitive (ts) for processing of the major partially glycosylated precursor of gB, pgB (Mr = 107,000), to mature gB (Mr = 126,000) and showed reduced levels of gB on the cell surface at high temperature (39 degrees C). These mutants were not, however, ts for production of infectious progeny. A recombinant virus, mar B2/4.1, carrying both of these alterations was ts for virus production and failed to produce and transport any detectable mature gB to the cell surface at 39 degrees C. Rather, pgB accumulated in the infected cell. Revertants of the ts phenotype, isolated from virus plaques at 39 degrees C, regained the B2 but not the B4 epitope and were phenotypically indistinguishable from the mar B4.1 parent. Finally, it was shown that group II (B5) and group III (B4) antibodies failed to immunoprecipitate pgB (39 degrees C) produced by ts gB mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 which were not selected with monoclonal antibodies. Taken together, our findings indicate that (i) mar mutations can alter antigenic as well as other functional domains of gB, namely, the domain(s) involved in processing and infectivity, and (ii) group II and group III epitopes lie within an essential functional domain of gB which is a target for ts gB mutations.

Passive immune protection by herpes simplex virus-specific monoclonal antibodies and monoclonal antibody-resistant mutants altered in pathogenicity

Virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies specific for 13 different genetically defined epitopes of glycoproteins gC, gB, and gD of herpes simplex virus type 1, strain KOS-321, were compared for their ability to provide passive immunity to DBA-2 mice challenged intracranially. Protection was highly specific, since individual monoclonal antibodies failed to protect against infection with monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants altered in the single epitope recognized by the injected antibody. The dose-response kinetics of passive immunity paralleled the in vitro neutralization titers for each antibody. No correlation was observed between immune protection and antibody isotype or complement-dependent in vitro neutralization titers. This suggests that virus neutralization was not the protective mechanism. In general, antibodies reactive with epitopes of gC were protective at the lowest antibody doses, antibodies specific for gB were less efficient in providing immunity, and antibodies against gD were the least effective. mar mutants with single epitope changes in gC and multiple epitope changes in gB showed highly reduced pathogenicity, requiring up to 5 X 10(6) PFU to kill 50% of infected animals. These findings indicated that antigenic variation affects virus growth and spread in the central nervous system. Thus, mutations which affect antigenic structure also can alter virus pathogenicity. The alteration of these epitopes does not, however, appreciably reduce the development of resistance to infection. Infection of mice with these mutants or inoculation of mice with UV-inactivated, mutant-infected cells before challenge rendered the animals resistant to infection with wild-type herpes simplex virus type 1.

Identification of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein gC as the immunodominant antigen for HSV-1-specific memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

The frequency and fine specificity of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) of C57BL/6 mice was investigated in limiting dilution culture. The reactivity patterns of virus-specific CTL were assayed on target cells infected with HSV type 1, strain KOS, HSV type 2, strain Mueller, and mutants of HSV-1 (KOS) antigenically deficient or altered in glycoproteins gC or gB, two of the four major HSV-1-encoded cell surface glycoprotein antigens. Most CTL clones recognized type-specific determinants on target cells infected with the immunizing HSV serotype. In addition, the majority of HSV-1-specific CTL did not cross-react with cells infected with syn LD70, a mutant of HSV-1 (KOS) deficient for the presentation of cell surface glycoprotein gC. These data are the first demonstration of the clonal specificity of HSV-1-reactive CTL, and they identify gC as the immunodominant antigen. The fine specificity of gC-specific CTL clones was analyzed on target cells infected with mutant viruses altered in the antigenic structure of gC. These mutants were selected by resistance to neutralization with monoclonal antibodies, referred to as monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants. Most mar mutations in gC did not affect recognition by the majority of CTL clones. This indicated that most epitopes recognized by CTL are distinct from those defined by antibodies. The finding, however, that one mar mutation in gC affected both CTL and antibody recognition of this antigen may help to define antigenic sites important to both humoral and cell-mediated immunity to herpesvirus infection.

Isolation and characterization of monoclonal antibody-resistant mutants of Newcastle disease virus.

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies incorporated into plaque assay overlay medium were used to select antibody-resistant (AbR) mutants of both the Herts (using antifusion protein monoclonal 481) and Beaudette C (using anti-haemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein monoclonal 445) strains of Newcastle disease virus at the permissive temperature of 34 degrees C. Certain of the Herts, but none of the Beaudette C, AbR mutants were also temperature-sensitive (ts-) and failed to form plaques at the non-permissive temperature of 41.5 degrees C. [35S]Methionine-labelled proteins from chick embryo fibroblasts infected with wild-type, ts+ AbR and ts- AbR virus when separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a variety of changes in the isoelectric point of the fusion protein F (using monoclonal 481) and the haemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein HN (using monoclonal 445). The ts+ 'revertants' of ts- AbR mutants remained AbR and also showed changed isoelectric points in the F protein.

Epitopes of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein gC are clustered in two distinct antigenic sites.

Epitopes of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strain KOS glycoprotein gC were identified by using a panel of gC-specific, virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and a series of antigenic variants selected for resistance to neutralization with individual members of the antibody panel. Variants that were resistant to neutralization and expressed an antigenically altered form of gC were designated monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants. mar mutants were isolated at frequencies of 10(-3) to 10(-5), depending on the antibody used for selection. The epitopes on gC were operationally grouped into antigenic sites by evaluating the patterns of neutralization observed when a panel of 22 antibodies was tested against 22 mar mutants. A minimum of nine epitopes was identified by this process. Three epitopes were assigned to one antigenic site (I), and six were clustered in a second complex site (II) composed of three distinct subsites, IIa, IIb, and IIc. The two antigenic sites were shown to reside in physically distinct domains of the glycoprotein, by radioimmunoprecipitation of truncated forms of gC. These polypeptides lacked portions of the carboxy terminus and ranged in size from approximately one-half that of the wild-type molecule to nearly full size. Antibodies recognizing epitopes in site II immunoprecipitated the entire series of truncated polypeptides and thereby demonstrated that site II resided in the N-terminal half of gC. Antibodies reactive with site I, however, did not immunoprecipitate fragments smaller than at least two-thirds the size of the wild-type polypeptide, suggesting that site I was located in the C-terminal portion. Sites I and II were also shown to be spatially separate on the gC polypeptide by competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibodies representative of different site I and site II epitopes.

Human natural killer cell recognition of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoproteins: specificity analysis with the use of monoclonal antibodies and antigenic variants.

The specificity of human natural killer (NK) cells for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-infected WISH cells was examined by using virus-specific antibodies to block NK killing and by using targets infected with virus variants that express antigenically altered cell surface glycoproteins. Fab fragments of human immunoglobulin (Ig) derived from an HSV-1 seropositive individual blocked NK activity against HSV-1-infected cells, whereas Fab fragments from a seronegative individual had no effect. Fab fragments of monoclonal antibodies specific for different epitopes of the HSV-1 glycoproteins gB and gC blocked NK activity, suggesting that NK cells interact directly with viral glycoproteins. In contrast, a control (HSV-unreactive) monoclonal antibody did not block NK activity. Further evidence that the blocking activity was associated with HSV glycoproteins was obtained by showing that: a) gC-specific antibodies did not decrease NK activity against cells infected with an HSV-1 mutant which does not insert gC into infected cell surface membranes; b) gB-specific antibodies did not reduce NK cytotoxicity against target cells infected with HSV-1 in the presence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2dG), which prevents cell surface expression of gB; c) HSV-1 glycoprotein-specific antibodies did not alter NK activity against uninfected cells or against K562, an NK-susceptible tumor cell line; and d) a monoclonal antibody reactive with a cell membrane glycolipid markedly reduced NK reactivity against K562 but had little effect on NK reactivity against HSV-1-infected cells, suggesting that NK cells recognize different determinants on the two types of target cells. Analysis of the fine specificity of NK cell recognition of HSV-1 glycoproteins was performed by using target cells infected with antigenic variants of HSV-1 referred to as monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants. mar mutants are altered in distinct epitopes of gB or gC, resulting in loss of recognition by the selecting virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibody. NK activity was reduced against cells infected with some, but not all, of these variants. Together, these findings demonstrated a positive correlation between expression of HSV-1 glycoproteins gB and gC and susceptibility of HSV-1-infected target cells to NK activity, implicating the viral glycoproteins as cell surface components recognized by NK cells. Moreover, mutations affecting glycoprotein epitopes defined by monoclonal antibodies also influenced the interaction between NK effector cells and HSV-1-infected target cells, suggesting that viral antigenic sites recognized by NK cells overlap with those recognized by anti-HSV-1 antibodies.