Donald C. Reason

Recurrent variable region gene usage and somatic mutation in the human antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 23F.

ABSTRACT Combinatorial cloning and expression library analysis were used to isolate human antibody Fab fragments specific for the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 23F. Thirty 23F-specific Fabs were isolated from seven vaccinated donors, and the sequences of the heavy (H)- and light (L)-chain variable regions were determined. All individuals utilized either the Vκ A23 L chain, the Vκ L6 L chain, or both chains in forming the 23F-specific combining site. Vκ A23 L chains paired primarily with VH3-23 H chains. Vκ L6 L chains were more promiscuous in heavy-chain usage between individuals. Both H and L chains were mutated, primarily in the complementarity-determining regions, compared to their closest germ line counterpart, suggesting a recall response that has undergone affinity maturation. H-chain isotypes were reflective of those found in the serum. Shared somatic modifications demonstrated that immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) and IgA antibodies arose from the same somatically matured B cell. Our results indicate that the response to the serotype 23F pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide is oligoclonal within the individual, with one or two paratope families accounting for the majority of expressed antibody. We also determined that, in spite of the combinatorial diversity available to the immune system, the 23F-specific response is highly restricted at the population level, with the same two L-chain-determined paratope families recurring in all individuals. Lastly, analysis of the isolated Fabs indicate all have undergone extensive somatic mutation, as well as class switch, maturational events that presumably require the participation of T cells.

Somatic Hypermutation and Diverse Immunoglobulin Gene Usage in the Human Antibody Response to the Capsular Polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae Type 6B

ABSTRACT Combinatorial cloning and expression library analysis were used to determine the expressed human antibody repertoire specific for the capsular polysaccharide (PS) of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6B. Sequence analysis of 55 6B-specific antibody Fab fragments isolated from six vaccinated donors reveal that different individuals used a variety of heavy and light chain germ line variable (V) region genes to form pneumococcal capsular PS (PPS) 6B-specific paratopes. Within each donor, however, the response was more restricted, with five of the six donors using at most one or two gene pairs to form combining sites. Analysis also indicated that although the response in each donor was oligoclonal in terms of variable gene usage, the combination of extensive somatic hypermutation, deletion of germ line-encoded residues, insertion of non-germ line-encoded residues, and intraclonal isotype switching generated a surprising degree of paratope diversity within the individuals analyzed. In contrast to previously studied PS-specific responses, we find that the PPS 6B repertoire makes use of a diverse collection of heavy-chain and light-chain V region gene products to form specific paratopes, with no apparent tendency for conservation of immunoglobulin gene usage between individuals.

Combinatorial library cloning of human antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides: Variable region primary structures and evidence for somatic mutation of Fab fragments specific for capsular serotypes 6B, 14, and 23F

ABSTRACT Antibodies specific for capsular polysaccharides play a central role in immunity to encapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae, but little is known about their genetics or the variable (V) region polymorphisms that affect their protective function. To begin to address these issues, we used combinatorial library cloning to isolate pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPS)-specific Fab fragments from two vaccinated adults. We determined complete V region primary structures and performed antigen binding analyses of seven Fab fragments specific for PPS serotype 6B, 14, or 23F. Fabs were of the immunoglobulin G2 or A isotype. Several VHIII gene segments (HV 3-7, 3-15, 3-23, and 3-11) were identified. VL regions were encoded by several κ genes (KV 4-1, 3-15, 2-24, and 2D-29) and a λ gene (LV 1-51). Deviation of the VH and VL regions from their assigned germ line counterparts indicated that they were somatically mutated. Fabs of the same serotype specificity isolated from a single individual differed in affinity, and these differences could be accounted for either by the extent of mutation among clonal relatives or by usage of different V-region genes. Thus, functionally disparate anti-PPS antibodies can arise within individuals both by activation of independent clones and by intraclonal somatic mutation. For one pair of clonally related Fabs, the more extensively mutated VH was associated with lower affinity for PPS 14, a result suggesting that somatic mutation could lead to diminished protective efficacy. These findings indicate that the PPS repertoire in the adult derives from memory B-cell populations that have class switched and undergone extensive hypermutation.

Complement-Mediated Bactericidal Activity of Anti-Factor H Binding Protein Monoclonal Antibodies against the Meningococcus Relies upon Blocking Factor H Binding

ABSTRACT Binding of the complement-downregulating protein factor H (fH) to the surface of the meningococcus is important for survival of the organism in human serum. The meningococcal vaccine candidate factor H binding protein (fHbp) is an important ligand for human fH. While some fHbp-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) block binding of fH to fHbp, the stoichiometry of blocking in the presence of high serum concentrations of fH and its effect on complement-mediated bactericidal activity are unknown. To investigate this question, we constructed chimeric antibodies in which the human IgG1 constant region was paired with three murine fHbp-specific binding domains designated JAR 3, JAR 5, and MAb502. By surface plasmon resonance, the association rates for binding of all three MAbs to immobilized fHbp were >50-fold higher than that for binding of fH to fHbp, and the MAb dissociation rates were >500-fold lower than that for fH. While all three MAbs elicited similar C1q-dependent C4b deposition on live bacteria (classical complement pathway), only those antibodies that inhibited binding of fH to fHbp (JAR 3 and JAR 5) had bactericidal activity with human complement. MAb502, which did not inhibit fH binding, had complement-mediated bactericidal activity only when tested with fH-depleted human complement. When an IgG1 anti-fHbp MAb binds to sparsely exposed fHbp on the bacterial surface, there appears to be insufficient complement activation for bacteriolysis unless fH binding also is inhibited. The ability of fHbp vaccines to elicit protective antibodies, therefore, is likely to be enhanced if the antibody repertoire is of high avidity and includes fH-blocking activity.

Polysaccharide vaccines as probes of antibody repertoires in man.

Summary: Antibodies specific for capsular polysaccharide epitopes mediate immunity to encapsulated bacterial pathogens, and accordingly, vac‐cine development has focused upon the induction of these specificities. Efficacious vaccines, consisting of either polysaccharide alone or polysaccharide coupled to protein carriers, have been developed for a number of pathogens. Their clinical importance not with standing, these vaccines serve as model antigens to study the genetic and somatic forces molding adaptive immunity in man. In this article we review progress aimed at delineating the structure and dynamics of the human antibody repertoire to the Hoemophilus influenzoe type b poiysaccharide (Hib PS), a system which has been studied from infancy to old age. Collectively, the data reveal a repertoire which is encoded by a relatively iarge number of germline variable (V) region gene segments, but which is typically expressed within individuals as a markedly restricted, oligoclonal population. One particular V domain has attained canonical status because of its high penetrance at the population level and its predominance in individual repertoires, Although this combining site is assembled in early infancy and retains its prominence throughout life, its frequency of expression, affinity and protective function are dictated by the molecular form of the Hib PS immunogen (vaccine). The determinants of Hib PS binding affinity can include both germline and somatically‐acquired V region polymorphisms. We discuss how these properties of the Hib PS repertoire could impact immunity to Htb, and we consider the implications of these findings towards understanding die evolution of immunoglobulin germline V genes.

Combined Roles of Human IgG Subclass, Alternative Complement Pathway Activation, and Epitope Density in the Bactericidal Activity of Antibodies to Meningococcal Factor H Binding Protein

ABSTRACT Meningococcal vaccines containing factor H binding protein (fHbp) are in clinical development. fHbp binds human fH, which enables the meningococcus to resist complement-mediated bacteriolysis. Previously, we found that chimeric human IgG1 mouse anti-fHbp monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) had human complement-mediated bactericidal activity only if the MAb inhibited fH binding. Since IgG subclasses differ in their ability to activate complement, we investigated the role of human IgG subclasses on antibody functional activity. We constructed chimeric MAbs in which three different murine fHbp-specific binding domains were each paired with human IgG1, IgG2, or IgG3. Against a wild-type group B isolate, all three IgG3 MAbs, irrespective of their ability to inhibit fH binding, had bactericidal activity that was >5-fold higher than the respective IgG1 MAbs, while the IgG2 MAbs had the least activity. Against a mutant with increased fHbp expression, the anti-fHbp MAbs elicited greater C4b deposition (classical pathway) and greater bactericidal activity than against the wild-type strain, and the IgG1 MAbs had similar or greater activity than the respective IgG3 MAbs. The bactericidal activity against both wild-type and mutant strains also was dependent, in part, on activation of the alternative complement pathway. Thus, at lower epitope density in the wild-type strain, the IgG3 anti-fHbp MAbs had the greatest bactericidal activity. At a higher epitope density in the mutant, the IgG1 MAbs had similar or greater bactericidal activity than the IgG3 MAbs, and the activity was less dependent on the inhibition of fH binding than at a lower epitope density.

Frequency and Domain Specificity of Toxin-Neutralizing Paratopes in the Human Antibody Response to Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed

ABSTRACT Protective antigen (PA) is the cell surface recognition unit of the binary anthrax toxin system and the primary immunogenic component in both the current and proposed “next-generation” anthrax vaccines. Several studies utilizing animal models have indicated that PA-specific antibodies, acquired by either active or passive immunization, are sufficient to protect against infection with Bacillus anthracis. To investigate the human antibody response to anthrax immunization, we have established a large panel of human PA-specific monoclonal antibodies derived from multiple individuals vaccinated with the currently approved anthrax vaccine BioThrax. We have determined that although these antibodies bind PA in standard binding assays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, capture assays, and dot blots, less than 25% are capable of neutralizing lethal toxin (LT) in vitro. Nonneutralizing antibodies also fail to neutralize toxin when present in combination with other nonneutralizing paratopes. Although neutralizing antibodies recognize determinants throughout the PA monomer, they are significantly less common among those paratopes that bind to the immunodominant amino-terminal portion of the molecule. These findings demonstrate that PA binding alone is not sufficient to neutralize LT and suggest that for an antibody to effectively block PA-mediated toxicity, it must bind to PA such that one of the requisite toxin functions is disrupted. A vaccine design strategy that directed a higher percentage of the antibody response toward neutralizing epitopes may result in a more efficacious vaccine for the prevention of anthrax infection.

A Broadly Cross-Reactive Monoclonal Antibody Against an Epitope on the N-terminus of Meningococcal fHbp

Meningococcal factor H binding protein (fHbp) is an important vaccine antigen for prevention of disease caused by capsular group B strains. The protein has been sub-classified into three variant groups. Most anti-fHbp antibodies are variant group-specific and recognize epitopes on the C-terminal domain. We report a murine IgG1 mAb, JAR 41, which broadly cross-reacted with fHbp sequence variants from all variant groups. The mAb bound to the surface of live meningococci with fHbp from each of the three variant groups. In combination with second non-bactericidal anti-fHbp mAbs, JAR 41 elicited complement-mediated bactericidal activity in vitro, and augmented passive protection against meningococcal bacteremia in human fH transgenic rats. The epitope was located on a conserved region of the N-terminal portion of the fHbp molecule opposite that of fH contact residues. The data underscore the importance of broadly cross-reactive, surface-exposed epitopes on the N-terminal domain in the design of protective fHbp vaccines.

Domain specificity of the human antibody response to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen

Protective antigen (PA) is the cell surface recognition moiety of the Bacillus anthracis A-B toxin system, and the active immunogenic component in the currently licensed human anthrax vaccine (BioThrax, or AVA). The serum antibody response to the PA protein is polyclonal and complex both in terms of the antibody combining sites utilized to bind PA and the PA-associated epitopes recognized. We have cloned, sequenced, and expressed a large panel of PA-specific human monoclonal antibodies from seven AVA-immunized donors. Dot blots, Western blots, and radiolabeled antigen capture assays employing both proteolytic fragments of PA and engineered PA sub-domain fusion proteins were used to determine the region (domain) of the PA monomer to which each of the cloned human antibodies bound. The domain specificity of the isolated monoclonals was highly biased towards the amino-terminal 20kDa fragment of PA (PA(20)), with the majority (62%) of independently arising antibody clones reacting with determinants located on this PA fragment. A similar bias in domain specificity was also demonstrated in the serum response of AVA-vaccinated donors. Since PA(20) is cleaved from the remainder of the monomer rapidly following cell surface binding and has no known role in the intoxication process, the immunodominance of PA(20)-associated epitopes may directly affect the efficacy of PA-based anthrax vaccines.

Molecular ontogeny of the human antibody repertoire to the Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide: expression of canonical variable regions and their variants in vaccinated infants

A structurally conserved antibody combining site, encoded by the IGH V3-23 and kappa A2 variable (V) region gene segments, predominates the adult immune response to the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) capsular polysaccharide (PS). This site has been elevated to canonical status based upon its relative molecular uniformity and prevalence in adults. To date, no studies have examined the primary structure of Hib PS-specific antibodies in young infants, who are the primary targets of Hib vaccination. In this study we show that canonical Hib PS-specific heavy (H) and light (L) chain V regions are present in 4-month-old infants following two vaccinations with Hib PS-protein conjugates. The infant V regions contain sequence polymorphisms that resemble those found in adult antibodies, as well as polymorphisms at position 95a of the A2 L chain not previously observed in adults. In vitro studies of Fab fragments and recombinant IgG2 antibodies using these V regions identify sequence polymorphisms that impact Hib PS binding affinity and bactericidal activity. These results demonstrate the establishment of canonical V regions in early ontogeny and provide a structural explanation of how canonical antibodies in the infant can vary in their affinity and protective activity against Hib.