Baumert, Catherine Schuster Introduction: Binding epitopes of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against HCV are generally mapped by alanine scanning mutagenesis. These studies provide useful information on key mAb binding residues, but they do not directly test the effect of mutations on virus neutralization sensitivity, nor do they test the effect of the wide array of naturally occurring HCV envelope

mutations that occur in vivo. Methods: A panel of 19 diverse genotype 1 HCV E1E2 clones was LY2606368 purchase used to produce a library of HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp). These HCVpp were tested for neutralization by 19 published monoclonal anti-HCV neutralizing antibodies (nAb). Individual HCVpp were ranked by neutralization sensitivity to each mAb, and analysis of E1E2 sequences was used to identify mutations associated with resistance. The resistance phenotypes of these mutations were confirmed by their introduction into nAb sensitive E1E2 clones. Results: We identified naturally occurring E1E2 clones that were sensitive as well as clones with 60-100% resistance to each broadly neutralizing mAb tested. To validate the HCVpp library system, we compared ranking of neutralization sensitivity of library HCVpp’s to two closely related mAbs (HC33.4.10 and HC33.8) and BGB324 molecular weight found extremely high correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.94, p<.00〇1). We subsequently compared ranking

of sensitivity to two unrelated mAbs (HC33.4.10 and HC84.22)

and MCE公司 found no correlation (correlation 0.08, p=.75). Surprisingly, we found correlation in ranking of HCVpp sensitivity to some mAbs thought to have non-overlapping binding sites (i. e. HC84.22 and AR3C, correlation 0.84, p<.0001). Through sequence analysis of resistant E1E2 clones, we identified a mutation, D431E, that could confer resistance to neutralization by many of the broadly neutralizing mAb tested, including CBH-2, AR3A, AR3B, AR3C, AR3D, and HC84.22. A second mutation, F442I, conferred resistance to mAbs HC84.22 and HC84.26. Conclusions: We have developed a novel, rapid method to identify naturally occurring mutations in E1E2 conferring resistance to neutralizing mAbs. We found unexpected correlations between ranking of HCVpp neutralization sensitivity to some mAbs thought to have non-overlapping binding sites, suggesting that some mutations or combinations of mutations may confer resistance to multiple broadly neutralizing mAbs. We have identified two such mutations, D431E and F442I. Use of this method will be critical to identify additional mutations and combinations of mutations conferring resistance to broadly neutralizing mAbs, allowing more accurate identification of mAbs most likely to be effective in vivo. Disclosures: Stuart C. Ray – Advisory Committees or Review Panels: Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott Laboratories The following people have nothing to disclose: Justin R. Bailey, Anna E. Snider, William O.