cGMP production and analysis of BG505 SOSIP.664, an extensively glycosylated, trimeric HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein vaccine candidate.

TitlecGMP production and analysis of BG505 SOSIP.664, an extensively glycosylated, trimeric HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein vaccine candidate.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsDey AK, Cupo A, Ozorowski G, Sharma VK, Behrens A-J, Go EP, Ketas TJ, Yasmeen A, Klasse PJ, Sayeed E, Desaire H, Crispin M, Wilson IA, Sanders RW, Hassell T, Ward AB, Moore JP
JournalBiotechnol Bioeng
Volume115
Issue4
Pagination885-899
Date Published2018 04
ISSN1097-0290
KeywordsAIDS Vaccines, Animals, Antibodies, Neutralizing, CHO Cells, Cricetulus, Glycosylation, HIV Antibodies, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Humans, Protein Multimerization, Vaccines, Synthetic, Viral Envelope Proteins
Abstract

We describe the properties of BG505 SOSIP.664 HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers produced under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) conditions. These proteins are the first of a new generation of native-like trimers that are the basis for many structure-guided immunogen development programs aimed at devising how to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) to HIV-1 by vaccination. The successful translation of this prototype demonstrates the feasibility of producing similar immunogens on an appropriate scale and of an acceptable quality for Phase I experimental medicine clinical trials. BG505 SOSIP.664 trimers are extensively glycosylated, contain numerous disulfide bonds and require proteolytic cleavage, all properties that pose a substantial challenge to cGMP production. Our strategy involved creating a stable CHO cell line that was adapted to serum-free culture conditions to produce envelope glycoproteins. The trimers were then purified by chromatographic methods using a 2G12 bNAb affinity column and size-exclusion chromatography. The chosen procedures allowed any adventitious viruses to be cleared from the final product to the required extent of >12 log . The final cGMP production run yielded 3.52 g (peptidic mass) of fully purified trimers (Drug Substance) from a 200 L bioreactor, a notable yield for such a complex glycoprotein. The purified trimers were fully native-like as judged by negative-stain electron microscopy, and were stable over a multi-month period at room temperature or below and for at least 1 week at 50°C. Their antigenicity, disulfide bond patterns, and glycan composition were consistent with trimers produced on a research laboratory scale. The methods reported here should pave the way for the cGMP production of other native-like Env glycoprotein trimers of various designs and genotypes.

DOI10.1002/bit.26498
Alternate JournalBiotechnol Bioeng
PubMed ID29150937
PubMed Central IDPMC5852640
Grant ListP01 AI110657 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
UM1 AI100663 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States

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