Biology subjects

Le Douce, V.

Publications and source records attributed to Le Douce, V..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Durable suppression of viremia by lipid nanoparticle-formulated RNA encoding for a highly potent HIV-1 neutralizing antibody

Recombinant broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are promising tools to treat and prevent HIV-1 infection but are associated with manufacturing challenges. To overcome this limitation, we encoded the potent bNAb 1-18-LS on RNA (1-18-LS RibobNAb) for delivery via lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Indicating high in vivo antibody expression, a 30 ug RNA-LNP intravenous injection resulted in an average peak 1-18-LS RibobNAb serum concentration of 1,061 ug/mL in human neonatal Fc receptor-transgenic mice. Notably, weekly 30 ug RNA-LNP doses maintained higher trough bNAb levels than 500 ug protein injections. Highlighting potent antiviral activity, RNA-LNP-mediated 1-18-LS RibobNAb monotherapy of viremic HIV-1YU2-infected humanized mice resulted in durable HIV-1 suppression without emerging viral escape. Importantly, 1-18-LS RNA-LNP treatment also fully controlled infection after interruption of antiretroviral therapy in humanized mice infected with different patient-derived polyclonal HIV-1 isolates. Our findings provide a proof-of-principle for effective RNA-mediated bNAb immunotherapy of HIV-1 infection.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

RNA-Encoded PGT121-LS Anti-HIV Antibody: Comprehensive Preclinical Characterization and Translational Pharmacokinetics

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) have demonstrated clinical efficacy, but face manufacturing challenges associated with recombinant protein production and purification. Here, we present a ribonucleic acid (RNA)-encoded bNAb (RibobNAb) platform that enables in vivo antibody production of the clinically validated bNAb PGT121 via lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery, supporting rapid evaluation of Fc variants (LS, del294, LS-del294) in vitro and in vivo. We confirmed expression, sub-nanomolar HIV-1 Env binding, and potent neutralization across all RibobNAb variants in vitro. In mice, single RNA-LNP administrations yielded in vivo expression of all RibobNAb variants, with PGT121-LS exhibiting a prolonged half-life compared with PGT121. In non-human primates (NHPs), a single intravenous administration of PGT121-LS RNA-LNP was well tolerated without anti-drug antibody (ADA) formation over 180 days and resulted in PGT121-LS half-lives comparable to the reference protein. Single intramuscular administration showed RibobNAb expression but resulted in ADA development from Day 14 onwards and lower bioavailability. In vivo-expressed PGT121-LS RibobNAb retained identical antiviral functionality to PGT121-LS reference protein. An NHP pharmacokinetics model integrating RNA transfection and translation dynamics enabled allometric scaling and first-in-human dose prediction. We highlight RibobNAbs as an alternative to conventional purified protein antibodies for rapid development of bNAb-based therapeutic strategies. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=193 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/734219v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (44K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@141319forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@120caadorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1da2782org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@158064d_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG Graphical abstract C_FIG

immunology↗

bioRxiv2021

Novel Role of UHRF1 in DNA methylation-mediated repression of latent HIV-1

The multiplicity, heterogeneity and dynamic nature of HIV-1 latency mechanisms are reflected in the current lack of functional cure for HIV-1 and in the various reported ex vivo potencies of latency- reversing agents. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the potency of the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-AzadC) in HIV-1 latency reversal. Doing so, we uncovered specific demethylation CpG signatures induced by 5-AzadC in the HIV-1 promoter. By analyzing the binding modalities to these CpG, we revealed the recruitment of the epigenetic integrator UHRF1 to the HIV-1 promoter. We further demonstrated the role of UHRF1 in DNA methylation- mediated silencing of the latent HIV-1 promoter. As a proof-of-concept to this molecular characterization, we showed that pharmacological downregulation of UHRF1 in ex vivo HIV+ patient cell cultures resulted in potent reactivation of latent HIV-1. Together, we identify UHRF1 as a novel actor in HIV-1 gene silencing and highlight that it constitutes a new molecular target for HIV-1 curative strategies.

microbiology↗