The conformational epitope of a gp41-specific mucosal protective IgA binds to the HIV-1 envelope and neutralizes infection

Abstract

HIV-1 envelope conformational changes necessary for viral infection make the gp41 subunit a key target for antiviral drugs. Using reverse vaccinology applied to a mucosal HIV-1 neutralizing IgA, we identified P7, a 12 amino-acid peptide at the interface of the N and C-helices of gp41. We now show that P7 interacts with the trimeric HIV-1 envelope cross-clade with a nanomolar affinity, captures gp41 in a 6-Helix Bundle conformation, and binds to infected cells and free virus. Functionally, P7 neutralizes HIV infection cross-clade and inhibits cell-to-cell viral transfer. Adding a lipid tail to P7 (Lipo-P7) improved neutralization of primary CD4⁺ T cells by Transmitted / Founder clade B and primary clades A and C viruses. Lipo-P7 also neutralized a T20-resistant virus harboring gp41 G36D, V38M mutations. Altogether, P7 appears as a promising cross-clade HIV-1 antiviral peptide that could also induce protective mucosal IgA levels to prevent sexual HIV infection.

Keywords: HIV envelop protein gp41; anti-HIV drugs; conformational epitope; mucosal IgA.