1
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Kaewbandit N, Malla A, Boonyayothin W, Rattanapisit K, Phetphoung T, Pisuttinusart N, Strasser R, Saetung R, Tawinwung S, Phoolcharoen W. Effect of plant produced Anti-hIL-6 receptor antibody blockade on pSTAT3 expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11927. [PMID: 37488213 PMCID: PMC10366097 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39106-5] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
As a response to invasion by pathogens, the secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6) which is a cytokine, activates IL-6/JAKs/STAT3 intracellular signaling via., phosphorylation. Over expression of pSTAT3 induces IL-6 positive feedback loop causing cytokine release syndrome or cytokine storm. Plants have gained momentum as an alternative expression system. Hence, this study aims to produce mAb targeting human IL-6 receptor (hIL-6R) in Nicotiana benthamiana for down regulating its cellular signaling thus, decreasing the expression of pSTAT3. The variable regions of heavy and light chains of anti-hIL-6R mAb were constructed in pBYK2e geminiviral plant expression vector and transiently co-expressed in N. benthamiana. The results demonstrate the proper protein assembly of anti-hIL-6R mAb with highest expression level of 2.24 mg/g FW at 5 dpi, with a yield of 21.4 µg/g FW after purification. The purity and N-glycosylation of plant produced antibody was analyzed, including its specificity to human IL-6 receptor by ELISA. Additionally, we investigated the effect to pSTAT3 expression in human PBMC's by flow cytometry wherein, the results confirmed lower expression of pSTAT3 with increasing concentrations of plant produced anti-hIL-6R mAb. Although, further in vivo studies are key to unveil the absolute functionality of anti-hIL-6R, we hereby show the potential of the plant platform and its suitability for the production of this therapeutic antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namthip Kaewbandit
- 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 Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Wanuttha Boonyayothin
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Thareeya Phetphoung
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nuttapat Pisuttinusart
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rattana Saetung
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Supannikar Tawinwung
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
- Cellular Immunotherapy Research Unit, 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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2
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Esqueda A, Sun H, Bonner J, Lai H, Jugler C, Kibler KV, Steinkellner H, Chen Q. A Monoclonal Antibody Produced in Glycoengineered Plants Potently Neutralizes Monkeypox Virus. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1179. [PMID: 37514995 PMCID: PMC10416152 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11071179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The 2022 global outbreaks of monkeypox virus (MPXV) and increased human-to-human transmission calls for the urgent development of countermeasures to protect people who cannot benefit from vaccination. Here, we describe the development of glycovariants of 7D11, a neutralizing monoclonal IgG antibody (mAb) directed against the L1 transmembrane protein of the related vaccinia virus, in a plant-based system as a potential therapeutic against the current MPVX outbreak. Our results indicated that 7D11 mAb quickly accumulates to high levels within a week after gene introduction to plants. Plant-produced 7D11 mAb assembled correctly into the tetrameric IgG structure and can be easily purified to homogeneity. 7D11 mAb exhibited a largely homogeneous N-glycosylation profile, with or without plant-specific xylose and fucose residues, depending on the expression host, namely wild-type or glycoengineered plants. Plant-made 7D11 retained specific binding to its antigen and displayed a strong neutralization activity against MPXV, as least as potent as the reported activity against vaccinia virus. Our study highlights the utility of anti-L1 mAbs as MPXV therapeutics, and the use of glycoengineered plants to develop mAb glycovariants for potentially enhancing the efficacy of mAbs to combat ever-emerging/re-emerging viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Esqueda
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - James Bonner
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Collin Jugler
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Karen V. Kibler
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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3
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Charvet B, Brunel J, Pierquin J, Iampietro M, Decimo D, Queruel N, Lucas A, Encabo-Berzosa MDM, Arenaz I, Marmolejo TP, Gonzalez AI, Maldonado AC, Mathieu C, Küry P, Flores-Rivera J, Torres-Ruiz F, Avila-Rios S, Salgado Montes de Oca G, Schoorlemmer J, Perron H, Horvat B. SARS-CoV-2 awakens ancient retroviral genes and the expression of proinflammatory HERV-W envelope protein in COVID-19 patients. iScience 2023; 26:106604. [PMID: 37091988 PMCID: PMC10079620 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with COVID-19 may develop abnormal inflammatory response, followed in some cases by severe disease and long-lasting syndromes. We show here that in vitro exposure to SARS-CoV-2 activates the expression of the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) HERV-W proinflammatory envelope protein (ENV) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a subset of healthy donors, in ACE2 receptor and infection-independent manner. Plasma and/or sera of 221 COVID-19 patients from different cohorts, infected with successive SARS-CoV-2 variants including the Omicron, had detectable HERV-W ENV, which correlated with ENV expression in T lymphocytes and peaked with the disease severity. HERV-W ENV was also found in postmortem tissues of lungs, heart, gastrointestinal tract, brain olfactory bulb, and nasal mucosa from COVID-19 patients. Altogether, these results demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 could induce HERV-W envelope protein expression and suggest its involvement in the immunopathogenesis of certain COVID-19-associated syndromes and thereby its relevance in the development of personalized treatment of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mathieu Iampietro
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Didier Decimo
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | - Alexandre Lucas
- We-Met platform, I2MC/Inserm/Université Paul Sabatier UMR1297, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Izaskun Arenaz
- Biobanco del Sistema de Salud de Aragón, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Tania Perez Marmolejo
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio Villegas, México Ciudad, México
| | - Arturo Ivan Gonzalez
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosio Villegas, México Ciudad, México
| | | | - Cyrille Mathieu
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Patrick Küry
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Jose Flores-Rivera
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fernanda Torres-Ruiz
- Centro de investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, México Ciudad, México
| | - Santiago Avila-Rios
- Centro de investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, México Ciudad, México
| | - Gonzalo Salgado Montes de Oca
- Centro de investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, México Ciudad, México
| | - Jon Schoorlemmer
- ARAID Fundación; Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS); Grupo B46_20R de la DGA and GIIS-028 del IISA; all Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Hervé Perron
- GeNeuro Innovation, Lyon, France
- GeNeuro, Plan les Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Branka Horvat
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
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4
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Yang M, Sun H, Lai H, Neupane B, Bai F, Steinkellner H, Chen Q. Plant-Produced Anti-Zika Virus Monoclonal Antibody Glycovariant Exhibits Abrogated Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:755. [PMID: 37112665 PMCID: PMC10144123 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against the envelope (E) protein of Zika virus (ZIKV) have shown great potential as therapeutics against the Zika epidemics. However, their use as a therapy may predispose treated individuals to severe infection by the related dengue virus (DENV) via antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE). Here, we generated a broadly neutralizing flavivirus mAb, ZV1, with an identical protein backbone but different Fc glycosylation profiles. The three glycovariants, produced in wild-type (WT) and glycoengineered ΔXF Nicotiana benthamiana plants and in Chinese hamster ovary cells (ZV1WT, ZV1ΔXF, and ZV1CHO), respectively, showed equivalent neutralization potency against both ZIKV and DENV. By contrast, the three mAb glycoforms demonstrated drastically different ADE activity for DENV and ZIKV infection. While ZV1CHO and ZV1ΔXF showed ADE activity upon DENV and ZIKV infection, ZV1WT totally forwent its ADE. Importantly, all three glycovariants exhibited antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against virus-infected cells, with increased potency by the fucose-free ZV1ΔXF glycoform. Moreover, the in vivo efficacy of the ADE-free ZV1WT was demonstrated in a murine model. Collectively, we demonstrated the feasibility of modulating ADE by Fc glycosylation, thereby establishing a novel approach for improving the safety of flavivirus therapeutics. Our study also underscores the versatile use of plants for the rapid expression of complex human proteins to reveal novel insight into antibody function and viral pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85225, USA
| | - Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85225, USA
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85225, USA
| | - Biswas Neupane
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Fengwei Bai
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85225, USA
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5
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Eidenberger L, Kogelmann B, Steinkellner H. Plant-based biopharmaceutical engineering. NATURE REVIEWS BIOENGINEERING 2023; 1:426-439. [PMID: 37317690 PMCID: PMC10030082 DOI: 10.1038/s44222-023-00044-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Plants can be engineered to recombinantly produce high-quality proteins such as therapeutic proteins and vaccines, also known as molecular farming. Molecular farming can be established in various settings with minimal cold-chain requirements and could thus ensure rapid and global-scale deployment of biopharmaceuticals, promoting equitable access to pharmaceuticals. State of the art plant-based engineering relies on rationally assembled genetic circuits, engineered to enable the high-throughput and rapid expression of multimeric proteins with complex post-translational modifications. In this Review, we discuss the design of expression hosts and vectors, including Nicotiana benthamiana, viral elements and transient expression vectors, for the production of biopharmaceuticals in plants. We examine engineering of post-translational modifications and highlight the plant-based expression of monoclonal antibodies and nanoparticles, such as virus-like particles and protein bodies. Techno-economic analyses suggest a cost advantage of molecular farming compared with mammalian cell-based protein production systems. However, regulatory challenges remain to be addressed to enable the widespread translation of plant-based biopharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Eidenberger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin Kogelmann
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- acib — Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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6
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Jugler C, Sun H, Nguyen K, Palt R, Felder M, Steinkellner H, Chen Q. A novel plant-made monoclonal antibody enhances the synergetic potency of an antibody cocktail against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:549-559. [PMID: 36403203 PMCID: PMC9946148 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This study describes a novel, neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb), 11D7, discovered by mouse immunization and hybridoma generation, against the parental Wuhan-Hu-1 RBD of SARS-CoV-2. We further developed this mAb into a chimeric human IgG and recombinantly expressed it in plants to produce a mAb with human-like, highly homogenous N-linked glycans that has potential to impart greater potency and safety as a therapeutic. The epitope of 11D7 was mapped by competitive binding with well-characterized mAbs, suggesting that it is a Class 4 RBD-binding mAb that binds to the RBD outside the ACE2 binding site. Of note, 11D7 maintains recognition against the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) RBD, as well neutralizing activity. We also provide evidence that this novel mAb may be useful in providing additional synergy to established antibody cocktails, such as Evusheld™ containing the antibodies tixagevimab and cilgavimab, against the Omicron variant. Taken together, 11D7 is a unique mAb that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 through a mechanism that is not typical among developed therapeutic mAbs and by being produced in ΔXFT Nicotiana benthamiana plants, highlights the potential of plants to be an economic and safety-friendly alternative platform for generating mAbs to address the evolving SARS-CoV-2 crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Jugler
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
- School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Katherine Nguyen
- School of Molecular SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Roman Palt
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign InstituteArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
- School of Life SciencesArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
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7
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Sun H, Acharya D, Paul AM, Lai H, He J, Bai F, Chen Q. Antibody-Dependent Enhancement Activity of a Plant-Made Vaccine against West Nile Virus. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:197. [PMID: 36851075 PMCID: PMC9966755 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020197] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) causes annual outbreaks globally and is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in Unite States. In the absence of licensed therapeutics, there is an urgent need to develop effective and safe human vaccines against WNV. One of the major safety concerns for WNV vaccine development is the risk of increasing infection by related flaviviruses in vaccinated subjects via antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE). Herein, we report the development of a plant-based vaccine candidate that provides protective immunity against a lethal WNV challenge mice, while minimizes the risk of ADE for infection by Zika (ZIKV) and dengue (DENV) virus. Specifically, a plant-produced virus-like particle (VLP) that displays the WNV Envelope protein domain III (wDIII) elicited both high neutralizing antibody titers and antigen-specific cellular immune responses in mice. Passive transfer of serum from VLP-vaccinated mice protected recipient mice from a lethal challenge of WNV infection. Notably, VLP-induced antibodies did not enhance the infection of Fc gamma receptor-expressing K562 cells by ZIKV or DENV through ADE. Thus, a plant-made wDIII-displaying VLP presents a promising WNV vaccine candidate that induces protective immunity and minimizes the concern of inducing ADE-prone antibodies to predispose vaccinees to severe infection by DENV or ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Dhiraj Acharya
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Amber M. Paul
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Huafang Lai
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Junyun He
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Fengwei Bai
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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8
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Abstract
Since its discovery in 1937 in the West Nile district of Uganda, West Nile virus (WNV) has been one of the leading causes of mosquito-transmitted infectious diseases (Smithburn, Burke, Am J Trop Med 20:22, 1940). Subsequently, it spread to Europe, Asia, Australia, and finally North America in 1999 (Sejvar, Ochsner 5(3):6-10, 2003). Worldwide outbreaks have continued to increase since the 1990s (Chancey et al, Biomed Res Int 2015:376230, 2015). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 51,000 cases of WNV infection and nearly 2400 cases of WNV-related death were reported in the USA from 1999 to 2019. The estimated economic impact of WNV infections is close to 800 million dollars in the USA from 1999 to 2012 (Barrett, Am J Trop Med Hyg 90:389, 2014).
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Sun
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Josh Lesio
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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9
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Eidenberger L, Eminger F, Castilho A, Steinkellner H. Comparative analysis of plant transient expression vectors for targeted N-glycosylation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1073455. [PMID: 36619384 PMCID: PMC9812561 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1073455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
While plant-based transient expression systems have demonstrated their potency to rapidly express economically feasible quantities of complex human proteins, less is known about their compatibility with posttranslational modification control. Here we investigated three commonly used transient expression vectors, pEAQ, magnICON and pTra for their capability to express a multi-component protein with controlled and modified N-glycosylation. Cetuximab (Cx), a therapeutic IgG1 monoclonal antibody, which carries next to the conserved Fc an additional N-glycosylation site (GS) in the Fab-domain, was used as model. While pEAQ and pTra produce fully assembled Cx at similar levels in N. benthamiana, the yield of magnICON-Cx was twice as high. When expressed in wild type plants, both Cx-GSs exhibited typical plant N-glycans decorated with plant-specific xylose and fucose. Likewise, Cx generated in the glycoengineered ΔXTFT line carried mainly complex N-glycans lacking plant specific residues. Exposure to different engineering settings (encompassing stable lines and transient approaches) towards human galactosylation and sialylation resulted in Cx carrying targeted N-glycans at similar quantities using all three expression vectors. Collectively, our results exhibit the universal application of plant-based glycoengineering, thereby increasing the attractivity of the ambitious expression platform.
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10
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Jugler C, Grill FJ, Eidenberger L, Karr TL, Grys TE, Steinkellner H, Lake DF, Chen Q. Humanization and expression of IgG and IgM antibodies in plants as potential diagnostic reagents for Valley Fever. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:925008. [PMID: 36119630 PMCID: PMC9478164 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.925008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are important proteins used in many life science applications, from diagnostics to therapeutics. High demand for mAbs for different applications urges the development of rapid and reliable recombinant production platforms. Plants provide a quick and inexpensive system for producing recombinant mAbs. Moreover, when paired with an established platform for mAb discovery, plants can easily be tailored to produce mAbs of different isotypes against the same target. Here, we demonstrate that a hybridoma-generated mouse mAb against chitinase 1 (CTS1), an antigen from Coccidioides spp., can be biologically engineered for use with serologic diagnostic test kits for coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) using plant expression. The original mouse IgG was modified and recombinantly produced in glycoengineered Nicotiana benthamiana plants via transient expression as IgG and IgM isotypes with human kappa, gamma, and mu constant regions. The two mAb isotypes produced in plants were shown to maintain target antigen recognition to CTS1 using similar reagents as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Valley Fever diagnostic kits. As none of the currently approved kits provide antibody dilution controls, humanization of antibodies that bind to CTS1, a major component of the diagnostic antigen preparation, may provide a solution to the lack of consistently reactive antibody controls for Valley Fever diagnosis. Furthermore, our work provides a foundation for reproducible and consistent production of recombinant mAbs engineered to have a specific isotype for use in diagnostic assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Jugler
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Francisca J. Grill
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Lukas Eidenberger
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Timothy L. Karr
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Thomas E. Grys
- Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Herta Steinkellner
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Douglas F. Lake
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
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11
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Potential for a Plant-Made SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody as a Synergetic Cocktail Component. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050772. [PMID: 35632528 PMCID: PMC9145534 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a public health crisis over the last two years. Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapeutics against the spike (S) protein have been shown to be effective treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially the original viral strain. However, the current mAbs produced in mammalian cells are expensive and might be unaffordable for many. Furthermore, the emergence of variants of concern demands the development of strategies to prevent mutant escape from mAb treatment. Using a cocktail of mAbs that bind to complementary neutralizing epitopes is one such strategy. In this study, we use Nicotiana benthamiana plants in an effort to expedite the development of efficacious and affordable antibody cocktails against SARS-CoV-2. We show that two mAbs can be highly expressed in plants and are correctly assembled into IgG molecules. Moreover, they retain target epitope recognition and, more importantly, neutralize multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. We also show that one plant-made mAb has neutralizing synergy with other mAbs that we developed in hybridomas. This is the first report of a plant-made mAb to be assessed as a potential component of a SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing cocktail. This work may offer a strategy for using plants to quickly develop mAb cocktail-based therapeutics against emerging viral diseases with high efficacy and low costs.
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Chen Q. Development of plant-made monoclonal antibodies against viral infections. Curr Opin Virol 2022; 52:148-160. [PMID: 34933212 PMCID: PMC8844144 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Current plant-based systems offer multiple advantages for monoclonal antibody (mAb) development and production beyond the traditional benefits of low cost and high scalability. Novel expression vectors have allowed the production of mAbs at high levels with unprecedented speed to combat current and future pandemics. Host glycoengineering has enabled plants to produce mAbs that have unique mammalian glycoforms with a high degree of homogeneity. These mAb glycovariants exhibit differential binding to various Fc receptors, providing a new way to optimize antibody effector function for improving mAb potency or safety. This review will summarize the status of anti-viral mAb development with plant-based systems. The preclinical and clinical development of leading plant-made mAb candidates will be highlighted. In addition, the remaining challenges and potential applications of this technology will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Chen
- The Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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