Broadly Neutralizing Anti-HIV Antibodies and Epitope Therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to broadly neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibodies and isolated antigens. Also disclosed are related methods and compositions.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An isolated antigen comprising an epitope-scaffold that mimics the HIV-1 envelope spike epitope of broadly neutralizing antibody 8ANC195. 
     
     
         12 . The antigen of  claim 11  wherein the epitope-scaffold comprises a discontinous epitope and a scaffold, wherein the epitope is derived from HIV-1 gp120 and gp41, and wherein at least part of the scaffold is not derived from gp120 or gp41. 
     
     
         13 . The antigen of  claim 12  wherein the discontinuous epitope comprises amino acids corresponding to amino acid numbers 44-47, 90-94, 97, 234, 236-238, 240, 274-278, 352-354, 357, 456, 463, 466, 487, and 625-641 of gp140 from HIV strain 93TH057 numbered using standard numbering for HIV strain HXBC2. 
     
     
         14 . The antigen of  claim 13  wherein the amino acids corresponding to amino acid numbers 234 and 276 are glycosylated. 
     
     
         15 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding the antigen of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         16 . A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         17 . A cultured cell comprising the vector of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         18 . A composition comprising the antigen of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         19 . A method for inducing an HIV antigen-specific immune response in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject the composition of  claim 18  in an amount effective to generate an immune response. 
     
     
         20 . A method of preventing or treating an HIV-1 infection in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to said subject the composition of  claim 19  in an amount effective to generate an immune response. 
     
     
         21 . A method for detecting or isolating an HIV-1 binding antibody in a subject comprising obtaining a biological sample from said subject, contacting said sample with the antigen of  claim 11 , and conducting an assay to detect or isolate an HIV-1 binding antibody.