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Bastos-Soares EA, da Silva Morais MS, Funes-Huacca M, Sousa RMO, Brilhante-Da-Silva N, Roberto SA, Prado NDR, Dos Santos CND, Marinho ACM, Soares AM, Stabeli RG, Pereira SDS, Fernandes CFC. Single-Domain Antibody-Gold Nanoparticle Bioconjugates as Immunosensors for the Detection of Hantaviruses. Mol Diagn Ther 2024:10.1007/s40291-024-00713-1. [PMID: 38796660 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-024-00713-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hantavirus, a zoonotic pathogen, causes severe syndromes like hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), sometimes fatal in humans. Considering the importance of detecting the hantavirus antigen, the construction of an immunosensor is essential. The structural and functional characteristics of camelid nanobodies (VHHs) encourage their application in the areas of nanobiotechnology, therapeutics, diagnostics, and basic research. Therefore, this study aimed to standardize stable bioconjugates using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and VHHs, in order to develop immunobiosensors for the diagnosis of hantavirus infection. METHODS Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) was performed to obtain purified recombinant anti-hantavirus nucleocapsid nanobodies (anti-prNΔ85 VHH), while AuNPs were synthesized for bioconjugation. UV-visible spectrophotometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis were employed to characterize AuNPs. RESULTS The bioconjugation stability parameters (VHH-AuNPs), analyzed by spectrophotometry, showed that the ideal pH value and VHH concentration were obtained at 7.4 and 50 μg/mL, respectively, after addition of 1 M NaCl, which induces AuNP aggregation. TEM performed before and after bioconjugation showed uniform, homogeneous, well-dispersed, and spherical AuNPs with an average diameter of ~ 14 ± 0.57 nm. Furthermore, high-resolution images revealed a thin white halo on the surface of the AuNPs, indicating the coating of the AuNPs with protein. A biosensor simulation test (dot blot-like [DB-like]) was performed in stationary phase to verify the binding and detection limits of the recombinant nucleocapsid protein from the Araucária hantavirus strain (prN∆85). DISCUSSION Using AuNPs/VHH bioconjugates, a specific interaction was detected between 5 and 10 min of reaction in a dose-dependent manner. It was observed that this test was sensitive enough to detect prNΔ85 at concentrations up to 25 ng/μL. Considering that nanostructured biological systems such as antibodies conjugated with AuNPs are useful tools for the development of chemical and biological sensors, the stability of the bioconjugate indicates proficiency in detecting antigens. The experimental results obtained will be used in a future immunospot assay or lateral flow immunochromatography analysis for hantavirus detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika A Bastos-Soares
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, PGBIOEXP, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Michelle Suelen da Silva Morais
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, PGBIOEXP, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Maribel Funes-Huacca
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Rosa Maria O Sousa
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | | | - Sibele Andrade Roberto
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, PGBIOEXP, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | | | | | - Anna C M Marinho
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Fiocruz Ceará, Eusébio, CE, Brazil
| | - Andreimar M Soares
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Centro Universitário São Lucas, UniSL, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, PGBIOEXP, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo G Stabeli
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Plataforma Bi-institucional de Medicina Translacional, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Soraya Dos Santos Pereira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, PGBIOEXP, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
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Liu ML, Liang XM, Jin MY, Huang HW, Luo L, Wang H, Shen X, Xu ZL. Food-Borne Biotoxin Neutralization in Vivo by Nanobodies: Current Status and Prospects. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:10753-10771. [PMID: 38706131 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c02257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Food-borne biotoxins from microbes, plants, or animals contaminate unclean, spoiled, and rotten foods, posing significant health risks. Neutralizing such toxins is vital for human health, especially after food poisoning. Nanobodies (Nbs), a type of single-domain antibodies derived from the genetic cloning of a variable domain of heavy chain antibodies (VHHs) in camels, offer unique advantages in toxin neutralization. Their small size, high stability, and precise binding enable effective neutralization. The use of Nbs in neutralizing food-borne biotoxins offers numerous benefits, and their genetic malleability allows tailored optimization for diverse toxins. As nanotechnology continues to evolve and improve, Nbs are poised to become increasingly efficient and safer tools for toxin neutralization, playing a pivotal role in safeguarding human health and environmental safety. This review not only highlights the efficacy of these agents in neutralizing toxins but also proposes innovative solutions to address their current challenges. It lays a solid foundation for their further development in this crucial field and propels their commercial application, thereby contributing significantly to advancements in this domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ling Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiao-Min Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ming-Yu Jin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- School of Life and Health Technology, Dongguan, University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Hui-Wei Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lin Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xing Shen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhen-Lin Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Dantas Reis Prado N, Brilhante-DA-Silva N, Valentino Paloschi M, Andrade Roberto S, Cardim Barreto B, Fraga Vasconcelos J, Botelho Pereira Soares M, Monteiro de Carvalho R, Foschiera de Melo T, de Souza Santos E, Lima Dos Santos E, Eugenia Souza de Jesus B, Crhistina Santos de Araújo E, Martins Soares A, Guerino Stabeli R, Freire Celedonio Fernandes C, Pavan Zuliani J, Dos Santos Pereira S. Preclinical evaluation of single domain antibody efficacy in mitigating local tissue damage induced by Bothrops snake envenomation. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 134:112215. [PMID: 38744173 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Camelid single-domain antibodies (VHH) represent a promising class of immunobiologicals for therapeutic applications due to their remarkable stability, specificity, and therapeutic potential. To enhance the effectiveness of antivenoms for snakebites, various methods have been explored to address limitations associated with serum therapy, particularly focusing on mitigating local damage and ensuring sustainable production. Our study aimed to characterize the pharmacological profile and neutralization capacity of anti-Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) monomeric VHH (Genbank accessions: KC329718). Using a post-envenoming mouse model, we used intravital microscopy to assess leukocyte influx, measured CK and LDH levels, and conducted a histopathology analysis to evaluate VHH KC329718's ability to neutralize myotoxic activity. Our findings demonstrated that VHH KC329718 exhibited heterogeneous distribution in muscle tissue. Treatment with VHH KC329718 reduced leukocyte influx caused by BthTX-I (a Lys-49 PLA2) by 28 %, as observed through intravital microscopy. When administered at a 1:10 ratio [venom or toxin:VHH (w/w)], VHH KC329718 significantly decreased myotoxicity, resulting in a 35-40 % reduction in CK levels from BthTX-I and BthTX-II (an Asp-49 PLA2) and a 60 % decrease in CK levels from B. jararacussu venom. LDH levels also showed reductions of 60%, 80%, and 60% induced by BthTX-I, BthTX-II, and B. jararacussu venom, respectively. Histological analysis confirmed the neutralization potential, displaying a significant reduction in tissue damage and inflammatory cell count in mice treated with VHH KC329718 post B. jararacussu venom inoculation. This study underscores the potential of monomeric anti-PLA2 VHH in mitigating myotoxic effects, suggesting a promising avenue for the development of new generation antivenoms to address current therapeutic limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidiane Dantas Reis Prado
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil
| | - Nairo Brilhante-DA-Silva
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil
| | - Mauro Valentino Paloschi
- Laboratório de Imunologia Celular Aplicada à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil
| | - Sibele Andrade Roberto
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fiocruz Rondônia and Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, 76801-974 Porto Velho-RO, Brazil
| | - Breno Cardim Barreto
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, IGM, Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, 40296-710, unidade Bahia, Salvador-BA, Brazil
| | - Juliana Fraga Vasconcelos
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, IGM, Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, 40296-710, unidade Bahia, Salvador-BA, Brazil
| | - Milena Botelho Pereira Soares
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, IGM, Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, 40296-710, unidade Bahia, Salvador-BA, Brazil; Health Technology Institute, SENAI CIMATEC, Salvador, 41650-010, BA, Brazil
| | - Rainery Monteiro de Carvalho
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fiocruz Rondônia and Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, 76801-974 Porto Velho-RO, Brazil
| | - Thifany Foschiera de Melo
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil
| | - Emanuelle de Souza Santos
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil
| | - Eliza Lima Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil
| | - Bruna Eugenia Souza de Jesus
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fiocruz Rondônia and Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, 76801-974 Porto Velho-RO, Brazil
| | - Erika Crhistina Santos de Araújo
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia e Educação Aplicadas à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho-RO and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT EpiAmO, 76812-245, Brazil
| | - Andreimar Martins Soares
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia e Educação Aplicadas à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho-RO and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT EpiAmO, 76812-245, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fiocruz Rondônia and Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, 76801-974 Porto Velho-RO, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Guerino Stabeli
- Plataforma Bi-institucional de Medicina Translacional, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-USP, 14040-900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Carla Freire Celedonio Fernandes
- Laboratório Multiusuário de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz unidade Ceará, 61760-000, Eusebio- CE, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil
| | - Juliana Pavan Zuliani
- Laboratório de Imunologia Celular Aplicada à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fiocruz Rondônia and Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, 76801-974 Porto Velho-RO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil
| | - Soraya Dos Santos Pereira
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, unidade Rondônia, 76812-245, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fiocruz Rondônia and Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, 76801-974 Porto Velho-RO, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil.
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Machado Marinho AC, Chapeaurouge A, Dutra BM, Quintela BCSF, Pereira SS, Fernandes CFC. The role of venom proteomics and single-domain antibodies for antivenoms: Progress in snake envenoming treatment. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103967. [PMID: 38555033 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) hold promise for developing new biopharmaceuticals to treat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including snakebites, which are severe and occur frequently. In addition, limitations of conventional snakebite treatments, especially in terms of local action, and the global antivenom crisis incentivize the use of this biotechnological tool to design next-generation snakebite antivenoms. Conventional antivenoms for snakebite treatment are usually composed of immunoglobulin G or F(ab')2 fragments derived from the plasma of immunized animals. sdAbs, the smallest antigen-binding fragments, are derived from the variable domains of camelid heavy-chain antibodies. sdAbs may have some advantages over conventional antivenoms for local toxicity, such as better penetration into tissues due to their small size, and high solubility and affinity for venom antigens due to their unique antigen-binding loops and ability to access cryptic epitopes. We present an overview of current antivenom therapy in the context of sdAb development for toxin neutralization. Furthermore, strategies are presented for identifying snake venom's major toxins as well as for developing antisnake toxin sdAbs by employing proteomic tools for toxin neutralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Carolina Machado Marinho
- Laboratório Multiusuário de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Ceará, FIOCRUZ CE, Eusébio-CE, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, UFC, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Alexander Chapeaurouge
- Laboratório Multiusuário de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Ceará, FIOCRUZ CE, Eusébio-CE, Brazil
| | - Brunheld Maia Dutra
- Laboratório Multiusuário de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Ceará, FIOCRUZ CE, Eusébio-CE, Brazil
| | - Barbara Cibelle S F Quintela
- Laboratório Multiusuário de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Ceará, FIOCRUZ CE, Eusébio-CE, Brazil
| | - Soraya S Pereira
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Rondônia, FIOCRUZ RO, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil
| | - Carla Freire C Fernandes
- Laboratório Multiusuário de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Ceará, FIOCRUZ CE, Eusébio-CE, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, UFC, Fortaleza, Brazil
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5
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Antivenom slithers back to life. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:537-538. [PMID: 38570693 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02221-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
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Khalek IS, Senji Laxme RR, Nguyen YTK, Khochare S, Patel RN, Woehl J, Smith JM, Saye-Francisco K, Kim Y, Misson Mindrebo L, Tran Q, Kędzior M, Boré E, Limbo O, Verma M, Stanfield RL, Menzies SK, Ainsworth S, Harrison RA, Burton DR, Sok D, Wilson IA, Casewell NR, Sunagar K, Jardine JG. Synthetic development of a broadly neutralizing antibody against snake venom long-chain α-neurotoxins. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadk1867. [PMID: 38381847 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adk1867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a major global public health concern for which improved therapies are urgently needed. The antigenic diversity present in snake venom toxins from various species presents a considerable challenge to the development of a universal antivenom. Here, we used a synthetic human antibody library to find and develop an antibody that neutralizes long-chain three-finger α-neurotoxins produced by numerous medically relevant snakes. Our antibody bound diverse toxin variants with high affinity, blocked toxin binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in vitro, and protected mice from lethal venom challenge. Structural analysis of the antibody-toxin complex revealed a binding mode that mimics the receptor-toxin interaction. The overall workflow presented is generalizable for the development of antibodies that target conserved epitopes among antigenically diverse targets, and it offers a promising framework for the creation of a monoclonal antibody-based universal antivenom to treat snakebite envenoming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene S Khalek
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
| | - R R Senji Laxme
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India
| | - Yen Thi Kim Nguyen
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Suyog Khochare
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India
| | - Rohit N Patel
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Jordan Woehl
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
| | - Jessica M Smith
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
| | - Karen Saye-Francisco
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Yoojin Kim
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
| | - Laetitia Misson Mindrebo
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
| | - Quoc Tran
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
| | - Mateusz Kędzior
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
| | - Evy Boré
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Oliver Limbo
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
| | - Megan Verma
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
| | - Robyn L Stanfield
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Stefanie K Menzies
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Stuart Ainsworth
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Robert A Harrison
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Dennis R Burton
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Devin Sok
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
- Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD), Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ian A Wilson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Kartik Sunagar
- Evolutionary Venomics Lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, Karnataka, India
| | - Joseph G Jardine
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- IAVI, New York, NY 10004, USA
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Thumtecho S, Burlet NJ, Ljungars A, Laustsen AH. Towards better antivenoms: navigating the road to new types of snakebite envenoming therapies. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2023; 29:e20230057. [PMID: 38116472 PMCID: PMC10729942 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2023-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a significant global health challenge, and for over a century, traditional plasma-derived antivenoms from hyperimmunized animals have been the primary treatment against this infliction. However, these antivenoms have several inherent limitations, including the risk of causing adverse reactions when administered to patients, batch-to-batch variation, and high production costs. To address these issues and improve treatment outcomes, the development of new types of antivenoms is crucial. During this development, key aspects such as improved clinical efficacy, enhanced safety profiles, and greater affordability should be in focus. To achieve these goals, modern biotechnological methods can be applied to the discovery and development of therapeutic agents that can neutralize medically important toxins from multiple snake species. This review highlights some of these agents, including monoclonal antibodies, nanobodies, and selected small molecules, that can achieve broad toxin neutralization, have favorable safety profiles, and can be produced on a large scale with standardized manufacturing processes. Considering the inherent strengths and limitations related to the pharmacokinetics of these different agents, a combination of them might be beneficial in the development of new types of antivenom products with improved therapeutic properties. While the implementation of new therapies requires time, it is foreseeable that the application of biotechnological advancements represents a promising trajectory toward the development of improved therapies for snakebite envenoming. As research and development continue to advance, these new products could emerge as the mainstay treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suthimon Thumtecho
- Division of Toxicology, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nick J. Burlet
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Ljungars
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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8
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Li J, Kang G, Wang J, Yuan H, Wu Y, Meng S, Wang P, Zhang M, Wang Y, Feng Y, Huang H, de Marco A. Affinity maturation of antibody fragments: A review encompassing the development from random approaches to computational rational optimization. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 247:125733. [PMID: 37423452 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Routinely screened antibody fragments usually require further in vitro maturation to achieve the desired biophysical properties. Blind in vitro strategies can produce improved ligands by introducing random mutations into the original sequences and selecting the resulting clones under more and more stringent conditions. Rational approaches exploit an alternative perspective that aims first at identifying the specific residues potentially involved in the control of biophysical mechanisms, such as affinity or stability, and then to evaluate what mutations could improve those characteristics. The understanding of the antigen-antibody interactions is instrumental to develop this process the reliability of which, consequently, strongly depends on the quality and completeness of the structural information. Recently, methods based on deep learning approaches critically improved the speed and accuracy of model building and are promising tools for accelerating the docking step. Here, we review the features of the available bioinformatic instruments and analyze the reports illustrating the result obtained with their application to optimize antibody fragments, and nanobodies in particular. Finally, the emerging trends and open questions are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Li
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Guangbo Kang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jiewen Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Haibin Yuan
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yili Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and the Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Medical University, Oujiang Laboratory, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Shuxian Meng
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ping Wang
- New Technology R&D Department, Tianjin Modern Innovative TCM Technology Company Limited, Tianjin 300392, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; China Resources Biopharmaceutical Company Limited, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yuli Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; Tianjin Pharmaceutical Da Ren Tang Group Corporation Limited, Traditional Chinese Pharmacy Research Institute, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Quality Control in Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300457, China; State Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Pharmacokinetics, Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Tianjin 300193, China
| | - Yuanhang Feng
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - He Huang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Ario de Marco
- Laboratory for Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica, Slovenia.
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9
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Pierzynowska K, Morcinek-Orłowska J, Gaffke L, Jaroszewicz W, Skowron PM, Węgrzyn G. Applications of the phage display technology in molecular biology, biotechnology and medicine. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023:1-41. [PMID: 37270791 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2219741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The phage display technology is based on the presentation of peptide sequences on the surface of virions of bacteriophages. Its development led to creation of sophisticated systems based on the possibility of the presentation of a huge variability of peptides, attached to one of proteins of bacteriophage capsids. The use of such systems allowed for achieving enormous advantages in the processes of selection of bioactive molecules. In fact, the phage display technology has been employed in numerous fields of biotechnology, as diverse as immunological and biomedical applications (in both diagnostics and therapy), the formation of novel materials, and many others. In this paper, contrary to many other review articles which were focussed on either specific display systems or the use of phage display in selected fields, we present a comprehensive overview of various possibilities of applications of this technology. We discuss an usefulness of the phage display technology in various fields of science, medicine and the broad sense of biotechnology. This overview indicates the spread and importance of applications of microbial systems (exemplified by the phage display technology), pointing to the possibility of developing such sophisticated tools when advanced molecular methods are used in microbiological studies, accompanied with understanding of details of structures and functions of microbial entities (bacteriophages in this case).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Pierzynowska
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Lidia Gaffke
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Weronika Jaroszewicz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Piotr M Skowron
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Węgrzyn
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
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10
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Liu C, Yang Q, Lin H, Cao L, Wang K, Sui J. Biopanning, Heterologous Expression, and Characterization of a Shark-Derived Single-Domain Antibody Fusion Protein against Pancreatic Lipase. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023. [PMID: 37257170 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01563] [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: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, obesity severely impacts human health and is the fifth leading risk factor that leads to death globally. Pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitors have attracted extensive attention owing to their role in effective prevention and treatment of obesity. Here, a shark-derived single-domain antibody fusion protein was used to inhibit PL for the first time. After biopanning, the heterologous expression system pET28a-SUMO-D2 was constructed using the method of double restriction enzyme digestion and T4 ligase to achieve the soluble expression of the PL-specific antibody gene D2. According to the calculation of protein concentration, the final expression of fusion protein PL-D2S was 1.183 mg per liter of Luria Bertani broth. The binding ability of the soluble fusion protein PL-D2S to PL was identified. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that the fusion protein PL-D2S exhibited a strong binding affinity to PL. The experimental results of PL inhibition of PL-D2S in vitro showed that the fusion protein could significantly inhibit the activity of PL, with an IC50 of 404 μg/mL. Our study shows that the fusion protein PL-D2S is a potential PL inhibitor to prevent and treat obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, #1399 Sansha Road, Qingdao 266100, Shandong, China
| | - Qing Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, #1399 Sansha Road, Qingdao 266100, Shandong, China
| | - Hong Lin
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, #1399 Sansha Road, Qingdao 266100, Shandong, China
| | - Limin Cao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, #1399 Sansha Road, Qingdao 266100, Shandong, China
| | - Kaiqiang Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, #1399 Sansha Road, Qingdao 266100, Shandong, China
| | - Jianxin Sui
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, #1399 Sansha Road, Qingdao 266100, Shandong, China
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11
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Lomonte B. Lys49 myotoxins, secreted phospholipase A 2-like proteins of viperid venoms: A comprehensive review. Toxicon 2023; 224:107024. [PMID: 36632869 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Muscle necrosis is a potential clinical complication of snakebite envenomings, which in severe cases can lead to functional or physical sequelae such as disability or amputation. Snake venom proteins with the ability to directly damage skeletal muscle fibers are collectively referred to as myotoxins, and include three main types: cytolysins of the "three-finger toxin" protein family expressed in many elapid venoms, the so-called "small" myotoxins found in a number of rattlesnake venoms, and the widespread secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) molecules. Among the latter, protein variants that conserve the sPLA2 structure, but lack such enzymatic activity, have been increasingly found in the venoms of many viperid species. Intriguingly, these sPLA2-like proteins are able to induce muscle necrosis by a mechanism independent of phospholipid hydrolysis. They are commonly referred to as "Lys49 myotoxins" since they most often present, among other substitutions, the replacement of the otherwise invariant residue Asp49 of sPLA2s by Lys. This work comprehensively reviews the historical developments and current knowledge towards deciphering the mechanism of action of Lys49 sPLA2-like myotoxins, and points out main gaps to be filled for a better understanding of these multifaceted snake venom proteins, to hopefully lead to improved treatments for snakebites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501, Costa Rica.
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12
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Dias da Silva W, De Andrade SA, Megale ÂAA, De Souza DA, Sant’Anna OA, Magnoli FC, Guidolin FR, Godoi KS, Saladini LY, Spencer PJ, Portaro FCV. Antibodies as Snakebite Antivenoms: Past and Future. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14090606. [PMID: 36136544 PMCID: PMC9503307 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14090606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenomation is considered a neglected tropical disease, affecting tens of thousands of people each year. The recommended treatment is the use of antivenom, which is composed of immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments obtained from the plasma of animals hyperimmunized with one (monospecific) or several (polyspecific) venoms. In this review, the efforts made in the improvement of the already available antivenoms and the development of new antivenoms, focusing on snakes of medical importance from sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, are described. Some antivenoms currently used are composed of whole IgGs, whereas others use F(ab’)2 fragments. The classic methods of attaining snake antivenoms are presented, in addition to new strategies to improve their effectiveness. Punctual changes in immunization protocols, in addition to the use of cross-reactivity between venoms from different snakes for the manufacture of more potent and widely used antivenoms, are presented. It is known that venoms are a complex mixture of components; however, advances in the field of antivenoms have shown that there are key toxins that, if effectively blocked, are capable of reversing the condition of in vivo envenomation. These studies provide an opportunity for the use of monoclonal antibodies in the development of new-generation antivenoms. Thus, monoclonal antibodies and their fragments are described as a possible alternative for the production of antivenoms, regardless of the venom. This review also highlights the challenges associated with their development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilmar Dias da Silva
- Immuchemistry Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
- Correspondence: (W.D.S.); (F.C.V.P.)
| | - Sonia A. De Andrade
- Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lucas Yuri Saladini
- Laboratory of Structure and Function of Biomolecules, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Calheta Vieira Portaro
- Laboratory of Structure and Function of Biomolecules, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
- Correspondence: (W.D.S.); (F.C.V.P.)
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13
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Anti-Metalloprotease P-I Single-Domain Antibodies: Tools for Next-Generation Snakebite Antivenoms. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:2748962. [PMID: 35909472 PMCID: PMC9325618 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2748962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In order to address the global antivenom crisis, novel antivenoms need to present high therapeutic efficacy, broad neutralization ability against systemic and local damage, sufficient safety, and cost-effectiveness. Due to biological characteristics of camelid single-domain antibodies (VHH) such as high affinity, their ability to penetrate dense tissues, and facility for genetic manipulation, their application in antivenoms has expanded considerably. VHHs that are active against the metalloprotease BjussuMP-II from the snake Bothrops jararacussu were selected. After isolation of BjussuMP-II, a camelid was immunized with the purified toxin in order to construct the recombinant phage library. Following a round of biopanning, 52% of the selected clones were able to recognize BjussuMP-II in an ELISA assay. After sequencing, seven sequence profiles were identified. One selected clone (VHH61) showed cross-reactivity to B. brazili venom, but did not recognize the Crotalus and Lachesis genera, indicating specificity for the Bothrops genus. Through in vitro tests, the capacity to neutralize the toxicity triggered by BjussuMP-II was observed. Circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated a robust secondary structure for VHH61, and the calculated melting temperature (TM) for the clone was 56.4°C. In silico analysis, through molecular docking of anti-BjussuMP-II VHHs with metalloprotease, revealed their potential interaction with amino acids present in regions critical for the toxin's conformation and stability. The findings suggest that anti-BjussuMP-II VHHs may be beneficial in the development of next-generation antivenoms.
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14
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V HH Structural Modelling Approaches: A Critical Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073721. [PMID: 35409081 PMCID: PMC8998791 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
VHH, i.e., VH domains of camelid single-chain antibodies, are very promising therapeutic agents due to their significant physicochemical advantages compared to classical mammalian antibodies. The number of experimentally solved VHH structures has significantly improved recently, which is of great help, because it offers the ability to directly work on 3D structures to humanise or improve them. Unfortunately, most VHHs do not have 3D structures. Thus, it is essential to find alternative ways to get structural information. The methods of structure prediction from the primary amino acid sequence appear essential to bypass this limitation. This review presents the most extensive overview of structure prediction methods applied for the 3D modelling of a given VHH sequence (a total of 21). Besides the historical overview, it aims at showing how model software programs have been shaping the structural predictions of VHHs. A brief explanation of each methodology is supplied, and pertinent examples of their usage are provided. Finally, we present a structure prediction case study of a recently solved VHH structure. According to some recent studies and the present analysis, AlphaFold 2 and NanoNet appear to be the best tools to predict a structural model of VHH from its sequence.
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15
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Kenny SE, Antaw F, Locke WJ, Howard CB, Korbie D, Trau M. Next-Generation Molecular Discovery: From Bottom-Up In Vivo and In Vitro Approaches to In Silico Top-Down Approaches for Therapeutics Neogenesis. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12030363. [PMID: 35330114 PMCID: PMC8950575 DOI: 10.3390/life12030363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein and drug engineering comprises a major part of the medical and research industries, and yet approaches to discovering and understanding therapeutic molecular interactions in biological systems rely on trial and error. The general approach to molecular discovery involves screening large libraries of compounds, proteins, or antibodies, or in vivo antibody generation, which could be considered “bottom-up” approaches to therapeutic discovery. In these bottom-up approaches, a minimal amount is known about the therapeutics at the start of the process, but through meticulous and exhaustive laboratory work, the molecule is characterised in detail. In contrast, the advent of “big data” and access to extensive online databases and machine learning technologies offers promising new avenues to understanding molecular interactions. Artificial intelligence (AI) now has the potential to predict protein structure at an unprecedented accuracy using only the genetic sequence. This predictive approach to characterising molecular structure—when accompanied by high-quality experimental data for model training—has the capacity to invert the process of molecular discovery and characterisation. The process has potential to be transformed into a top-down approach, where new molecules can be designed directly based on the structure of a target and the desired function, rather than performing screening of large libraries of molecular variants. This paper will provide a brief evaluation of bottom-up approaches to discovering and characterising biological molecules and will discuss recent advances towards developing top-down approaches and the prospects of this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie E. Kenny
- Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, Corner of College and Cooper Roads (Bldg 75), Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (S.E.K.); (F.A.); (C.B.H.)
| | - Fiach Antaw
- Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, Corner of College and Cooper Roads (Bldg 75), Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (S.E.K.); (F.A.); (C.B.H.)
| | - Warwick J. Locke
- Molecular Diagnostic Solutions, Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Building 101, Clunies Ross Street, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia;
| | - Christopher B. Howard
- Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, Corner of College and Cooper Roads (Bldg 75), Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (S.E.K.); (F.A.); (C.B.H.)
| | - Darren Korbie
- Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, Corner of College and Cooper Roads (Bldg 75), Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (S.E.K.); (F.A.); (C.B.H.)
- Correspondence: (D.K.); (M.T.)
| | - Matt Trau
- Centre for Personalised Nanomedicine, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, Corner of College and Cooper Roads (Bldg 75), Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (S.E.K.); (F.A.); (C.B.H.)
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Correspondence: (D.K.); (M.T.)
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16
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Malaquias ADM, Marques LEC, Pereira SS, de Freitas Fernandes C, Maranhão AQ, Stabeli RG, Florean EOPT, Guedes MIF, Fernandes CFC. A review of plant-based expression systems as a platform for single-domain recombinant antibody production. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 193:1130-1137. [PMID: 34699899 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.10.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies have contributed to improving the treatment of several diseases. However, limitations related to pharmacokinetic parameters and production costs have instigated the search for alternative products. Camelids produce functional immunoglobulins G devoid of light chains and CH1 domains, in which the antigenic recognition site is formed by a single domain called VHH or nanobody. VHHs' small size and similarity to the human VH domain contribute to high tissue penetration and low immunogenicity. In addition, VHHs provide superior antigen recognition compared to human antibodies, better solubility and stability. Due to these characteristics and the possibility of obtaining gene-encoding VHHs, applications of this biological tool, whether as a monomer or in related recombinant constructs, have been reported. To ensure antibody efficacy and cost-effectiveness, strategies for their expression, either using prokaryotic or eukaryotic systems, have been utilized. Plant-based expression systems are useful for VHH related constructs that require post-translational modifications. This system has exhibited versatility, low-cost upstream production, and safety. This article presents the main advances associated to the heterologous expression of VHHs in plant systems. Besides, we show insights related to the use of VHHs as a strategy for plant pathogen control and a tool for genomic manipulation in plant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Soraya S Pereira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
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17
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Brilhante-da-Silva N, de Oliveira Sousa RM, Arruda A, Dos Santos EL, Marinho ACM, Stabeli RG, Fernandes CFC, Pereira SDS. Camelid Single-Domain Antibodies for the Development of Potent Diagnosis Platforms. Mol Diagn Ther 2021; 25:439-456. [PMID: 34146333 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-021-00533-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The distinct biophysical and pharmaceutical properties of camelid single-domain antibodies, referred to as VHHs or nanobodies, are associated with their nanometric dimensions, elevated stability, and antigen recognition capacity. These biomolecules can circumvent a number of diagnostic system limitations, especially those related to the size and stability of conventional immunoglobulins currently used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and point-of-care, electrochemical, and imaging assays. In these formats, VHHs are directionally conjugated to different molecules, such as metallic nanoparticles, small peptides, and radioisotopes, which demonstrates their comprehensive versatility. Thus, the application of VHHs in diagnostic systems range from the identification of cancer cells to the detection of degenerative disease biomarkers, viral antigens, bacterial toxins, and insecticides. The improvements of sensitivity and specificity are among the central benefits resulting from the use of VHHs, which are indispensable parameters for high-quality diagnostics. Therefore, this review highlights the main biotechnological advances related to camelid single-domain antibodies and their use in in vitro and in vivo diagnostic approaches for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nairo Brilhante-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, 76812-245, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rosa Maria de Oliveira Sousa
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, 76812-245, Brazil
| | - Andrelisse Arruda
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, 76812-245, Brazil
| | - Eliza Lima Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, 76812-245, Brazil
| | - Anna Carolina Machado Marinho
- Plataforma de Desenvolvimento de Anticorpos e Nanocorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Ceará, Eusebio, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Guerino Stabeli
- Plataforma Bi-institucional de Medicina Translacional.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carla Freire Celedonio Fernandes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Plataforma de Desenvolvimento de Anticorpos e Nanocorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Ceará, Eusebio, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Soraya Dos Santos Pereira
- Laboratório de Engenharia de Anticorpos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, 76812-245, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOC, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, Brazil.
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18
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Fernandes CFC, Pereira SS, Luiz MB, Silva NKRL, Silva MCS, Marinho ACM, Fonseca MHG, Furtado GP, Trevizani R, Nicolete R, Soares AM, Zuliani JP, Stabeli RG. Engineering of single-domain antibodies for next-generation snakebite antivenoms. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 185:240-250. [PMID: 34118288 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Given the magnitude of the global snakebite crisis, strategies to ensure the quality of antivenom, as well as the availability and sustainability of its supply are under development by several research groups. Recombinant DNA technology has allowed the engineering of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant fragments as alternatives to conventional antivenoms. Besides having higher therapeutic efficacy, with broad neutralization capacity against local and systemic toxicity, novel antivenoms need to be safe and cost-effective. Due to the biological and physical chemical properties of camelid single-domain antibodies, with high volume of distribution to distal tissue, their modular format, and their versatility, their biotechnological application has grown considerably in recent decades. This article presents the most up-to-date developments concerning camelid single-domain-based antibodies against major toxins from snake venoms, the main venomous animals responsible for reported envenoming cases and related human deaths. A brief discussion on the composition, challenges, and perspectives of antivenoms is presented, as well as the road ahead for next-generation antivenoms based on single-domain antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Soraya S Pereira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Marcos B Luiz
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Nauanny K R L Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Marcela Cristina S Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Andreimar M Soares
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Juliana P Zuliani
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo G Stabeli
- Plataforma Bi-Institucional de Medicina Translacional (Fiocruz-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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19
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Bastos-Soares EA, Sousa RMO, Gómez AF, Alfonso J, Kayano AM, Zanchi FB, Funes-Huacca ME, Stábeli RG, Soares AM, Pereira SS, Fernandes CFC. Single domain antibodies in the development of immunosensors for diagnostics. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 165:2244-2252. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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20
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Bailon Calderon H, Yaniro Coronel VO, Cáceres Rey OA, Colque Alave EG, Leiva Duran WJ, Padilla Rojas C, Montejo Arevalo H, García Neyra D, Galarza Pérez M, Bonilla C, Tintaya B, Ricciardi G, Smiejkowska N, Romão E, Vincke C, Lévano J, Celys M, Lomonte B, Muyldermans S. Development of Nanobodies Against Hemorrhagic and Myotoxic Components of Bothrops atrox Snake Venom. Front Immunol 2020; 11:655. [PMID: 32457735 PMCID: PMC7224310 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Snake envenoming is a globally neglected public health problem. Antivenoms produced using animal hyperimmune plasma remain the standard therapy for snakebites. Although effective against systemic effects, conventional antivenoms have limited efficacy against local tissue damage. In addition, potential hypersensitivity reactions, high costs for animal maintenance, and difficulties in obtaining batch-to-batch homogeneity are some of the factors that have motivated the search for innovative and improved therapeutic products against such envenoming. In this study, we have developed a set of nanobodies (recombinant single-domain antigen-binding fragments from camelid heavy chain-only antibodies) against Bothrops atrox snake venom hemorrhagic and myotoxic components. An immune library was constructed after immunizing a Lama glama with whole venom of B. atrox, from which nanobodies were selected by phage display using partially purified hemorrhagic and myotoxic proteins. Biopanning selections retrieved 18 and eight different nanobodies against the hemorrhagic and the myotoxic proteins, respectively. In vivo assays in mice showed that five nanobodies inhibited the hemorrhagic activity of the proteins; three neutralized the hemorrhagic activity of whole B. atrox venom, while four nanobodies inhibited the myotoxic protein. A mixture of the anti-hemorrhagic and anti-myotoxic nanobodies neutralized the local tissue hemorrhage and myonecrosis induced by the whole venom, although the nanobody mixture failed to prevent the venom lethality. Nevertheless, our results demonstrate the efficacy and usefulness of these nanobodies to neutralize important pathologies of the venom, highlighting their potential as innovative therapeutic agents against envenoming by B. atrox, a viperid species causing many casualties in South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henri Bailon Calderon
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - Verónica Olga Yaniro Coronel
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru.,Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Omar Alberto Cáceres Rey
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - Elizabeth Gaby Colque Alave
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - Walter Jhon Leiva Duran
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - Carlos Padilla Rojas
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - Harrison Montejo Arevalo
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - David García Neyra
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - Marco Galarza Pérez
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - César Bonilla
- Centro Nacional de Producción de Biológicos (INS), Lima, Peru
| | - Benigno Tintaya
- Centro Nacional de Producción de Biológicos (INS), Lima, Peru
| | - Giulia Ricciardi
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Natalia Smiejkowska
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ema Romão
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cécile Vincke
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Juan Lévano
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - Mary Celys
- Laboratorio de Referencia Nacional de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Peru
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Serge Muyldermans
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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21
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Zimmermann I, Egloff P, Hutter CAJ, Kuhn BT, Bräuer P, Newstead S, Dawson RJP, Geertsma ER, Seeger MA. Generation of synthetic nanobodies against delicate proteins. Nat Protoc 2020; 15:1707-1741. [PMID: 32269381 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-0304-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Here, we provide a protocol to generate synthetic nanobodies, known as sybodies, against any purified protein or protein complex within a 3-week period. Unlike methods that require animals for antibody generation, sybody selections are carried out entirely in vitro under controlled experimental conditions. This is particularly relevant for the generation of conformation-specific binders against labile membrane proteins or protein complexes and allows selections in the presence of non-covalent ligands. Sybodies are especially suited for cases where binder generation via immune libraries fails due to high sequence conservation, toxicity or insufficient stability of the target protein. The procedure entails a single round of ribosome display using the sybody libraries encoded by mRNA, followed by two rounds of phage display and binder identification by ELISA. The protocol is optimized to avoid undesired reduction in binder diversity and enrichment of non-specific binders to ensure the best possible selection outcome. Using the efficient fragment exchange (FX) cloning method, the sybody sequences are transferred from the phagemid to different expression vectors without the need to amplify them by PCR, which avoids unintentional shuffling of complementary determining regions. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), the efficiency of each selection round is monitored to provide immediate feedback and guide troubleshooting. Our protocol can be carried out by any trained biochemist or molecular biologist using commercially available reagents and typically gives rise to 10-30 unique sybodies exhibiting binding affinities in the range of 500 pM-500 nM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwan Zimmermann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Linkster Therapeutics AG, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Egloff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Linkster Therapeutics AG, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cedric A J Hutter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benedikt T Kuhn
- Institute of Biochemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Philipp Bräuer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon Newstead
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Roger J P Dawson
- Linkster Therapeutics AG, Zurich, Switzerland.,Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eric R Geertsma
- Institute of Biochemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Markus A Seeger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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22
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Melarkode Vattekatte A, Shinada NK, Narwani TJ, Noël F, Bertrand O, Meyniel JP, Malpertuy A, Gelly JC, Cadet F, de Brevern AG. Discrete analysis of camelid variable domains: sequences, structures, and in-silico structure prediction. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8408. [PMID: 32185102 PMCID: PMC7061911 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Antigen binding by antibodies requires precise orientation of the complementarity- determining region (CDR) loops in the variable domain to establish the correct contact surface. Members of the family Camelidae have a modified form of immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) with only heavy chains, called Heavy Chain only Antibodies (HCAb). Antigen binding in HCAbs is mediated by only three CDR loops from the single variable domain (VHH) at the N-terminus of each heavy chain. This feature of the VHH, along with their other important features, e.g., easy expression, small size, thermo-stability and hydrophilicity, made them promising candidates for therapeutics and diagnostics. Thus, to design better VHH domains, it is important to thoroughly understand their sequence and structure characteristics and relationship. In this study, sequence characteristics of VHH domains have been analysed in depth, along with their structural features using innovative approaches, namely a structural alphabet. An elaborate summary of various studies proposing structural models of VHH domains showed diversity in the algorithms used. Finally, a case study to elucidate the differences in structural models from single and multiple templates is presented. In this case study, along with the above-mentioned aspects of VHH, an exciting view of various factors in structure prediction of VHH, like template framework selection, is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhila Melarkode Vattekatte
- Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge UMR_S1134, Inserm, Univ. Paris, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. des Antilles, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, Saint Denis, La Réunion, France.,Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Ken Shinada
- Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge UMR_S1134, Inserm, Univ. Paris, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. des Antilles, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), Paris, France.,Discngine SAS, Paris, France
| | - Tarun J Narwani
- Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge UMR_S1134, Inserm, Univ. Paris, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. des Antilles, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), Paris, France
| | - Floriane Noël
- Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge UMR_S1134, Inserm, Univ. Paris, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. des Antilles, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), Paris, France.,PSL Research University, INSERM, UMR 932, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Olivier Bertrand
- Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge UMR_S1134, Inserm, Univ. Paris, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. des Antilles, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), Paris, France
| | | | | | - Jean-Christophe Gelly
- Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge UMR_S1134, Inserm, Univ. Paris, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. des Antilles, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), Paris, France.,IBL, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Cadet
- Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge UMR_S1134, Inserm, Univ. Paris, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. des Antilles, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, Saint Denis, La Réunion, France.,Peaccel, Protein Engineering Accelerator, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre G de Brevern
- Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge UMR_S1134, Inserm, Univ. Paris, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. des Antilles, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, Paris, France.,Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, Saint Denis, La Réunion, France.,Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), Paris, France.,IBL, Paris, France
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23
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Structural basis for phospholipase A 2-like toxin inhibition by the synthetic compound Varespladib (LY315920). Sci Rep 2019; 9:17203. [PMID: 31748642 PMCID: PMC6868273 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53755-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization recently listed snakebite envenoming as a Neglected Tropical Disease, proposing strategies to significantly reduce the global burden of this complex pathology by 2030. In this context, effective adjuvant treatments to complement conventional antivenom therapy based on inhibitory molecules for specific venom toxins have gained renewed interest. Varespladib (LY315920) is a synthetic molecule clinically tested to block inflammatory cascades of several diseases associated with elevated levels of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2). Most recently, Varespladib was tested against several whole snake venoms and isolated PLA2 toxins, demonstrating potent inhibitory activity. Herein, we describe the first structural and functional study of the complex between Varespladib and a PLA2-like snake venom toxin (MjTX-II). In vitro and in vivo experiments showed this compound’s capacity to inhibit the cytotoxic and myotoxic effects of MjTX-II from the medically important South American snake, Bothrops moojeni. Crystallographic and bioinformatics analyses revealed interactions of Varespladib with two specific regions of the toxin, suggesting inhibition occurs by physical blockage of its allosteric activation, preventing the alignment of its functional sites and, consequently, impairing its ability to disrupt membranes. Furthermore, based on the analysis of several crystallographic structures, a distinction between toxin activators and inhibitors is proposed.
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24
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Knudsen C, Ledsgaard L, Dehli RI, Ahmadi S, Sørensen CV, Laustsen AH. Engineering and design considerations for next-generation snakebite antivenoms. Toxicon 2019; 167:67-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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25
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de Vasconcelos Azevedo FVP, Zóia MAP, Lopes DS, Gimenes SN, Vecchi L, Alves PT, Rodrigues RS, Silva ACA, Yoneyama KAG, Goulart LR, de Melo Rodrigues V. Antitumor and antimetastatic effects of PLA2-BthTX-II from Bothrops jararacussu venom on human breast cancer cells. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 135:261-273. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.05.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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26
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Mohseni A, Molakarimi M, Taghdir M, Sajedi RH, Hasannia S. Exploring single-domain antibody thermostability by molecular dynamics simulation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2018; 37:3686-3696. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2018.1526116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ammar Mohseni
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Molakarimi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Taghdir
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza H. Sajedi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadegh Hasannia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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27
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Antibody Cross-Reactivity in Antivenom Research. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10100393. [PMID: 30261694 PMCID: PMC6215175 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10100393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Antivenom cross-reactivity has been investigated for decades to determine which antivenoms can be used to treat snakebite envenomings from different snake species. Traditionally, the methods used for analyzing cross-reactivity have been immunodiffusion, immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), enzymatic assays, and in vivo neutralization studies. In recent years, new methods for determination of cross-reactivity have emerged, including surface plasmon resonance, antivenomics, and high-density peptide microarray technology. Antivenomics involves a top-down assessment of the toxin-binding capacities of antivenoms, whereas high-density peptide microarray technology may be harnessed to provide in-depth knowledge on which toxin epitopes are recognized by antivenoms. This review provides an overview of both the classical and new methods used to investigate antivenom cross-reactivity, the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and examples of studies using the methods. A special focus is given to antivenomics and high-density peptide microarray technology as these high-throughput methods have recently been introduced in this field and may enable more detailed assessments of antivenom cross-reactivity.
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28
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Silva LMG, Zamuner LF, David AC, dos Santos SA, de Carvalho PDTC, Zamuner SR. Photobiomodulation therapy on bothrops snake venom-induced local pathological effects: A systematic review. Toxicon 2018; 152:23-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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29
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Nanobodies as novel therapeutic agents in envenomation. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1862:2955-2965. [PMID: 30309831 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An effective therapy against envenoming should be a priority in view of the high number scorpion stings and snakebites. Serum therapy is still widely applied to treat the envenomation victims; however this approach suffers from several shortcomings. The employment of monoclonal antibodies might be an outcome as these molecules are at the core of a variety of applications from protein structure determination to cancer treatment. The progress of activities in the twilight zone between genetic and antibody engineering have led to the development of a unique class of antibody fragments. These molecules possess several benefits and lack many possible disadvantages over classical antibodies. Within recombinant antibody formats, nanobodies or single domain antigen binding fragments derived from heavy chain only antibodies in camelids occupy a privileged position. SCOPE OF REVIEW In this paper we will briefly review the common methods of envenomation treatment and focus on details of various in vivo research activities that investigate the performance of recombinant, monoclonal nanobodies in venom neutralization. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Nanobodies bind to their cognate target with high specificity and affinity, they can be produced in large quantities from microbial expression systems and are very robust even when challenged with harsh environmental conditions. Upon administering, they rapidly distribute throughout the body and seem to be well tolerated in humans posing low immunogenicity. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Scorpion and snake envenomation is a major issue in developing countries and nanobodies as a venom-neutralizing agent can be considered as a valuable and promising candidate in envenomation therapy.
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30
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Oliveira A, Bleicher L, Schrago CG, Silva Junior FP. Conservation analysis and decomposition of residue correlation networks in the phospholipase A2 superfamily (PLA2s): Insights into the structure-function relationships of snake venom toxins. Toxicon 2018; 146:50-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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31
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Camelid Single-Domain Antibodies (VHHs) against Crotoxin: A Basis for Developing Modular Building Blocks for the Enhancement of Treatment or Diagnosis of Crotalic Envenoming. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10040142. [PMID: 29596324 PMCID: PMC5923308 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10040142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxic effects triggered by crotalic envenoming are mainly related to crotoxin (CTX), composed of a phospholipase A2 (CB) and a subunit with no toxic activity (CA). Camelids produce immunoglobulins G devoid of light chains, in which the antigen recognition domain is called VHH. Given their unique characteristics, VHHs were selected using Phage Display against CTX from Crotalus durissus terrificus. After three rounds of biopanning, four sequence profiles for CB (KF498602, KF498603, KF498604, and KF498605) and one for CA (KF498606) were revealed. All clones presented the VHH hallmark in FR2 and a long CDR3, with the exception of KF498606. After expressing pET22b-VHHs in E. coli, approximately 2 to 6 mg of protein per liter of culture were obtained. When tested for cross-reactivity, VHHs presented specificity for the Crotalus genus and were capable of recognizing CB through Western blot. KF498602 and KF498604 showed thermostability, and displayed affinity constants for CTX in the micro or nanomolar range. They inhibited in vitro CTX PLA2 activity, and CB cytotoxicity. Furthermore, KF498604 inhibited the CTX-induced myotoxicity in mice by 78.8%. Molecular docking revealed that KF498604 interacts with the CA–CB interface of CTX, seeming to block substrate access. Selected VHHs may be alternatives for the crotalic envenoming treatment.
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32
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Casini A, Chang FY, Eluere R, King AM, Young EM, Dudley QM, Karim A, Pratt K, Bristol C, Forget A, Ghodasara A, Warden-Rothman R, Gan R, Cristofaro A, Borujeni AE, Ryu MH, Li J, Kwon YC, Wang H, Tatsis E, Rodriguez-Lopez C, O’Connor S, Medema MH, Fischbach MA, Jewett MC, Voigt C, Gordon DB. A Pressure Test to Make 10 Molecules in 90 Days: External Evaluation of Methods to Engineer Biology. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:4302-4316. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b13292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Casini
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Fang-Yuan Chang
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
| | - Raissa Eluere
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Andrew M. King
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
| | - Eric M. Young
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
| | - Quentin M. Dudley
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Ashty Karim
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Katelin Pratt
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Cassandra Bristol
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Anthony Forget
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
| | - Amar Ghodasara
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
| | - Robert Warden-Rothman
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
| | - Rui Gan
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Alexander Cristofaro
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
| | - Amin Espah Borujeni
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
| | - Min-Hyung Ryu
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Yong-Chan Kwon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - He Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Evangelos Tatsis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sarah O’Connor
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Marnix H. Medema
- Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Michael A. Fischbach
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Bioengineering and Chemistry, Engineering & Medicine for Human Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Christopher Voigt
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
| | - D. Benjamin Gordon
- The Foundry, 75 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States,
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Identification of Immunoreactive Peptides of Toxins to Simultaneously Assess the Neutralization Potency of Antivenoms against Neurotoxicity and Cytotoxicity of Naja atra Venom. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 10:toxins10010010. [PMID: 29295601 PMCID: PMC5793097 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing the neutralization capability of nonlethal but medically relevant toxins in venom has been a challenging task. Nowadays, neutralization efficacy is evaluated based simply on the survival rates of animals injected with antivenom together with a predefined dose of venom, which can determine potency against neurotoxicity but not validate the capability to neutralize cytotoxin-induced complications. In this study, a high correlation with in-vivo and in-vitro neutralization assays was established using the immunoreactive peptides identified from short-chain neurotoxin and cytotoxin A3. These peptides contain conserved residues associated with toxin activities and a competition assay indicated that these peptides could specifically block the antibody binding to toxin and affect the neutralization potency of antivenom. Moreover, the titers of peptide-specific antibody in antivenoms or mouse antisera were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) simultaneously, and the results indicated that Taiwanese bivalent antivenom (BAV) and Vietnamese snake antivenom-Naja (SAV-Naja) exhibited superior neutralization potency against the lethal effect of short-chain neurotoxin (sNTX) and cytotoxicity of cardiotoxin/cytotoxin (CTX), respectively. Thus, the reported peptide ELISA shows not only its potential for antivenom prequalification use, but also its capability of justifying the cross-neutralization potency of antivenoms against Naja atra venom toxicity.
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Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that kills >100,000 people and maims >400,000 people every year. Impoverished populations living in the rural tropics are particularly vulnerable; snakebite envenoming perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Snake venoms are complex mixtures of proteins that exert a wide range of toxic actions. The high variability in snake venom composition is responsible for the various clinical manifestations in envenomings, ranging from local tissue damage to potentially life-threatening systemic effects. Intravenous administration of antivenom is the only specific treatment to counteract envenoming. Analgesics, ventilator support, fluid therapy, haemodialysis and antibiotic therapy are also used. Novel therapeutic alternatives based on recombinant antibody technologies and new toxin inhibitors are being explored. Confronting snakebite envenoming at a global level demands the implementation of an integrated intervention strategy involving the WHO, the research community, antivenom manufacturers, regulatory agencies, national and regional health authorities, professional health organizations, international funding agencies, advocacy groups and civil society institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, PO Box 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Juan J Calvete
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Robert A Harrison
- Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - David J Williams
- Charles Campbell Toxinology Centre, School of Medicine &Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Boroko, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea
- Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - David A Warrell
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Fernandes CFC, Pereira SDS, Luiz MB, Zuliani JP, Furtado GP, Stabeli RG. Camelid Single-Domain Antibodies As an Alternative to Overcome Challenges Related to the Prevention, Detection, and Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. Front Immunol 2017. [PMID: 28649245 PMCID: PMC5465246 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Due mainly to properties such as high affinity and antigen specificity, antibodies have become important tools for biomedical research, diagnosis, and treatment of several human diseases. When the objective is to administer them for therapy, strategies are used to reduce the heterologous protein immunogenicity and to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. Size minimization contributes to ameliorate these characteristics, while preserving the antigen-antibody interaction site. Since the discovery that camelids produce functional antibodies devoid of light chains, studies have proposed the use of single domains for biosensors, monitoring and treatment of tumors, therapies for inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, drug delivery, or passive immunotherapy. Despite an expected increase in antibody and related products in the pharmaceutical market over the next years, few research initiatives are related to the development of alternatives for helping to manage neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In this review, we summarize developments of camelid single-domain antibodies (VHH) in the field of NTDs. Particular attention is given to VHH-derived products, i.e., VHHs fused to nanoparticles, constructed for the development of rapid diagnostic kits; fused to oligomeric matrix proteins for viral neutralization; and conjugated with proteins for the treatment of human parasites. Moreover, paratransgenesis technology using VHHs is an interesting approach to control parasite development in vectors. With enormous biotechnological versatility, facility and low cost for heterologous production, and greater ability to recognize different epitopes, VHHs have appeared as an opportunity to overcome challenges related to the prevention, detection, and control of human diseases, especially NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marcos B Luiz
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Juliana P Zuliani
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil.,Departamento de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | | | - Rodrigo G Stabeli
- Departamento de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil.,Plataforma Bi-Institucional de Medicina Translacional (Fiocruz-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Santos-Filho NA, Santos CT. Alpha-type phospholipase A 2 inhibitors from snake blood. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2017; 23:19. [PMID: 28344595 PMCID: PMC5364564 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-017-0110-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
It is of popular and scientific knowledge that toxins from snake venom (among them the PLA2 and myotoxins) are neutralized by various compounds, such as antibodies and proteins purified from animal blood. Venomous and nonvenomous snakes have PLA2 inhibitory proteins, called PLIs, in their blood serum. One hypothesis that could explain the presence of these PLIs in the serum of venomous snakes would be self-protection against the enzymes of their own venom, which eventually could reach the circulatory system. However, the presence of PLIs in non-venomous snakes suggests that their physiological role might not be restricted to protection against PLA2 toxins, but could be extended to other functions, as in the innate immune system and local regulation of PLA2s. The present study aimed to review the currently available literature on PLA2 and myotoxin alpha inhibitors present in snake plasma, thus helping to improve the research on these molecules. Furthermore, this review includes current information regarding the mechanism of action of these inhibitors in an attempt to better understand their application, and proposes the use of these molecules as new models in snakebite therapy. These molecules may help in the neutralization of different types of phospholipases A2 and myotoxins, complementing the conventional serum therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norival A. Santos-Filho
- Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista), Araraquara, SP Brazil
| | - Claudia T. Santos
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista), Araraquara, SP Brazil
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Araujo RT, Corrêa-Netto C, Brazil-Más L, Silveira CRF, Fernandes I, Zingali RB. Can anti-bothropstoxin-I antibodies discriminate between Bothrops jararaca and Bothrops jararacussu venoms? J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2017; 23:12. [PMID: 28293253 PMCID: PMC5346246 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-017-0105-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Snakes of the genus Bothrops, popularly known as pit vipers, are responsible for most cases of snakebite in Brazil. Within this genus, Bothrops jararacussu and B. jararaca deserve special attention due to the severity of their bites and for inhabiting densely populated areas. Regarding the treatment of snakebites by Bothrops jararacussu, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the specific bothropic antivenom in neutralizing myotoxic effects; however, there are no accurate data for humans. Thus, the development of a differential diagnostic kit for this species would be of great interest because it provides, for healthcare professionals, a tool that would allow us to determine whether the accident was caused by B. jararacussu or other species of the genus. It would also make it possible to evaluate the specificity of the treatment and to provide data for epidemiological studies. Methods First, we produced a species-specific polyclonal antibody – a potential biomarker of Bothrops jararacussu venom – against bothropstoxin-I (BthTx-I), which is also found in smaller quantities in the venoms of B. jararaca from southern Brazil. Results Polyclonal antibodies against bothropstoxin-I could be separated into several species-specific immunoglobulins. Then, aiming to develop a system of safe and standardized immunoassay, we produced monoclonal antibodies. Seven hybridomas were obtained. Five of them were specific to the venom of B. jararacussu and two recognized the venom of B. jararaca from the southeastern population. The use of monoclonal antibodies also made it possible to differentiate B. jararacussu from B. jararaca venom obtained from the southern population. Analyzing the reactivity of monoclonal antibodies against other bothropic venoms, we found mAb Bt-3 to be more specific than others for B. jararacussu venom. Conclusions These results show the potential of BthTx-I for producing monoclonal antibodies that differentiate between B. jararacussu and other Bothrops species venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Teixeira Araujo
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.,Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil
| | - Carlos Corrêa-Netto
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.,Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Russolina Benedeta Zingali
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil
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Anderson GP, Liu JH, Zabetakis D, Liu JL, Goldman ER. Thermal stabilization of anti-α-cobratoxin single domain antibodies. Toxicon 2017; 129:68-73. [PMID: 28209480 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
There is an unmet need for snake antivenoms that can be stored ready to use near the point of care. To address that need we have taken two anti-α-cobratoxin single domain antibodies and increased their thermal stability to improve their ambient temperature shelf-life. The anti-α-cobratoxin single domain antibodies C2 and C20 were first isolated, and demonstrated to be toxin neutralizing by Richard et al., 2013 (Richard, G., Meyers, A.J., McLean, M.D., Arbabi-Ghahroudi, M., MacKenzie, R., Hall, J.C., 2013. In vivo neutralization of alpha-cobratoxin with high-affinity llama single-domain antibodies (VHHs) and a VHH-Fc antibody. PLoS One 8, e69495). To thermal stabilize C2 and C20, we first made changes to their frame work 1 region that we had previously identified to be stabilizing, as well as reverted to the hallmark amino acids highly conserved in VHH domains; these changes improved their melting temperature (Tm) by 2 and 6 °C respectively. The further addition of a non-canonical disulfide bond raised the Tm an additional 13 and 9 °C respectively; giving final Tm values of 86 and 75 °C. Testing these mutants at 1 mg/mL at a range of elevated temperatures for an hour; we found that at 65 °C the wild type C2 and C20 had lost 35 and 95% of their binding activity respectively, while the mutants with the added disulfide bond retained nearly 100% of their initial binding activity. While significant work remains to formulate and field a shelf-stable antivenom, our results indicate such a product should be attainable in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- George P Anderson
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA.
| | - Jessica H Liu
- Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555, Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Dan Zabetakis
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Jinny L Liu
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Ellen R Goldman
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
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Engmark M, Andersen MR, Laustsen AH, Patel J, Sullivan E, de Masi F, Hansen CS, Kringelum JV, Lomonte B, Gutiérrez JM, Lund O. High-throughput immuno-profiling of mamba (Dendroaspis) venom toxin epitopes using high-density peptide microarrays. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36629. [PMID: 27824133 PMCID: PMC5100549 DOI: 10.1038/srep36629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a serious condition requiring medical attention and administration of antivenom. Current antivenoms are antibody preparations obtained from the plasma of animals immunised with whole venom(s) and contain antibodies against snake venom toxins, but also against other antigens. In order to better understand the molecular interactions between antivenom antibodies and epitopes on snake venom toxins, a high-throughput immuno-profiling study on all manually curated toxins from Dendroaspis species and selected African Naja species was performed based on custom-made high-density peptide microarrays displaying linear toxin fragments. By detection of binding for three different antivenoms and performing an alanine scan, linear elements of epitopes and the positions important for binding were identified. A strong tendency of antivenom antibodies recognizing and binding to epitopes at the functional sites of toxins was observed. With these results, high-density peptide microarray technology is for the first time introduced in the field of toxinology and molecular details of the evolution of antibody-toxin interactions based on molecular recognition of distinctive toxic motifs are elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Engmark
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark.,Technical University of Denmark, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Mikael R Andersen
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Andreas H Laustsen
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark.,University of Copenhagen, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen East, 2100, Denmark
| | - Jigar Patel
- Roche NimbleGen, Madison, Wisconsin 53719, USA
| | | | - Federico de Masi
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Christian S Hansen
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Jens V Kringelum
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Ole Lund
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
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40
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rBaltMIP, a recombinant alpha-type myotoxin inhibitor from Bothrops alternatus (Rhinocerophis alternatus) snake, as a potential candidate to complement the antivenom therapy. Toxicon 2016; 124:53-62. [PMID: 28327300 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Phospholipase A2 inhibitors (PLIs) are important targets in the search and development of new drugs. This study aimed at evaluating the potential of an alpha-type phospholipase A2 inhibitor from Bothrops alternatus (Rhinocerophis alternatus) snake in its recombinant form (rBaltMIP) to complement the conventional antivenom therapy. Biochemical experiments showed that rBaltMIP presented pI 5.8 and molecular masses of ∼21 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 19.57 kDa by MALDI/TOF MS. After tryptic peptides sequencing, the results were compared with other PLIs available in databases, showing 100% identity between rBaltMIP and its native inhibitor BaltMIP and from 92% to 96% identity with other inhibitors. Myotoxic activities of BthTX-I and BthTX-II toxins were measured via plasma CK levels, showing myotoxic effective concentrations (EC50) of 0.1256 μg/μL and 0.6183 μg/μL, respectively. rBaltMIP neutralized the myotoxicity caused by these two toxins up to 65%, without promoting primary antibody response against itself. Nevertheless, this recombinant PLI was immunogenic when standard immunization protocol with Freud's adjuvant was used. In paw edema assays, EC50 of 0.02581 μg/μL and 0.02810 μg/μL, respectively, were observed with edema reductions of up to 40% by rBaltMIP, suggesting its use as an additional antivenom. In addition, myotoxicity neutralization experiments with the myotoxin BthTX-I showed that rBaltMIP was more effective in inhibiting muscle damage than the conventional antivenom. Thus, considering the severity of envenomations due to Bothrops alternatus (Rhinocerophis alternatus) and the low neutralization of their local effects (such as myotoxicity) by the current antivenoms, rBaltMIP is a promising molecule for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for clinical applications.
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Noël F, Malpertuy A, de Brevern AG. Global analysis of VHHs framework regions with a structural alphabet. Biochimie 2016; 131:11-19. [PMID: 27613403 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2016.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The VHHs are antigen-binding region/domain of camelid heavy chain antibodies (HCAb). They have many interesting biotechnological and biomedical properties due to their small size, high solubility and stability, and high affinity and specificity for their antigens. HCAb and classical IgGs are evolutionary related and share a common fold. VHHs are composed of regions considered as constant, called the frameworks (FRs) connected by Complementarity Determining Regions (CDRs), a highly variable region that provide interaction with the epitope. Actually, no systematic structural analyses had been performed on VHH structures despite a significant number of structures. This work is the first study to analyse the structural diversity of FRs of VHHs. Using a structural alphabet that allows approximating the local conformation, we show that each of the four FRs do not have a unique structure but exhibit many structural variant patterns. Moreover, no direct simple link between the local conformational change and amino acid composition can be detected. These results indicate that long-range interactions affect the local conformation of FRs and impact the building of structural models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floriane Noël
- INSERM, U 1134, DSIMB, F-75739 Paris, France; Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR_S 1134, F-75739 Paris, France; Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), F-75739 Paris, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, F-75739 Paris, France
| | | | - Alexandre G de Brevern
- INSERM, U 1134, DSIMB, F-75739 Paris, France; Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR_S 1134, F-75739 Paris, France; Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), F-75739 Paris, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, F-75739 Paris, France.
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42
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