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Updated: Apr 2, 2026
Conformational Evaluation of HIV-1 Trimeric Envelope Glycoproteins Using a Cell-based ELISA Assay
Published on: September 14, 2014
Presenting native-like HIV-1 envelope trimers on ferritin nanoparticles improves their immunogenicity
Kwinten Sliepen1, Gabriel Ozorowski2, Judith A Burger3
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. k.h.sliepen@amc.uva.nl.
Background:
Presenting vaccine antigens in particulate form can improve their immunogenicity by enhancing B cell activation.
Findings:
We describe ferritin-based protein nanoparticles that display multiple copies of native-like HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers (BG505 SOSIP.664). Trimer-bearing nanoparticles were significantly more immunogenic than trimers in both mice and rabbits. Furthermore, rabbits immunized with the trimer-bearing nanoparticles induced significantly higher neutralizing antibody responses against most tier 1A viruses, and higher responses (but not significantly), to several tier 1B viruses and the autologous tier 2 virus than when the same trimers were delivered as soluble proteins.
Conclusions:
This or other nanoparticle designs may be practical ways to improve the immunogenicity of envelope glycoprotein trimers.
