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Sangprasat K, Bulaon CJI, Rattanapisit K, Srisangsung T, Jirarojwattana P, Wongwatanasin A, Phoolcharoen W. Production of monoclonal antibodies against botulinum neurotoxin in Nicotiana benthamiana. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2329446. [PMID: 38525945 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2329446] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Botulism is a fatal neurologic disease caused by the botulinum toxin (BoNT) produced by Clostridium botulinum. It is a rare but highly toxic disease with symptoms, such as cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dysphagia, respiratory failure, muscle weakness, and even death. Currently, two types of antitoxin are used: equine-derived heptavalent antitoxin and human-derived immunoglobulin (BabyBIG®). However, heptavalent treatment may result in hypersensitivity, whereas BabyBIG®, has a low yield. The present study focused on the development of three anti-BoNT monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 1B18, C25, and M2, in Nicotiana benthamiana. The plant-expressed mAbs were purified and examined for size, purity and integrity by SDS-PAGE, western blotting and size-exclusion chromatography. Analysis showed that plant-produced anti-BoNT mAbs can fully assemble in plants, can be purified in a single purification step, and mostly remain as monomeric proteins. The efficiency of anti-BoNT mAbs binding to BoNT/A and B was then tested. Plant-produced 1B18 retained its ability to recognize both mBoNT/A1 and ciBoNT/B1. At the same time, the binding specificities of two other mAbs were determined: C25 for mBoNT/A1 and M2 for ciBoNT/B1. In conclusion, our results confirm the use of plants as an alternative platform for the production of anti-BoNT mAbs. This plant-based technology will serve as a versatile system for the development botulism immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kornchanok Sangprasat
- Center of Excellence in Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Graduate Program of Program in Research for Enterprise, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Kaewta Rattanapisit
- Department of Research and Development, Baiya Phytopharm Co. Ltd, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Theerakarn Srisangsung
- Center of Excellence in Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Graduate Program of Program in Research for Enterprise, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Perawat Jirarojwattana
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Center of Excellence in Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Jiang Y, Wang R, Guo J, Cheng K, Chen L, Wang X, Li Y, Du P, Gao C, Lu J, Yu Y, Yang Z. Isolation and characterization of Hc-targeting chimeric heavy chain antibodies neutralizing botulinum neurotoxin type B. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1380694. [PMID: 38779676 PMCID: PMC11109933 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1380694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) produced by Clostridium botulinum is one of the most potent known toxins. Moreover, BoNT is classified as one of the most important biological warfare agents that threatens the biosafety of the world. Currently, the approved treatment for botulism in humans is the use of polyvalent horse serum antitoxins. However, they are greatly limited because of insufficient supply and adverse reactions. Thus, treatment of human botulism requires the development of effective toxin-neutralizing antibodies. Considering their advantages, neutralizing nanobodies will play an increasing role as BoNTs therapeutics. Methods Herein, neutralizing nanobodies binding to the heavy chain (Hc) domain of BoNT/B (BHc) were screened from a phage display library. Then, BoNT/B-specific clones were identified and fused with the human Fc fragment (hFc) to form chimeric heavy chain antibodies. Finally, the affinity, specificity, and neutralizing activity of antibodies against BoNT/B in vivo were evaluated. Results The B5-hFc, B9-hFc and B12-hFc antibodies demonstrated high affinity for BHc in the nanomolar range. The three antibodies were proven to have potent neutralizing activity against BoNT/B in vivo. Conclusion The results demonstrate that inhibiting toxin binding to the host receptor is an efficient strategy and the three antibodies could be used as candidates for the further development of drugs to prevent and treat botulism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jiansheng Lu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yunzhou Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhixin Yang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
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Rawson AM, Dempster AW, Humphreys CM, Minton NP. Pathogenicity and virulence of Clostridium botulinum. Virulence 2023; 14:2205251. [PMID: 37157163 PMCID: PMC10171130 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2205251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium botulinum, a polyphyletic Gram-positive taxon of bacteria, is classified purely by their ability to produce botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). BoNT is the primary virulence factor and the causative agent of botulism. A potentially fatal disease, botulism is classically characterized by a symmetrical descending flaccid paralysis, which is left untreated can lead to respiratory failure and death. Botulism cases are classified into three main forms dependent on the nature of intoxication; foodborne, wound and infant. The BoNT, regarded as the most potent biological substance known, is a zinc metalloprotease that specifically cleaves SNARE proteins at neuromuscular junctions, preventing exocytosis of neurotransmitters, leading to muscle paralysis. The BoNT is now used to treat numerous medical conditions caused by overactive or spastic muscles and is extensively used in the cosmetic industry due to its high specificity and the exceedingly small doses needed to exert long-lasting pharmacological effects. Additionally, the ability to form endospores is critical to the pathogenicity of the bacteria. Disease transmission is often facilitated via the metabolically dormant spores that are highly resistant to environment stresses, allowing persistence in the environment in unfavourable conditions. Infant and wound botulism infections are initiated upon germination of the spores into neurotoxin producing vegetative cells, whereas foodborne botulism is attributed to ingestion of preformed BoNT. C. botulinum is a saprophytic bacterium, thought to have evolved its potent neurotoxin to establish a source of nutrients by killing its host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Rawson
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, The Biodiscovery Institute, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Andrew W Dempster
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, The Biodiscovery Institute, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Christopher M Humphreys
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, The Biodiscovery Institute, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Derkaev AA, Ryabova EI, Esmagambetov IB, Shcheblyakov DV, Godakova SA, Vinogradova ID, Noskov AN, Logunov DY, Naroditsky BS, Gintsburg AL. rAAV expressing recombinant neutralizing antibody for the botulinum neurotoxin type A prophylaxis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:960937. [PMID: 36238585 PMCID: PMC9551282 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.960937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is one of the most dangerous bacterial toxins and a potential biological weapon component. BoNT mechanism of pathological action is based on inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters from nerve endings. To date, anti-BoNT therapy is reduced to the use of horse hyperimmune serum, which causes many side effects, as well as FDA-approved drug BabyBig which consists of human-derived anti-BoNT antibodies (IgG) for infant botulinum treatment. Therapeutics for botulism treatment based on safer monoclonal antibodies are undergoing clinical trials. In addition, agents have been developed for the specific prevention of botulism, but their effectiveness has not been proved. In this work, we have obtained a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV-B11-Fc) expressing a single-domain antibody fused to the human IgG Fc-fragment (B11-Fc) and specific to botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A). We have demonstrated that B11-Fc antibody, expressed via rAAV-B11-Fc treatment, can protect animals from lethal doses of botulinum toxin type A, starting from day 3 and at least 120 days after administration. Thus, our results showed that rAAV-B11-Fc can provide long-term expression of B11-Fc-neutralizing antibody in vivo and provide long-term protection against BoNT/A intoxication. Consequently, our study demonstrates the applicability of rAAV expressing protective antibodies for the prevention of intoxication caused by botulinum toxins.
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Li Z, Lu JS, Liu S, Wang R, Xu Q, Yu YZ, Yang ZX. Recombinant L-HN Fusion Antigen Derived from the L and HN Domains of Botulinum Neurotoxin B Stimulates a Protective Antibody Response Against Active Neurotoxin. Neurotox Res 2021; 39:1044-1053. [PMID: 33616873 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-021-00337-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum in an anaerobic environment. BoNT is the most toxic protein among bacteria, animals, plants, and chemical substances reported to date. BoNTs are 150 kDa proteins composed of three major functional domains: catalytic (L domain, 50 kDa), translocation (HN domain, 50 kDa), and receptor-binding (Hc domain, 50 kDa) domains. Most studies have focused on the use of the Hc domain as an antigen because it is capable of generating robust protective immunity and contains some functional neutralizing epitopes. In the present study, we produced and characterized a recombinant L-HN fusion fragment of the parent BoNT/B (BL-HN) composed of L and HN domains with a deletion in the Hc domain (BHc). When the BL-HN protein was expressed in E. coli, it retained its stable structure and antigenicity. As a vaccine antigen, the recombinant BL-HN protein was found to induce sufficient protection against native BoNT/B in a mouse model. The BL-HN subunit vaccine could also induce a strong humoral immune response and generate sufficient neutralizing antibodies in immunized mice. Therefore, BL-HN may retain the native neurotoxin structure and critical epitopes responsible for inducing serum neutralizing antibodies. Studies of the dose-dependent immunoprotective effects further confirmed that the BL-HN antigen could provide potent protective immunity. This finding suggests that BL-HN can play an important role in immune protection against BoNT/B. Therefore, the BL-HN fusion fragment provides an excellent platform for the design of recombinant botulinum vaccines and neutralizing antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Li
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China.,Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Jian-Sheng Lu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Shan Liu
- PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, 100088, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China
| | - Qing Xu
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Yun-Zhou Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China.
| | - Zhi-Xin Yang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, 100071, China.
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