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Tebas P. Future of bNAbs in HIV Treatment. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2025; 22:34. [PMID: 40423754 PMCID: PMC12116831 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-025-00744-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2025] [Indexed: 05/28/2025]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) represent a novel approach to HIV treatment, prevention, and cure strategies. As research advances, the clinical application of bNAbs continues to evolve. This review explores the potential role of bNAbs in HIV management, addressing their mechanisms of action, current limitations, and future directions. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have demonstrated that bNAbs can effectively neutralize a broad range of HIV strains by targeting conserved epitopes on the viral envelope. Clinical trials have shown that bNAb combinations can maintain viral supression in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART), though pre-existing resistance remains a major challenge. Strategies such as Fc engineering and alternative delivery mechanisms (e.g., AAV, mRNA, DNA) are being explored to enhance bNAb efficacy and durability. Despite promising data, bNAbs have not yet demonstrated superior effectiveness compared to existing ART or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options. While bNAbs offer exciting possibilities for long-acting HIV therapy, their widespread use is limited by logistical challenges, high production costs, and pre-existing viral resistance. The future of bNAbs may lie in combination strategies with small-molecule antiretrovirals in maintenance strategies, genetic delivery systems, and vaccine-based approaches to induce endogenous bNAb production. Further research is needed to refine these strategies and determine the optimal role of bNAbs in HIV care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Tebas
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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2
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Zhu H, Ding Y. Nanobodies: From Discovery to AI-Driven Design. BIOLOGY 2025; 14:547. [PMID: 40427736 PMCID: PMC12109276 DOI: 10.3390/biology14050547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2025] [Revised: 04/25/2025] [Accepted: 05/06/2025] [Indexed: 05/29/2025]
Abstract
Nanobodies, derived from naturally occurring heavy-chain antibodies in camelids (VHHs) and sharks (VNARs), are unique single-domain antibodies that have garnered significant attention in therapeutic, diagnostic, and biotechnological applications due to their small size, stability, and high specificity. This review first traces the historical discovery of nanobodies, highlighting key milestones in their isolation, characterization, and therapeutic development. We then explore their structure-function relationship, emphasizing features like their single-domain architecture and long CDR3 loop that contribute to their binding versatility. Additionally, we examine the growing interest in multiepitope nanobodies, in which binding to different epitopes on the same antigen not only enhances neutralization and specificity but also allows these nanobodies to be used as controllable modules for precise antigen manipulation. This review also discusses the integration of AI in nanobody design and optimization, showcasing how machine learning and deep learning approaches are revolutionizing rational design, humanization, and affinity maturation processes. With continued advancements in structural biology and computational design, nanobodies are poised to play an increasingly vital role in addressing both existing and emerging biomedical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetics and Development of Complex Phenotypes, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China;
- Quzhou Fudan Institute, Quzhou 324002, China
| | - Yu Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Genetics and Development of Complex Phenotypes, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China;
- Quzhou Fudan Institute, Quzhou 324002, China
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Illes P, Rubini P, Ulrich H, Yin H, Tang Y. Dysregulation of Astrocytic ATP/Adenosine Release in the Hippocampus Cause Cognitive and Affective Disorders: Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Therapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2025; 6:e70177. [PMID: 40255917 PMCID: PMC12006733 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.70177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2025] [Accepted: 03/13/2025] [Indexed: 04/22/2025] Open
Abstract
The gliotransmitter adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and its enzymatic degradation product adenosine play a major role in orchestrating in the hippocampus cognitive and affective functions via P2 purinoceptors (P2X, P2Y) and P1 adenosine receptors (A1, A2A). Although numerous reviews exist on purinoceptors that modulate these functions, there is an apparent gap relating to the involvement of astrocyte-derived extracellular ATP. Our review focuses on the following issues: An impeded release of ATP from hippocampal astrocytes through vesicular mechanisms or connexin hemichannels and pannexin channels interferes with spatial working memory in rodents. The pharmacological blockade of P2Y1 receptors (P2Y1Rs) reverses the deficits in learning/memory performance in mouse models of familial Alzheimer's disease (AD). Similarly, in mouse models of major depressive disorder (MDD), based on acute or chronic stress-induced development of depressive-like behavior, a reduced exocytotic/channel-mediated ATP release from hippocampal astrocytes results in the deterioration of these behavioral responses. However, on the opposite, the increased stimulation of the microglial/astrocytic P2X7R-channel by ATP causes neuroinflammation and in consequence depressive-like behavior. In conclusion, there is strong evidence for the assumption that gliotransmitter ATP is intimately involved in the pathophysiology of cognitive and affective neuron/astrocyte-based human illnesses opening new diagnostic and therapeutic vistas for AD and MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Illes
- International Research Center on Purinergic SignalingSchool of Acupuncture and TuinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengduChina
- Rudolf Boehm Institute for Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Leipzig Germany
- Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengduChina
| | - Patrizia Rubini
- International Research Center on Purinergic SignalingSchool of Acupuncture and TuinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengduChina
- Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengduChina
| | - Henning Ulrich
- International Research Center on Purinergic SignalingSchool of Acupuncture and TuinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengduChina
- Department of BiochemistryInstitute of ChemistryUniversity of São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Hai‐Yan Yin
- International Research Center on Purinergic SignalingSchool of Acupuncture and TuinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengduChina
- Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengduChina
| | - Yong Tang
- International Research Center on Purinergic SignalingSchool of Acupuncture and TuinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengduChina
- Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceChengduChina
- School of Health and RehabilitationChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengduChina
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Bai L, Zhao Y, Zhou Y, Song Y, Xiao H, Zhao G, Wang Z, Li X. Advances in immunological sorting of X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm: from proteome to sex-specific proteins. Front Vet Sci 2025; 12:1523491. [PMID: 40144522 PMCID: PMC11936898 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1523491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2025] [Indexed: 03/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Sex determination is the developmental assignment that results from genetic factors. The sexual characters were the specific manifestations of male and female individuals under stimulation of sexual hormonal production. The fusion of an oocyte with an X chromosome-bearing sperm will lead to a female (XX), while fusion with a Y chromosome-bearing sperm will develop into a male (XY) in mammals. Sexing technology has been developed to fertilize eggs with sorted sperm, producing offspring of the desired sex. Sperm sorting enables the sex pre-determination of offspring via in vitro fertilization (IVF) or artificial insemination (AI) in domestic animals. Flow cytometric sorting of X and Y sperm is widely considered the most applied method for sperm sorting and has been commercially applied in cattle. However, a non-invasive, immunological method for screening X and Y sperm is considered to be a feasible approach. This review summarizes the current knowledge and techniques of sperm immunological sorting, including the preparation of antibodies, application of immunomodulators, and immunoisolation. Additionally, we focus on identifying sex-specifically expressed proteins in X and Y sperm through proteomic analysis, and verifying the sex-specific proteins using experimental techniques. Furthermore, several housekeeping proteins as loading control were discussed in immunoblotting of sperm proteins. Immunological sorting of X and Y sperm could provide a convenient, cost-effective, and highly efficient technique that can improve economic benefits and achieve an advanced level of sexing technology. This review provides insight into immunological sorting of sperm and the pre-determination of sex in farm animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linfeng Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- Research Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy Industry, Hohhot, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- Research Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medicine University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yongli Song
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- Research Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Hao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Gaoping Zhao
- Inner Mongolia SaiKexing Institute of Breeding and Reproductive Biotechnology in Domestic Animal, Hohhot, China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xihe Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- Research Center for Animal Genetic Resources of Mongolia Plateau, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy Industry, Hohhot, China
- Inner Mongolia SaiKexing Institute of Breeding and Reproductive Biotechnology in Domestic Animal, Hohhot, China
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Leem J, Lemonnier T, Khutsaidze A, Tian L, Xing X, Bai S, Nottoli T, Mogessie B. A versatile cohesion manipulation system reveals CENP-A dysfunction accelerates female reproductive age-related egg aneuploidy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2025.02.27.640570. [PMID: 40060401 PMCID: PMC11888391 DOI: 10.1101/2025.02.27.640570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2025]
Abstract
Female reproductive aging is accompanied by a dramatic rise in the incidence of egg aneuploidy. Premature loss of chromosome cohesion proteins and untimely separation of chromosomes is thought to underly high rates egg aneuploidy during maternal aging. However, because chromosome cohesion loss occurs gradually over female reproductive lifespan and cytoskeletal defects alone can predispose eggs to chromosomal abnormalities, the root causes of exponential rise in egg aneuploidy at advanced reproductive ages remain a mystery. Here, we applied high-resolution live imaging to visualize for the first time cohesion protein dynamics underpinning meiotic chromosome segregation. To discover proteins whose dysfunction accelerates aneuploidies associated with female reproductive aging, we innovated the first experimental system in which chemically induced cohesion reduction rapidly triggers aging-like chromosomal abnormalities in young eggs. By integrating this direct cohesion manipulation system with quantitative high-resolution microscopy and targeted protein degradation tools, we identified the centromeric protein CENP-A as a new factor whose aging-like depletion causes a dramatic rise in premature separation of sister chromatids. Our work illuminates cohesion loss-independent origins of age-related egg aneuploidy and provides new avenues to discover therapeutic targets for extending the female reproductive lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyeon Leem
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Tom Lemonnier
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ani Khutsaidze
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lei Tian
- Yale Genome Editing Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Xiaojun Xing
- Yale Genome Editing Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Suxia Bai
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale Genome Editing Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Timothy Nottoli
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale Genome Editing Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Binyam Mogessie
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Zhao S, Zeng W, Yu F, Xu P, Chen CY, Chen W, Dong Y, Wang F, Ma L. Visual and High-Efficiency Secretion of SARS-CoV-2 Nanobodies with Escherichia coli. Biomolecules 2025; 15:111. [PMID: 39858505 PMCID: PMC11762740 DOI: 10.3390/biom15010111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2024] [Revised: 01/06/2025] [Accepted: 01/11/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Nanobodies have gained attention as potential therapeutic and diagnostic agents for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due to their ability to bind and neutralize the virus. However, rapid, scalable, and robust production of nanobodies for SARS-CoV-2 remains a crucial challenge. In this study, we developed a visual and high-efficiency biomanufacturing method for nanobodies with Escherichia coli by fusing the super-folder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the nanobody. Several receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific nanobodies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) were secreted onto the surface of E. coli cells and even into the culture medium, including Fu2, ANTE, mNb6, MR3-MR3, and n3113.1. The nanobodies secreted by E. coli retained equal activity as prior research, regardless of whether sfGFP was removed. Since some of the nanobodies bound to different regions of the RBD, we combined two nanobodies to improve the affinity. Fu2-sfGFP-ANTE was constructed to be bispecific for the RBD, and the bispecific nanobody exhibited significantly higher affinity than Fu2 (35.0-fold), ANTE (7.3-fold), and the combination of the two nanobodies (3.3-fold). Notably, Fu2-sfGFP-ANTE can be normally secreted into the culture medium and outer membrane. The novel nanobody production system enhances the efficiency of nanobody expression and streamlines the downstream purification process, enabling large-scale, cost-effective nanobody production. In addition, E. coli cells secreting the nanobodies on their surface facilitates screening and characterization of antigen-binding clones.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yanming Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China; (S.Z.); (W.Z.); (F.Y.); (P.X.); (C.-Y.C.); (W.C.); (F.W.)
| | | | - Lixin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China; (S.Z.); (W.Z.); (F.Y.); (P.X.); (C.-Y.C.); (W.C.); (F.W.)
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Zhang W, Huang X. In vivo gene editing and in situ generation of chimeric antigen receptor cells for next-generation cancer immunotherapy. J Hematol Oncol 2024; 17:110. [PMID: 39533415 PMCID: PMC11559219 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01633-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 11/07/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell therapy has achieved groundbreaking success in treating hematological malignancies. However, its application to solid tumors remains challenging due to complex manufacturing processes, limited in vivo persistence, and transient therapeutic effects. In vivo CAR-immune cells induced by gene delivery systems loaded with CAR genes and gene-editing tools have shown efficiency for anti-tumor immunotherapy. In situ programming of autologous immune cells avoids the safety concerns of allogeneic immune cells, and the manufacture of gene delivery systems could be standardized. Therefore, the in vivo editing and in situ generation of CAR-immune cells might potentially overcome the abovementioned limitations of current CAR cell therapy. This review mainly focuses on CAR structures, gene-editing tools, and gene delivery techniques applied in anti-tumor immunotherapy to help design and develop in situ CAR-immune cell therapy. The recent applications of in vivo CAR-immune cell therapy in both hematologic malignancies and solid tumors are investigated. To sum up, the in vivo editing and in situ generation of CAR therapy holds promise for offering a practical, cost-effective, efficient, safe, and widely applicable approach to the next-generation anti-tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyue Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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