1
|
Banik SSR, Kushnir N, Doranz BJ, Chambers R. Breaking barriers in antibody discovery: harnessing divergent species for accessing difficult and conserved drug targets. MAbs 2023; 15:2273018. [PMID: 38050985 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2023.2273018] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
To exploit highly conserved and difficult drug targets, including multipass membrane proteins, monoclonal antibody discovery efforts increasingly rely on the advantages offered by divergent species such as rabbits, camelids, and chickens. Here, we provide an overview of antibody discovery technologies, analyze gaps in therapeutic antibodies that stem from the historic use of mice, and examine opportunities to exploit previously inaccessible targets through discovery now possible in alternate species. We summarize the clinical development of antibodies raised from divergent species, discussing how these animals enable robust immune responses against highly conserved binding sites and yield antibodies capable of penetrating functional pockets via long HCDR3 regions. We also discuss the value of pan-reactive molecules often produced by these hosts, and how these antibodies can be tested in accessible animal models, offering a faster path to clinical development.
Collapse
|
2
|
Lin WC, Tang HC, Wang HY, Kao CY, Chang YC, Li AH, Yang SB, Mou KY. Fragment-Directed Random Mutagenesis by the Reverse Kunkel Method. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1658-1668. [PMID: 35324156 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Two fundamentally different approaches are routinely used for protein engineering: user-defined mutagenesis and random mutagenesis, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Here, we invent a unique mutagenesis protocol, which combines the advantages of user-defined mutagenesis and random mutagenesis. The new method, termed the reverse Kunkel method, allows the user to create random mutations at multiple specified regions in a one-pot reaction. We demonstrated the reverse Kunkel method by mimicking the somatic hypermutation in antibodies that introduces random mutations concentrated in complementarity-determining regions. Coupling with the phage display and yeast display selections, we successfully generated dramatically improved antibodies against a model protein and a neurotransmitter peptide in terms of affinity and immunostaining performance. The reverse Kunkel method is especially suitable for engineering proteins whose activities are determined by multiple variable regions, such as antibodies and adeno-associated virus capsids, or whose functional domains are composed of several discontinuous sequences, such as Cas9 and Cas12a.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ching Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Cheng Tang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Han Ying Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yi Kao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - You-Chiun Chang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Athena Hsu Li
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Shi-Bing Yang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Kurt Yun Mou
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ching KH, Berg K, Reynolds K, Pedersen D, Macias A, Abdiche YN, Harriman WD, Leighton PA. Common light chain chickens produce human antibodies of high affinity and broad epitope coverage for the engineering of bispecifics. MAbs 2021; 13:1862451. [PMID: 33491549 PMCID: PMC7849766 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2020.1862451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bispecific antibodies are an important and growing segment in antibody therapeutics, particularly in the immuno-oncology space. Manufacturing of a bispecific antibody with two different heavy chains is greatly simplified if the light chains can be the same for both arms of the antibody. Here, we introduce a strain of common light chain chickens, called OmniClic®, that produces antibody repertoires largely devoid of light chain diversity. The antibody repertoire in these chickens is composed of diverse human heavy chain variable regions capable of high-affinity antigen-specific binding and broad epitope diversity when paired with the germline human kappa light chain. OmniClic birds can be used in immunization campaigns for discovery of human heavy chains to different targets. Subsequent pairing of the heavy chain with a germline human kappa light chain serves to facilitate bispecific antibody production by increasing the efficiency of correct pairing. Abbreviations: AID: activation-induced cytidine deaminase; bsAb: bispecific antibody; CDR: complementarity-determining region; CL: light chain constant region; CmLC: common light chain; D: diversity region; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; FACS: fluorescence-activated cell sorting; Fc: fragment crystallizable; FcRn: neonatal Fc receptor; FR: framework region; GEM: gel-encapsulated microenvironment; Ig: immunoglobulin; IMGT: the international ImMunoGeneTics information system®; J: joining region; KO: knockout; mAb: monoclonal antibody; NGS: next-generation sequencing; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; PGC: primordial germ cell; PGRN: progranulin; TCR: T cell receptor; V: variable region; VK: kappa light chain variable region; VL: light chain variable region; VH: heavy chain variable region
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn H Ching
- Department of Research and Development, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc ., Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Kimberley Berg
- Department of Research and Development, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc ., Emeryville, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University , Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Reynolds
- Department of Research and Development, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc ., Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Darlene Pedersen
- Department of Research and Development, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc ., Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Alba Macias
- Department of Structural Biology, Vernalis , Cambridge, UK
| | - Yasmina N Abdiche
- Department of Research and Development, Carterra, Inc. Salt LakeCity, USA(Currently at ImmunoPrecise Antibodies , Fargo, UT, USA
| | - William D Harriman
- Department of Research and Development, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc ., Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Philip A Leighton
- Department of Research and Development, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc ., Emeryville, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cameron B, Dabdoubi T, Berthou-Soulié L, Gagnaire M, Arnould I, Severac A, Soubrier F, Morales J, Leighton PA, Harriman W, Ching K, Abdiche Y, Radošević K, Bouquin T. Complementary epitopes and favorable developability of monoclonal anti-LAMP1 antibodies generated using two transgenic animal platforms. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235815. [PMID: 32673351 PMCID: PMC7365404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for therapeutic applications should be as similar to native human antibodies as possible to minimize their immunogenicity in patients. Several transgenic animal platforms are available for the generation of fully human mAbs. Attributes such as specificity, efficacy and Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) developability of antibodies against a specific target are typically established for antibodies obtained from one platform only. In this study, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) cross-reactive against human and cynomolgus LAMP1 were derived from the human immunoglobulin transgenic TRIANNI mouse and OmniChicken® platforms and assessed for their specificity, sequence diversity, ability to bind to and internalize into tumor cells, expected immunogenicity and CMC developability. Our results show that the two platforms were complementary at providing a large diversity of mAbs with respect to epitope coverage and antibody sequence diversity. Furthermore, most antibodies originating from either platform exhibited good manufacturability characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Anne Severac
- Biologics Research, Sanofi R&D, Boufféré, France
| | | | - Jacqueline Morales
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Philip A. Leighton
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - William Harriman
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Kathryn Ching
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Yasmina Abdiche
- Carterra Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ching KH, Berg K, Morales J, Pedersen D, Harriman WD, Abdiche YN, Leighton PA. Expression of human lambda expands the repertoire of OmniChickens. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228164. [PMID: 31995598 PMCID: PMC6988971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of the approved monoclonal antibodies used in the clinic were initially discovered in mice. However, many targets of therapeutic interest are highly conserved proteins that do not elicit a robust immune response in mice. There is a need for non-mammalian antibody discovery platforms which would allow researchers to access epitopes that are not recognized in mammalian hosts. Recently, we introduced the OmniChicken®, a transgenic animal carrying human VH3-23 and VK3-15 at its immunoglobulin loci. Here, we describe a new version of the OmniChicken which carries VH3-23 and either VL1-44 or VL3-19 at its heavy and light chain loci, respectively. The Vλ-expressing birds showed normal B and T populations in the periphery. A panel of monoclonal antibodies demonstrated comparable epitope coverage of a model antigen compared to both wild-type and Vκ-expressing OmniChickens. Kinetic analysis identified binders in the picomolar range. The Vλ-expressing bird increases the antibody diversity available in the OmniChicken platform, further enabling discovery of therapeutic leads.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn H. Ching
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Kimberley Berg
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Jacqueline Morales
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - Darlene Pedersen
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | - William D. Harriman
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Emeryville, California, United States of America
| | | | - Philip A. Leighton
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Emeryville, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|