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Acar DD, Witkowski W, Wejda M, Wei R, Desmet T, Schepens B, De Cae S, Sedeyn K, Eeckhaut H, Fijalkowska D, Roose K, Vanmarcke S, Poupon A, Jochmans D, Zhang X, Abdelnabi R, Foo CS, Weynand B, Reiter D, Callewaert N, Remaut H, Neyts J, Saelens X, Gerlo S, Vandekerckhove L. Integrating artificial intelligence-based epitope prediction in a SARS-CoV-2 antibody discovery pipeline: caution is warranted. EBioMedicine 2024; 100:104960. [PMID: 38232633 PMCID: PMC10803917 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104960] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies (nABs) showed great promise in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergence of resistant strains, however, quickly rendered the majority of clinically approved nABs ineffective. This underscored the imperative to develop nAB cocktails targeting non-overlapping epitopes. METHODS Undertaking a nAB discovery program, we employed a classical workflow, while integrating artificial intelligence (AI)-based prediction to select non-competing nABs very early in the pipeline. We identified and in vivo validated (in female Syrian hamsters) two highly potent nABs. FINDINGS Despite the promising results, in depth cryo-EM structural analysis demonstrated that the AI-based prediction employed with the intention to ensure non-overlapping epitopes was inaccurate. The two nABs in fact bound to the same receptor-binding epitope in a remarkably similar manner. INTERPRETATION Our findings indicate that, even in the Alphafold era, AI-based predictions of paratope-epitope interactions are rough and experimental validation of epitopes remains an essential cornerstone of a successful nAB lead selection. FUNDING Full list of funders is provided at the end of the manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Diana Acar
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Wojciech Witkowski
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Magdalena Wejda
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Ruifang Wei
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Tim Desmet
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Bert Schepens
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent 9052, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Sieglinde De Cae
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent 9052, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Koen Sedeyn
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent 9052, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Hannah Eeckhaut
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent 9052, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Daria Fijalkowska
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent 9052, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Kenny Roose
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent 9052, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Sandrine Vanmarcke
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent 9052, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | | | - Dirk Jochmans
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Xin Zhang
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Rana Abdelnabi
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Caroline S Foo
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Birgit Weynand
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Translational Cell and Tissue Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Dirk Reiter
- Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Nico Callewaert
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent 9052, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Han Remaut
- Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium; VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Xavier Saelens
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent 9052, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Sarah Gerlo
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Linos Vandekerckhove
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
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Zehnaker A, Vallet A, Gourdon J, Sarti C, Jugnarain V, Haj Hassan M, Mathias L, Gauthier C, Raynaud P, Boulo T, Beauclair L, Bigot Y, Casarini L, Crépieux P, Poupon A, Piégu B, Jean-Alphonse F, Bruneau G, Reiter É. Combined Multiplexed Phage Display, High-Throughput Sequencing, and Functional Assays as a Platform for Identifying Modulatory VHHs Targeting the FSHR. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15961. [PMID: 37958944 PMCID: PMC10650796 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing modulatory antibodies against G protein-coupled receptors is challenging. In this study, we targeted the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), a significant regulator of reproduction, with variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies (VHHs). We built two immune VHH libraries and submitted them to multiplexed phage display approaches. We used next-generation sequencing to identify 34 clusters of specifically enriched sequences that were functionally assessed in a primary screen based on a cAMP response element (CRE)-dependent reporter gene assay. In this assay, 23 VHHs displayed negative or positive modulation of FSH-induced responses, suggesting a high success rate of the multiplexed strategy. We then focused on the largest cluster identified (i.e., PRC1) that displayed positive modulation of FSH action. We demonstrated that PRC1 specifically binds to the human FSHR and human FSHR/FSH complex while potentiating FSH-induced cAMP production and Gs recruitment. We conclude that the improved selection strategy reported here is effective for rapidly identifying functionally active VHHs and could be adapted to target other challenging membrane receptors. This study also led to the identification of PRC1, the first potential positive modulator VHH reported for the human FSHR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anielka Zehnaker
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Amandine Vallet
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Juliette Gourdon
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Caterina Sarti
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Vinesh Jugnarain
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Maya Haj Hassan
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Laetitia Mathias
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Camille Gauthier
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Pauline Raynaud
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Thomas Boulo
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Linda Beauclair
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Yves Bigot
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Livio Casarini
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Pascale Crépieux
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
- Inria, Inria Saclay-Ile-de-France, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Anne Poupon
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
- Inria, Inria Saclay-Ile-de-France, 91120 Palaiseau, France
- MAbSilico, 1 Impasse du Palais, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Benoît Piégu
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Frédéric Jean-Alphonse
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
- Inria, Inria Saclay-Ile-de-France, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Gilles Bruneau
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
| | - Éric Reiter
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.Z.); (A.V.); (J.G.); (C.S.); (V.J.); (M.H.H.); (L.M.); (C.G.); (P.R.); (T.B.); (L.B.); (Y.B.); (L.C.); (P.C.); (A.P.); (B.P.); (F.J.-A.)
- Inria, Inria Saclay-Ile-de-France, 91120 Palaiseau, France
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