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Rizk SS, Moustafa DM, ElBanna SA, Nour El-Din HT, Attia AS. Nanobodies in the fight against infectious diseases: repurposing nature's tiny weapons. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:209. [PMID: 38771414 PMCID: PMC11108896 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03990-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Nanobodies are the smallest known antigen-binding molecules to date. Their small size, good tissue penetration, high stability and solubility, ease of expression, refolding ability, and negligible immunogenicity in the human body have granted them excellence over conventional antibodies. Those exceptional attributes of nanobodies make them promising candidates for various applications in biotechnology, medicine, protein engineering, structural biology, food, and agriculture. This review presents an overview of their structure, development methods, advantages, possible challenges, and applications with special emphasis on infectious diseases-related ones. A showcase of how nanobodies can be harnessed for applications including neutralization of viruses and combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria is detailed. Overall, the impact of nanobodies in vaccine design, rapid diagnostics, and targeted therapies, besides exploring their role in deciphering microbial structures and virulence mechanisms are highlighted. Indeed, nanobodies are reshaping the future of infectious disease prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soha S Rizk
- Microbiology and Immunology Postgraduate Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt
| | - Dina M Moustafa
- Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, The British University in Egypt, El Sherouk City, Cairo, 11837, Egypt
| | - Shahira A ElBanna
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt
| | - Hanzada T Nour El-Din
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt
| | - Ahmed S Attia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
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Bhattacharya M, Chatterjee S, Lee SS, Chakraborty C. Therapeutic applications of nanobodies against SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections: Current update. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 229:70-80. [PMID: 36586649 PMCID: PMC9797221 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In the last two years, the world encountered the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is still dominating the population due to the absence of a viable treatment. To eradicate the global pandemic, scientists, doctors, and researchers took an exceptionally significant initiative towards the development of effective therapeutics to save many lifes. This review discusses about the single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), also called nanobodies, their structure, and their types against the infections of dreadful SARS-CoV-2 virus. A precise description highlights the nanobodies and their therapeutic application against the other selected viruses. It aims to focus on the extraordinary features of these antibodies compared to the conventional therapeutics like mAbs, convalescent plasma therapy, and vaccines. The stable structure of these nanobodies along with the suitable mechanism of action also confers greater resistance to the evolving variants with numerous mutations. The nanobodies developed against SARS-CoV-2 and its mutant variants have shown the greater neutralization potential than the primitive ones. Engineering of these specialized antibodies by modern biotechnological approaches will surely be more beneficial in treating this COVID-19 pandemic along with certain other viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manojit Bhattacharya
- Department of Zoology, Fakir Mohan University, Vyasa Vihar, Balasore 756020, Odisha, India
| | - Srijan Chatterjee
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si 24252, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Soo Lee
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si 24252, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Chiranjib Chakraborty
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, West Bengal 700126, India.
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Moliner-Morro A, McInerney GM, Hanke L. Nanobodies in the limelight: Multifunctional tools in the fight against viruses. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [PMID: 35579613 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies are natural antivirals generated by the vertebrate immune system in response to viral infection or vaccination. Unsurprisingly, they are also key molecules in the virologist's molecular toolbox. With new developments in methods for protein engineering, protein functionalization and application, smaller antibody-derived fragments are moving in focus. Among these, camelid-derived nanobodies play a prominent role. Nanobodies can replace full-sized antibodies in most applications and enable new possible applications for which conventional antibodies are challenging to use. Here we review the versatile nature of nanobodies, discuss their promise as antiviral therapeutics, for diagnostics, and their suitability as research tools to uncover novel aspects of viral infection and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainhoa Moliner-Morro
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gerald M McInerney
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Barakat S, Berksöz M, Zahedimaram P, Piepoli S, Erman B. Nanobodies as molecular imaging probes. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 182:260-275. [PMID: 35240292 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Camelidae derived single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), commonly known as nanobodies (Nbs), are the smallest antibody fragments with full antigen-binding capacity. Owing to their desirable properties such as small size, high specificity, strong affinity, excellent stability, and modularity, nanobodies are on their way to overtake conventional antibodies in terms of popularity. To date, a broad range of nanobodies have been generated against different molecular targets with applications spanning basic research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. In the field of molecular imaging, nanobody-based probes have emerged as a powerful tool. Radioactive or fluorescently labeled nanobodies are now used to detect and track many targets in different biological systems using imaging techniques. In this review, we provide an overview of the use of nanobodies as molecular probes. Additionally, we discuss current techniques for the generation, conjugation, and intracellular delivery of nanobodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Barakat
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, 34956, Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Melike Berksöz
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, 34956, Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Pegah Zahedimaram
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, 34956, Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Sofia Piepoli
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Bogazici University, 34342, Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Batu Erman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Bogazici University, 34342, Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Wagner TR, Rothbauer U. Nanobodies Right in the Middle: Intrabodies as Toolbox to Visualize and Modulate Antigens in the Living Cell. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10121701. [PMID: 33371447 PMCID: PMC7767433 DOI: 10.3390/biom10121701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In biomedical research, there is an ongoing demand for new technologies to elucidate disease mechanisms and develop novel therapeutics. This requires comprehensive understanding of cellular processes and their pathophysiology based on reliable information on abundance, localization, post-translational modifications and dynamic interactions of cellular components. Traceable intracellular binding molecules provide new opportunities for real-time cellular diagnostics. Most prominently, intrabodies derived from antibody fragments of heavy-chain only antibodies of camelids (nanobodies) have emerged as highly versatile and attractive probes to study and manipulate antigens within the context of living cells. In this review, we provide an overview on the selection, delivery and usage of intrabodies to visualize and monitor cellular antigens in living cells and organisms. Additionally, we summarize recent advances in the development of intrabodies as cellular biosensors and their application to manipulate disease-related cellular processes. Finally, we highlight switchable intrabodies, which open entirely new possibilities for real-time cell-based diagnostics including live-cell imaging, target validation and generation of precisely controllable binding reagents for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa R. Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany;
- Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Rothbauer
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany;
- Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tuebingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-7121-5153-0415; Fax: +49-7121-5153-0816
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Cheloha RW, Harmand TJ, Wijne C, Schwartz TU, Ploegh HL. Exploring cellular biochemistry with nanobodies. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:15307-15327. [PMID: 32868455 PMCID: PMC7650250 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.012960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reagents that bind tightly and specifically to biomolecules of interest remain essential in the exploration of biology and in their ultimate application to medicine. Besides ligands for receptors of known specificity, agents commonly used for this purpose are monoclonal antibodies derived from mice, rabbits, and other animals. However, such antibodies can be expensive to produce, challenging to engineer, and are not necessarily stable in the context of the cellular cytoplasm, a reducing environment. Heavy chain-only antibodies, discovered in camelids, have been truncated to yield single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs or nanobodies) that overcome many of these shortcomings. Whereas they are known as crystallization chaperones for membrane proteins or as simple alternatives to conventional antibodies, nanobodies have been applied in settings where the use of standard antibodies or their derivatives would be impractical or impossible. We review recent examples in which the unique properties of nanobodies have been combined with complementary methods, such as chemical functionalization, to provide tools with unique and useful properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross W Cheloha
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thibault J Harmand
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charlotte Wijne
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas U Schwartz
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Li Y, Li P, Li R, Xu Q. Intracellular Antibody Delivery Mediated by Lipids, Polymers, and Inorganic Nanomaterials for Therapeutic Applications. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202000178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yamin Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Tufts University Medford MA 02155 USA
| | - Peixuan Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Tufts University Medford MA 02155 USA
| | - Raissa Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Tufts University Medford MA 02155 USA
| | - Qiaobing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Tufts University Medford MA 02155 USA
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Zhang C, Ötjengerdes RM, Roewe J, Mejias R, Marschall ALJ. Applying Antibodies Inside Cells: Principles and Recent Advances in Neurobiology, Virology and Oncology. BioDrugs 2020; 34:435-462. [PMID: 32301049 PMCID: PMC7391400 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-020-00419-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
To interfere with cell function, many scientists rely on methods that target DNA or RNA due to the ease with which they can be applied. Proteins are usually the final executors of function but are targeted only indirectly by these methods. Recent advances in targeted degradation of proteins based on proteolysis-targeting chimaeras (PROTACs), ubiquibodies, deGradFP (degrade Green Fluorescent Protein) and other approaches have demonstrated the potential of interfering directly at the protein level for research and therapy. Proteins can be targeted directly and very specifically by antibodies, but using antibodies inside cells has so far been considered to be challenging. However, it is possible to deliver antibodies or other proteins into the cytosol using standard laboratory equipment. Physical methods such as electroporation have been demonstrated to be efficient and validated thoroughly over time. The expression of intracellular antibodies (intrabodies) inside cells is another way to interfere with intracellular targets at the protein level. Methodological strategies to target the inside of cells with antibodies, including delivered antibodies and expressed antibodies, as well as applications in the research areas of neurobiology, viral infections and oncology, are reviewed here. Antibodies have already been used to interfere with a wide range of intracellular targets. Disease-related targets included proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (α-synuclein), Alzheimer's disease (amyloid-β) or Huntington's disease (mutant huntingtin [mHtt]). The applications of intrabodies in the context of viral infections include targeting proteins associated with HIV (e.g. HIV1-TAT, Rev, Vif, gp41, gp120, gp160) and different oncoviruses such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Epstein-Barr virus, and they have been used to interfere with various targets related to different processes in cancer, including oncogenic pathways, proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, metastasis, angiogenesis or neo-antigens (e.g. p53, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 [HER2], signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 [STAT3], RAS-related RHO-GTPase B (RHOB), cortactin, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 [VEGFR2], Ras, Bcr-Abl). Interfering at the protein level allows questions to be addressed that may remain unanswered using alternative methods. This review addresses why direct targeting of proteins allows unique insights, what is currently feasible in vitro, and how this relates to potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Zhang
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rina M Ötjengerdes
- Hannover Medical School (MHH), Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Julian Roewe
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Clinical Cooperation Unit (CCU) Neuroimmunology and Brain TumorImmunology (D170), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebeca Mejias
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Andrea L J Marschall
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Brunswick, Germany.
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Weiss RA, Verrips CT. Nanobodies that Neutralize HIV. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7030077. [PMID: 31370301 PMCID: PMC6789485 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7030077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanobodies or VHH (variable domains of heavy-chain only antibodies) are derived from camelid species such as llamas and camels. Nanobodies isolated and selected through phage display can neutralize a broad range of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains. Nanobodies fit into canyons on the HIV envelope that may not be accessible to IgG (immunoglobulin G) containing both heavy and light chains, and they tend to have long CDR3 (complementarity-determining region 3) loops that further enhance recognition of otherwise cryptic epitopes. Nanobodies are readily expressed at high levels in bacteria and yeast, as well as by viral vectors, and they form relatively stable, heat-resistant molecules. Nanobodies can be linked to human Fc chains to gain immune effector functions. Bivalent and trivalent nanobodies recognizing the same or distinct epitopes on the envelope glycoproteins, gp120 and gp41, greatly increase the potency of HIV-1 neutralization. Nanobodies have potential applications for HIV-1 diagnostics, vaccine design, microbicides, immunoprophylaxis, and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin A Weiss
- Division of Infection & Immunity, University College London, 90 Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - C Theo Verrips
- QVQ Holding bv, Padualaan 8, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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10
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Abstract
Camelid-derived nanobodies are versatile tools for research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Certain nanobodies can function as intrabodies and bind antigens within the eukaryotic cytosol. This capability is valuable for the development of intracellular probes and targeted gene therapies. Consequently, many attempts have been made to produce nanobodies that are intracellularly stable and resistant to aggregation. Pursuit of these intrabodies generally focuses on library design or nanobody selection method. Recent variations of library design have yielded diverse libraries capable of producing nanobodies against a wide variety of antigens. Novel screening methods have also been developed, yielding nanobodies with high affinity for intracellular antigens. These screening techniques can have advantages over phage display methods when nanobodies against intracellular antigens must be rapidly produced. Some intracellular screening methods convey the additional advantage of selecting for other desired intrabody characteristics, such as antiviral action or conditional stability. This review summarizes the recent developments in both library design and selection methods aimed at producing intrabodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Woods
- 1 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
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Slastnikova TA, Ulasov AV, Rosenkranz AA, Sobolev AS. Targeted Intracellular Delivery of Antibodies: The State of the Art. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1208. [PMID: 30405420 PMCID: PMC6207587 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A dominant area of antibody research is the extension of the use of this mighty experimental and therapeutic tool for the specific detection of molecules for diagnostics, visualization, and activity blocking. Despite the ability to raise antibodies against different proteins, numerous applications of antibodies in basic research fields, clinical practice, and biotechnology are restricted to permeabilized cells or extracellular antigens, such as membrane or secreted proteins. With the exception of small groups of autoantibodies, natural antibodies to intracellular targets cannot be used within living cells. This excludes the scope of a major class of intracellular targets, including some infamous cancer-associated molecules. Some of these targets are still not druggable via small molecules because of large flat contact areas and the absence of deep hydrophobic pockets in which small molecules can insert and perturb their activity. Thus, the development of technologies for the targeted intracellular delivery of antibodies, their fragments, or antibody-like molecules is extremely important. Various strategies for intracellular targeting of antibodies via protein-transduction domains or their mimics, liposomes, polymer vesicles, and viral envelopes, are reviewed in this article. The pitfalls, challenges, and perspectives of these technologies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana A. Slastnikova
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A. V. Ulasov
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - A. A. Rosenkranz
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - A. S. Sobolev
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Intracellular Transport, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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Wu Y, Jiang S, Ying T. Single-Domain Antibodies As Therapeutics against Human Viral Diseases. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1802. [PMID: 29326699 PMCID: PMC5733491 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In full-size formats, monoclonal antibodies have been highly successful as therapeutics against cancer and immune diseases. However, their large size leads to inaccessibility of some epitopes and relatively high production costs. As an alternative, single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) offer special advantages compared to full-size antibodies, including smaller size, larger number of accessible epitopes, relatively low production costs and improved robustness. Currently, sdAbs are being developed against a number of viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), influenza viruses, hepatitis C virus (HCV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and enteric viruses. Although sdAbs are very potent inhibitors of viral infections, no sdAbs have been approved for clinical use against virial infection or any other diseases. In this review, we discuss the current state of research on sdAbs against viruses and their potential as therapeutics against human viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanling Wu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tianlei Ying
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Böldicke T. Single domain antibodies for the knockdown of cytosolic and nuclear proteins. Protein Sci 2017; 26:925-945. [PMID: 28271570 PMCID: PMC5405437 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Single domain antibodies (sdAbs) from camels or sharks comprise only the variable heavy chain domain. Human sdAbs comprise the variable domain of the heavy chain (VH) or light chain (VL) and can be selected from human antibodies. SdAbs are stable, nonaggregating molecules in vitro and in vivo compared to complete antibodies and scFv fragments. They are excellent novel inhibitors of cytosolic/nuclear proteins because they are correctly folded inside the cytosol in contrast to scFv fragments. SdAbs are unique because of their excellent specificity and possibility to target posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation sites, conformers or interaction regions of proteins that cannot be targeted with genetic knockout techniques and are impossible to knockdown with RNAi. The number of inhibiting cytosolic/nuclear sdAbs is increasing and usage of synthetic single pot single domain antibody libraries will boost the generation of these fascinating molecules without the need of immunization. The most frequently selected antigenic epitopes belong to viral and oncogenic proteins, followed by toxins, proteins of the nervous system as well as plant- and drosophila proteins. It is now possible to select functional sdAbs against virtually every cytosolic/nuclear protein and desired epitope. The development of new endosomal escape protein domains and cell-penetrating peptides for efficient transfection broaden the application of inhibiting sdAbs. Last but not least, the generation of relatively new cell-specific nanoparticles such as polymersomes and polyplexes carrying cytosolic/nuclear sdAb-DNA or -protein will pave the way to apply cytosolic/nuclear sdAbs for inhibition of viral infection and cancer in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Böldicke
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Structure and Function of ProteinsInhoffenstraße 7, D‐38124BraunschweigGermany
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de Marco A. Recombinant antibody production evolves into multiple options aimed at yielding reagents suitable for application-specific needs. Microb Cell Fact 2015; 14:125. [PMID: 26330219 PMCID: PMC4557595 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-015-0320-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibodies have been a pillar of basic research, while their relevance in clinical diagnostics and therapy is constantly growing. Consequently, the production of both conventional and fragment antibodies constantly faces more demanding challenges for the improvement of their quantity and quality. The answer to such an increasing need has been the development of a wide array of formats and alternative production platforms. This review offers a critical comparison and evaluation of the different options to help the researchers interested in expressing recombinant antibodies in their choice. RESULTS Rather than the compilation of an exhaustive list of the recent publications in the field, this review intendeds to analyze the development of the most innovative or fast-growing strategies. These have been illustrated with some significant examples and, when possible, compared with the existing alternatives. Space has also been given to those solutions that might represent interesting opportunities or that investigate critical aspects of the production optimization but for which the available data as yet do not allow for a definitive judgment. CONCLUSIONS The take-home message is that there is a clear process of progressive diversification concerning the antibody expression platforms and an effort to yield directly application-adapted immune-reagents rather than generic naked antibodies that need further in vitro modification steps before becoming usable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ario de Marco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Nova Gorica, Glavni Trg 9, 5261, Vipava, Slovenia.
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