Convergent Evolution in Breadth of Two VH6-1-Encoded Influenza Antibody Clonotypes from a Single Donor.

Abstract

Understanding how broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) to influenza hemagglutinin (HA) naturally develop in humans is critical to the design of universal influenza vaccines. Several classes of bnAbs directed to the conserved HA stem were found in multiple individuals, including one encoded by heavy-chain variable domain VH6-1. We describe two genetically similar VH6-1 bnAb clonotypes from the same individual that exhibit different developmental paths toward broad neutralization activity. One clonotype evolved from a germline precursor recognizing influenza group 1 subtypes to gain breadth to group 2 subtypes. The other clonotype recognized group 2 subtypes and developed binding to group 1 subtypes through somatic hypermutation. Crystal structures reveal that the specificity differences are primarily mediated by complementarity-determining region H3 (CDR H3). Thus, while VH6-1 provides a framework for development of HA stem-directed bnAbs, sequence differences in CDR H3 junctional regions during VDJ recombination can alter reactivity and evolutionary pathways toward increased breadth.

• Authors: Nicholas C Wu, Sarah F Andrews, Julie E Raab, Sarah O'Connell, Chaim A Schramm, Xintao Ding, Michael J Chambers, Kwanyee Leung, Lingshu Wang, Yi Zhang, John R Mascola, Daniel C Douek, Julie E Ledgerwood, Adrian B McDermott, Ian A Wilson
• Journal: Cell host & microbe (Cell Host Microbe) Vol. 28 Issue 3 Pg. 434-444.e4 (09 09 2020) ISSN: 1934-6069 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32619441 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Neutralizing
• Antibodies, Viral
• Complementarity Determining Regions
• Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus
• Influenza Vaccines

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Antibodies, Neutralizing (chemistry, immunology)
• Antibodies, Viral (chemistry, immunology)
• Antibody Affinity
• Binding Sites, Antibody
• Cell Line
• Complementarity Determining Regions (chemistry, immunology)
• Cross Reactions (immunology)
• Evolution, Molecular
• Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus (chemistry, immunology)
• Humans
• Influenza Vaccines (immunology)
• Influenza, Human (immunology)
• Phylogeny
• Protein Conformation
• Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin