101
|
Song L, Wang Q, Wen Y, Tan R, Cui Y, Xiong D, Jiao X, Pan Z. Enhanced immunogenicity elicited by a novel DNA vaccine encoding the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein fused to the optimized flagellin of Salmonella typhimurium in mice. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0254923. [PMID: 37909745 PMCID: PMC10714832 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02549-23] [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: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The development of safe and effective vaccines is needed to control the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Synthetic DNA vaccines represent a promising platform in response to such outbreaks. Here, DNA vaccine candidates were developed using an optimized antibiotic-resistance gene-free asd-pVAX1 vector. An optimized flagellin (FliC) adjuvant was designed by fusion expression to increase the immunogenicity of the S1 antigen. S1 and S1-FliCΔD2D3 proteins were strongly expressed in mammalian cells. The FliCΔD2D3-adjuvanted DNA vaccine induced Th1/Th2-mixed immune responses and high titers of neutralizing antibodies. This study provides crucial information regarding the selection of a safer DNA vector and adjuvant for vaccine development. Our FliCΔD2D3-adjuvanted S1 DNA vaccine is more potent at inducing both humoral and cellular immune responses than S1 alone. This finding provides a new idea for the development of novel DNA vaccines against COVID-19 and could be further applied for the development of other vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Song
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiaoju Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yaya Wen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruimeng Tan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yaodan Cui
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dan Xiong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinan Jiao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiming Pan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
102
|
Zhang Q, Yang Y, Lan J, Wang Z, Gao Y, Li X, Mao W, Xie J, Mi LZ, Zhang X, Wang X, Mu X, Mei K. Inducing enhanced neutralizing antibodies against broad SARS-CoV-2 variants through glycan-shielding multiple non-neutralizing epitopes of RBD. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1259386. [PMID: 38149245 PMCID: PMC10750354 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1259386] [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: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, vaccines have demonstrated their effectiveness in resisting virus infection, reducing severity, and lowering the mortality rate in infected individuals. However, due to the rapid and ongoing mutations of SARS-CoV-2, the protective ability of many available vaccines has been challenged. Therefore, there is an urgent need for vaccines capable of eliciting potent broadly neutralizing antibodies against various SARS-CoV-2 variants. Methods In this study, we developed a novel subunit vaccine candidate for SARS-CoV-2 by introducing a series of shielding glycans to the Fc-fused receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the prototypic spike protein. This approach aims to mask non-neutralizing epitopes and focus the immune response on crucial neutralizing epitopes. Results All modified sites were confirmed to be highly glycosylated through mass spectrometry analysis. The binding affinity of the glycan-shielded RBD (gsRBD) to the human ACE2 receptor was comparable to that of the wildtype RBD (wtRBD). Immunizing mice with gsRBD when combined with either Freund's adjuvant or aluminum adjuvant demonstrated that the introduction of the glycan shield did not compromise the antibody-inducing ability of RBD. Importantly, the gsRBD significantly enhanced the generation of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses compared to the wtRBD. Notably, it exhibited remarkable protective activity against Beta (B.1.351), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529), approximately 3-fold, 7- fold, and 17-fold higher than wtRBD, respectively. Discussion Our data proved this multiple-epitope masking strategy as an effective approach for highly active vaccine production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingyun Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jun Lan
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Ziyi Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiao Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Weidong Mao
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Xie
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Li-Zhi Mi
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinquan Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Mu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin University and Health-Biotech United Group Joint Laboratory of Innovative Drug Development and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kunrong Mei
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin University and Health-Biotech United Group Joint Laboratory of Innovative Drug Development and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
103
|
Islam MA. A review of SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccines: Viral properties, mutations, vaccine efficacy, and safety. INFECTIOUS MEDICINE 2023; 2:247-261. [PMID: 38205179 PMCID: PMC10774670 DOI: 10.1016/j.imj.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2 instigated by coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has delivered an unfathomable obstruction that has touched all sectors worldwide. Despite new vaccine technologies and mass administration of booster doses, the virus persists, and unknown the ending of the pandemic for new variants and sub-variants. Moreover, whether leaning on home medications or using plant extracts is sufficient often to combat the virus has generated tremendous interest in the scientific fraternity. Different databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar used to find published articles linked with related topics. Currently, COVID-19 third and fourth shots of vaccines are progressively administered worldwide, where some countries trail others by a significant margin. Many proteins related to viral activity have changed, possibly boosting the virus infectivity and making antibodies ineffective. This study will reminisce the viral genome, associated pathways for viral protein functions, variants, and their mutations. The current, comprehensive review will also provide information on vaccine technologies developed by several biotech companies and the efficacy of their doses, costs including boosters on a mass level. As no vaccine is working to protect fully against all the variants, the new proactive vaccine research needs to be conducted based on all variants, their sub-lineage, and mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md. Aminul Islam
- Advanced Molecular Lab, Department of Microbiology, President Abdul Hamid Medical College, Karimganj 2310, Bangladesh
- COVID-19 Diagnostic lab, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
104
|
Bi B, Qiu M, Liu P, Wang Q, Wen Y, Li Y, Li B, Li Y, He Y, Zhao J. Protein post-translational modifications: A key factor in colorectal cancer resistance mechanisms. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2023; 1866:194977. [PMID: 37625568 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2023.194977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Despite advances in treatment, drug resistance remains a critical impediment. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate protein stability, localization, and activity, impacting vital cellular processes. Recent research has highlighted the essential role of PTMs in the development of CRC resistance. This review summarizes recent advancements in understanding PTMs' roles in CRC resistance, focusing on the latest discoveries. We discuss the functional impact of PTMs on signaling pathways and molecules involved in CRC resistance, progress in drug development, and potential therapeutic targets. We also summarize the primary enrichment methods for PTMs. Finally, we discuss current challenges and future directions, including the need for more comprehensive PTM analysis methods and PTM-targeted therapies. This review identifies potential therapeutic interventions for addressing medication resistance in CRC, proposes prospective therapeutic options, and gives an overview of the function of PTMs in CRC resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Bi
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Miaojuan Qiu
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingfei Wen
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - You Li
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Binbin Li
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongshu Li
- Hubei Normal University, College of Life Sciences Huangshi, Hubei, China.
| | - Yulong He
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jing Zhao
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
105
|
Wu CY, Tseng YC, Kao SE, Wu LY, Hou JT, Yang YC, Hsiao PW, Chen JR. Monoglycosylated SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain fused with HA stem-scaffolded protein vaccine confers broad protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. Antiviral Res 2023; 220:105759. [PMID: 37984568 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105759] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 and influenza pandemics have posed a devastating threat to global public health. The best strategy for preventing the further spread of these respiratory viruses worldwide is to administer a vaccine capable of targeting both viruses. Here, we show that a novel monoglycosylated vaccine designed based on the influenza virus HAstem conserved domain fused with the SARS-CoV-2 spike-RBD domain (HSSRmg) can present proper antigenicity that elicits sufficient neutralization efficacy against various SARS-CoV-2 variants while simultaneously providing broad protection against H1N1 viruses in mice. Compared with the fully glycosylated HSSR (HSSRfg), HSSRmg induced higher ELISA titers targeting HAstem and spike-RBD and exhibited significantly enhanced neutralization activity against the Wuhan pseudovirus. The enhanced immune responses raised by JR300-adjuvanted HSSRmg compared to HSSRmg alone include more anti-HAstem and anti-spike-RBD antibodies that provide cross-protection against H1N1 challenges and cross-neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses. Furthermore, the enhanced immune response raised by JR300-adjuvanted-HSSRmg skews toward a more balanced Th1/Th2 response than that raised by HSSRmg alone. Notably, HSSRmg elicited more plasma B cells and memory B cells, and higher IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokine immune responses than spike (S-2P) in mice with preexisting influenza-specific immunity, suggesting that B-cell activation most likely occurs through CD4+ T-cell stimulation. This study demonstrated that HSSRmg produced using a monoglycosylation process and combined with the JR300 adjuvant elicits superior cross-strain immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses in mice compared with S-2P. JR300-adjuvanted HSSRmg has great potential as a coronavirus-influenza vaccine that provides dual protection against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shao-En Kao
- RuenHuei Biopharmaceuticals Inc. Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Yang Wu
- RuenHuei Biopharmaceuticals Inc. Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Tzu Hou
- RuenHuei Biopharmaceuticals Inc. Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chih Yang
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Wen Hsiao
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | |
Collapse
|
106
|
Salazar-Ardiles C, Asserella-Rebollo L, Cornejo C, Arias D, Vasquez-Muñoz M, Toledo C, Andrade DC. Molecular diagnostic approaches for SARS-CoV-2 detection and pathophysiological consequences. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:10367-10382. [PMID: 37817022 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08844-0] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus within the Coronaviridae family, is the causative agent behind the respiratory ailment referred to as COVID-19. Operating on a global scale, COVID-19 has led to a substantial number of fatalities, exerting profound effects on both public health and the global economy. The most frequently reported symptoms encompass fever, cough, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, headaches, and fatigue. Furthermore, a subset of individuals may manifest more severe symptoms, including those consistent with viral pneumonitis, which can be so profound as to result in fatalities. Consequently, this situation has spurred the rapid advancement of disease diagnostic technologies worldwide. Predominantly employed in diagnosing COVID-19, the real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR has been the foremost diagnostic method, effectively detecting SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. As the pandemic has evolved, antigen and serological tests have emerged as valuable diagnostic tools. Antigen tests pinpoint specific viral proteins of SARS-CoV-2, offering swift results, while serological tests identify the presence of antibodies in blood samples. Additionally, there have been notable strides in sample collection methods, notably with the introduction of saliva-based tests, presenting a non-invasive substitute to nasopharyngeal swabs. Given the ongoing mutations in SARS-CoV-2, there has been a continuous need for genomic surveillance, encompassing full genome sequencing and the identification of new variants through Illumina technology and, more recently, nanopore metagenomic sequencing (SMTN). Consequently, while diagnostic testing methods for COVID-19 have experienced remarkable progress, no test is flawless, and there exist limitations with each technique, including sensitivity, specificity, sample collection, and the minimum viral load necessary for accurate detection. These aspects are comprehensively addressed within this current review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camila Salazar-Ardiles
- Exercise Applied Physiology Laboratory, Centro de Investigación en Fisiología y Medicina de Altura (FIMEDALT), Biomedical Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Antofagasta, Av. Universidad de Antofagasta #02800, Antofagasta, Chile
| | | | - Carlos Cornejo
- Exercise Applied Physiology Laboratory, Centro de Investigación en Fisiología y Medicina de Altura (FIMEDALT), Biomedical Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Antofagasta, Av. Universidad de Antofagasta #02800, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Dayana Arias
- Exercise Applied Physiology Laboratory, Centro de Investigación en Fisiología y Medicina de Altura (FIMEDALT), Biomedical Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Antofagasta, Av. Universidad de Antofagasta #02800, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Manuel Vasquez-Muñoz
- Dirección de Docencia de Especialidades Médicas, Dirección de Postgrado, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camilo Toledo
- Laboratory of Cardiorespiratory and Sleep Physiology, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - David C Andrade
- Exercise Applied Physiology Laboratory, Centro de Investigación en Fisiología y Medicina de Altura (FIMEDALT), Biomedical Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Antofagasta, Av. Universidad de Antofagasta #02800, Antofagasta, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
107
|
Jawad B, Adhikari P, Podgornik R, Ching WY. Impact of BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/BA.5 Omicron mutations on therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Comput Biol Med 2023; 167:107576. [PMID: 37871435 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 subvariants (BA.1, BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5), with an unprecedented number of mutations in their receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike-protein, has fueled a resurgence of COVID-19 infections, posing a major challenge to the efficacy of existing vaccines and monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics. We conducted a systematic molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to investigate how the RBD mutations of these subvariants affect the interactions with broad mAbs including AstraZeneca (COV2-2196 and COV2-2130), Brii Biosciences (BRII-196), Celltrion (CT-P59), Eli Lilly (LY-CoV555 and LY-CoV016), Regeneron (REGN10933 and REGN10987), Vir Biotechnology (S309), and S2X259. Our results show a complete loss of binding for COV2-2196, BRII-196, CT-P59, and LY-CoV555 with all Omicron RBDs. Additionally, REGN10987 totally loses its binding with BA.1, but retains a partial binding with BA.2 and BA.4/5. The binding reduction is significant for LY-CoV016 and REGN10933 but moderate for COV2-2130. S309 and S2X259 retain their binding with BA.1 but exhibit decreased binding with other subvariants. We introduce a mutational escape map for each mAb to identify the key RBD sites and the corresponding critical mutations. Overall, our findings suggest that the majority of therapeutic mAbs have diminished or missing activity against Omicron subvariants, indicating the urgent need for a new therapeutic mAb with a better design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bahaa Jawad
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64110, United States; Department of Applied Sciences, University of Technology, Baghdad, 10066, Iraq.
| | - Puja Adhikari
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64110, United States
| | - Rudolf Podgornik
- Wenzhou Institute of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China; School of Physical Sciences and Kavli Institute of Theoretical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100090, China; Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Wai-Yim Ching
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64110, United States
| |
Collapse
|
108
|
Yu X, Mukwaya V, Mann S, Dou H. Signal Transduction in Artificial Cells. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300231. [PMID: 37116092 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, significant progress has been made in the emerging field of constructing biomimetic soft compartments with life-like behaviors. Given that biological activities occur under a flux of energy and matter exchange, the implementation of rudimentary signaling pathways in artificial cells (protocells) is a prerequisite for the development of adaptive sense-response phenotypes in cytomimetic models. Herein, recent approaches to the integration of signal transduction modules in model protocells prepared by bottom-up construction are discussed. The approaches are classified into two categories involving invasive biochemical signals or non-invasive physical stimuli. In the former mechanism, transducers with intrinsic recognition capability respond with high specificity, while in the latter, artificial cells respond through intra-protocellular energy transduction. Although major challenges remain in the pursuit of a sophisticated artificial signaling network for the orchestration of higher-order cytomimetic models, significant advances have been made in establishing rudimentary protocell communication networks, providing novel organizational models for the development of life-like microsystems and new avenues in protoliving technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Vincent Mukwaya
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Stephen Mann
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology and Centre for Protolife Research, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Hongjing Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study (ZIAS), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| |
Collapse
|
109
|
Bamberger C, Pankow S, Martínez-Bartolomé S, Diedrich JK, Park RSK, Yates JR. Analysis of the Tropism of SARS-CoV-2 Based on the Host Interactome of the Spike Protein. J Proteome Res 2023; 22:3742-3753. [PMID: 37939376 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00387] [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] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The β-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (COVID-19) in humans. It enters and infects epithelial airway cells upon binding of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the virus entry protein spike to the host receptor protein Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2). Here, we used coimmunoprecipitation coupled with bottom-up mass spectrometry to identify host proteins that engaged with the spike protein in human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBEo-). We found that the spike protein bound to extracellular laminin and thrombospondin and endoplasmatic reticulum (ER)-resident DJB11 and FBX2 proteins. The ER-resident proteins UGGT1, CALX, HSP7A, and GRP78/BiP bound preferentially to the original Wuhan D614 over the mutated G614 spike protein in the more rapidly spreading Alpha SARS-CoV-2 strain. The increase in protein binding to the D614 spike might be explained by higher accessibility of cryptic sites in "RDB open" and "S2 only" D614 spike protein conformations and may enable SARS-CoV-2 to infect additional, ACE2-negative cell types. Moreover, a novel proteome-based cell type set enrichment analysis (pCtSEA) found that host factors like laminin might render additional cell types such as macrophages and epithelial cells in the nephron permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Casimir Bamberger
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Sandra Pankow
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Salvador Martínez-Bartolomé
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Jolene K Diedrich
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Robin S K Park
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| |
Collapse
|
110
|
Qin Z, Zhang K, He P, Zhang X, Xie M, Fu Y, Gu C, Zhu Y, Tong A, Wei H, Zhang C, Xiang Y. Discovering covalent inhibitors of protein-protein interactions from trillions of sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange-modified oligonucleotides. Nat Chem 2023; 15:1705-1714. [PMID: 37653229 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01304-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Molecules that covalently engage target proteins are widely used as activity-based probes and covalent drugs. The performance of these covalent inhibitors is, however, often compromised by the paradox of efficacy and risk, which demands a balance between reactivity and selectivity. The challenge is more evident when targeting protein-protein interactions owing to their low ligandability and undefined reactivity. Here we report sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) in vitro selection, a general platform for high-throughput discovery of covalent inhibitors from trillions of SuFEx-modified oligonucleotides. With SuFEx in vitro selection, we identified covalent inhibitors that cross-link distinct residues of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at its protein-protein interaction interface with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. A separate suite of covalent inhibitors was isolated for the human complement C5 protein. In both cases, we observed a clear disconnection between binding affinity and cross-linking reactivity, indicating that direct search for the aimed reactivity-as enabled by SuFEx in vitro selection-is vital for discovering covalent inhibitors of high selectivity and potency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zichen Qin
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaining Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ping He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Centre for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Miao Xie
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yucheng Fu
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunmei Gu
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI), Beijing, China
| | - Yiying Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Aijun Tong
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongping Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Centre for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuan Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Xiang
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
111
|
Dawoody Nejad L, Julian LM. Stem cell-derived organoid models for SARS-CoV-2 and its molecular interaction with host cells. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:10627-10635. [PMID: 37740859 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08785-8] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Modeling severe acute respiratory syndrome, Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in stem cell-derived organoids has helped in our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of COVID-19 disease due to their resemblance to actual human tissues or organs. Over the past decade, organoid 3-dimensional (3D) cultures have represented a new perspective and considerable advancement over traditional in vitro 2-dimensional (2D) cell cultures. COVID-19 disease causes lung injury and multi-organ failure leading to death, especially in older patients. There is an urgent need for physiological models to study SARS-CoV-2 infection during the pandemic. Human stem cell-derived organoids can provide insight into understanding the SARS-CoV-2 cell entry molecular mechanism. Identifying such complexities will help to develop the best preventive drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ladan Dawoody Nejad
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
- Department of Medical Genetics, Life Science Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Lisa Marie Julian
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
112
|
Rahimi N, White MR, Amraei R, Lotfollahzadeh S, Xia C, Michalak M, Costello CE, Mühlberger E. Calreticulin Regulates SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Turnover and Modulates SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity. Cells 2023; 12:2694. [PMID: 38067122 PMCID: PMC10705507 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular complications are major clinical hallmarks of acute and post-acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the mechanistic details of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity of endothelial cells remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein shares a similarity with the proline-rich binding ena/VASP homology (EVH1) domain and identified the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident calreticulin (CALR) as an S-RBD interacting protein. Our biochemical analysis showed that CALR, via its proline-rich (P) domain, interacts with S-RBD and modulates proteostasis of the S protein. Treatment of cells with the proteasomal inhibitor bortezomib increased the expression of the S protein independent of CALR, whereas the lysosomal/autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin 1A, which interferes with the acidification of lysosome, selectively augmented the S protein levels in a CALR-dependent manner. More importantly, the shRNA-mediated knockdown of CALR increased SARS-CoV-2 infection and impaired calcium homeostasis of human endothelial cells. This study provides new insight into the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, calcium hemostasis, and the role of CALR in the ER-lysosome-dependent proteolysis of the spike protein, which could be associated with cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nader Rahimi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
| | - Mitchell R. White
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (M.R.W.); (E.M.)
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Razie Amraei
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
| | - Saran Lotfollahzadeh
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Medical Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
| | - Chaoshuang Xia
- Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (C.X.); (C.E.C.)
| | - Marek Michalak
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada;
| | - Catherine E. Costello
- Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (C.X.); (C.E.C.)
| | - Elke Mühlberger
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (M.R.W.); (E.M.)
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| |
Collapse
|
113
|
Popov P, Kalinin R, Buslaev P, Kozlovskii I, Zaretckii M, Karlov D, Gabibov A, Stepanov A. Unraveling viral drug targets: a deep learning-based approach for the identification of potential binding sites. Brief Bioinform 2023; 25:bbad459. [PMID: 38113077 PMCID: PMC10783863 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad459] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spurred a wide range of approaches to control and combat the disease. However, selecting an effective antiviral drug target remains a time-consuming challenge. Computational methods offer a promising solution by efficiently reducing the number of candidates. In this study, we propose a structure- and deep learning-based approach that identifies vulnerable regions in viral proteins corresponding to drug binding sites. Our approach takes into account the protein dynamics, accessibility and mutability of the binding site and the putative mechanism of action of the drug. We applied this technique to validate drug targeting toward severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike glycoprotein S. Our findings reveal a conformation- and oligomer-specific glycan-free binding site proximal to the receptor binding domain. This site comprises topologically important amino acid residues. Molecular dynamics simulations of Spike in complex with candidate drug molecules bound to the potential binding sites indicate an equilibrium shifted toward the inactive conformation compared with drug-free simulations. Small molecules targeting this binding site have the potential to prevent the closed-to-open conformational transition of Spike, thereby allosterically inhibiting its interaction with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Using a pseudotyped virus-based assay with a SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody, we identified a set of hit compounds that exhibited inhibition at micromolar concentrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petr Popov
- Tetra-d, Rheinweg 9, Schaffhausen, 8200, Switzerland
- School of Science, Constructor University Bremen gGmbH, 28759, Bremen, Germany
| | - Roman Kalinin
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Pavel Buslaev
- Nanoscience Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Igor Kozlovskii
- Tetra-d, Rheinweg 9, Schaffhausen, 8200, Switzerland
- School of Science, Constructor University Bremen gGmbH, 28759, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mark Zaretckii
- Tetra-d, Rheinweg 9, Schaffhausen, 8200, Switzerland
- School of Science, Constructor University Bremen gGmbH, 28759, Bremen, Germany
| | - Dmitry Karlov
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, Street, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, U.K
| | - Alexander Gabibov
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Alexey Stepanov
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road MB-10, La Jolla, 92037, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
114
|
Marraccini C, Merolle L, Schiroli D, Razzoli A, Gavioli G, Iotti B, Baricchi R, Ottone M, Mancuso P, Giorgi Rossi P. A cohort study on the biochemical and haematological parameters of Italian blood donors as possible risk factors of COVID-19 infection and severe disease in the pre- and post-Omicron period. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294272. [PMID: 37988390 PMCID: PMC10662768 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate the association between biochemical and blood parameters collected before the pandemic in a large cohort of Italian blood donors with the risk of infection and severe disease. We also focused on the differences between the pre- and post-Omicron spread in Italy (i.e., pre- and post-January 01, 2022) on the observed associations. We conducted an observational cohort study on 13750 blood donors was conducted using data archived up to 5 years before the pandemic. A t-test or chi-squared test was used to compare differences between groups. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Subgroup analyses stratified by sex, age and epidemic phase of first infection (pre- and post-Omicron spread) were examined. We confirmed a protective effect of groups B and O, while groups A and AB had a higher likelihood of infection and severe disease. However, these associations were only significant in the pre-Omicron period. We found an opposite behavior after Omicron spread, with the O phenotype having a higher probability of infection. When stratified by variant, A antigen appeared to protect against Omicron infection, whereas it was associated with an increased risk of infection by earlier variants. We were able to stratify for the SARS CoV-2 dominant variant, which revealed a causal association between blood group and probability of infection, as evidenced by the strong effect modification observed between the pre- and post-Omicron spread. The mechanism by which group A acts on the probability of infection should consider this strong effect modification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Marraccini
- Transfusion Medicine Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Lucia Merolle
- Transfusion Medicine Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Davide Schiroli
- Transfusion Medicine Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Agnese Razzoli
- Transfusion Medicine Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Gaia Gavioli
- Transfusion Medicine Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Barbara Iotti
- Transfusion Medicine Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Roberto Baricchi
- Transfusion Medicine Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Marta Ottone
- Epidemiology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Pamela Mancuso
- Epidemiology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Paolo Giorgi Rossi
- Epidemiology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
115
|
Deal CE, Richards AF, Yeung T, Maron MJ, Wang Z, Lai YT, Fritz BR, Himansu S, Narayanan E, Liu D, Koleva R, Licht S, Hsiao CJ, Rajlic IL, Koch H, Kleyman M, Pulse ME, Weiss WJ, Doering JE, Lindberg SK, Mantis NJ, Carfi A, Plante OJ. An mRNA-based platform for the delivery of pathogen-specific IgA into mucosal secretions. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101253. [PMID: 37918405 PMCID: PMC10694625 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101253] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Colonization of the gut and airways by pathogenic bacteria can lead to local tissue destruction and life-threatening systemic infections, especially in immunologically compromised individuals. Here, we describe an mRNA-based platform enabling delivery of pathogen-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) monoclonal antibodies into mucosal secretions. The platform consists of synthetic mRNA encoding IgA heavy, light, and joining (J) chains, packaged in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that express glycosylated, dimeric IgA with functional activity in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, mRNA-derived IgA had a significantly greater serum half-life and a more native glycosylation profile in mice than did a recombinantly produced IgA. Expression of an mRNA encoded Salmonella-specific IgA in mice resulted in intestinal localization and limited Peyer's patch invasion. The same mRNA-LNP technology was used to express a Pseudomonas-specific IgA that protected from a lung challenge. Leveraging the mRNA antibody technology as a means to intercept bacterial pathogens at mucosal surfaces opens up avenues for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ding Liu
- Moderna, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mark E Pulse
- HSC College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas, Fort Worth, TX 76132, USA
| | - William J Weiss
- HSC College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas, Fort Worth, TX 76132, USA
| | - Jennifer E Doering
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12211, USA
| | - Samantha K Lindberg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
| | - Nicholas J Mantis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12211, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
116
|
Sives S, Keep S, Bickerton E, Vervelde L. Revealing Novel-Strain-Specific and Shared Epitopes of Infectious Bronchitis Virus Spike Glycoprotein Using Chemical Linkage of Peptides onto Scaffolds Precision Epitope Mapping. Viruses 2023; 15:2279. [PMID: 38005955 PMCID: PMC10675791 DOI: 10.3390/v15112279] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The avian coronavirus, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), is an economically important infectious disease affecting chickens, with a diverse range of serotypes found globally. The major surface protein, spike (S), has high diversity between serotypes, and amino acid differences in the S1 sub-unit are thought to be responsible for poor cross-protection afforded by vaccination. Here, we attempt to address this, by using epitope mapping technology to identify shared and serotype-specific immunogenic epitopes of the S glycoprotein of three major circulating strains of IBV, M41, QX, and 4/91, via CLIPS peptide arrays based on peptides from the S1 sub-units. The arrays were screened with sera from chickens immunised with recombinant IBV, based on Beau-R backbone expressing heterologous S, generated in two independent vaccination/challenge trials. The screening of sera from rIBV vaccination experiments led to the identification of 52 immunogenic epitopes on the S1 of M41, QX, and 4/91. The epitopes were assigned into six overlapping epitope binding regions. Based on accessibility and location in the hypervariable regions of S, three sequences, 25YVYYYQSAFRPPNGWHLQGGAYAVVNSTN54, 67TVGVIKDVYNQSVASI82, and 83AMTVPPAGMSWSVS96, were selected for further investigation, and synthetic peptide mimics were recognised by polyclonal sera. These epitopes may have the potential to contribute towards a broader cross-protective IBV vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Sives
- Division of Immunology, The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK;
| | - Sarah Keep
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking GU24 0NF, UK (E.B.)
| | - Erica Bickerton
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking GU24 0NF, UK (E.B.)
| | - Lonneke Vervelde
- Division of Immunology, The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK;
| |
Collapse
|
117
|
Pereira EPV, da Silva Felipe SM, de Freitas RM, da Cruz Freire JE, Oliveira AER, Canabrava N, Soares PM, van Tilburg MF, Guedes MIF, Grueter CE, Ceccatto VM. Transcriptional Profiling of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Calu-3 Cells Reveals Immune-Related Signaling Pathways. Pathogens 2023; 12:1373. [PMID: 38003837 PMCID: PMC10674242 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111373] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 disease, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in late 2019 and rapidly spread worldwide, becoming a pandemic that infected millions of people and caused significant deaths. COVID-19 continues to be a major threat, and there is a need to deepen our understanding of the virus and its mechanisms of infection. To study the cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we performed an RNA sequencing of infected vs. uninfected Calu-3 cells. Total RNA was extracted from infected (0.5 MOI) and control Calu-3 cells and converted to cDNA. Sequencing was performed, and the obtained reads were quality-analyzed and pre-processed. Differential expression was assessed with the EdgeR package, and functional enrichment was performed in EnrichR for Gene Ontology, KEGG pathways, and WikiPathways. A total of 1040 differentially expressed genes were found in infected vs. uninfected Calu-3 cells, of which 695 were up-regulated and 345 were down-regulated. Functional enrichment analyses revealed the predominant up-regulation of genes related to innate immune response, response to virus, inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. These transcriptional changes following SARS-CoV-2 infection may reflect a cellular response to the infection and help to elucidate COVID-19 pathogenesis, in addition to revealing potential biomarkers and drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Petterson Viana Pereira
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Stela Mirla da Silva Felipe
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Raquel Martins de Freitas
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - José Ednésio da Cruz Freire
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | | | - Natália Canabrava
- Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (N.C.); (M.F.v.T.); (M.I.F.G.)
| | - Paula Matias Soares
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Mauricio Fraga van Tilburg
- Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (N.C.); (M.F.v.T.); (M.I.F.G.)
| | - Maria Izabel Florindo Guedes
- Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (N.C.); (M.F.v.T.); (M.I.F.G.)
| | - Chad Eric Grueter
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
| | - Vânia Marilande Ceccatto
- Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (S.M.d.S.F.); (R.M.d.F.); (J.E.d.C.F.); (P.M.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
118
|
Chmielewski D, Wilson EA, Pintilie G, Zhao P, Chen M, Schmid MF, Simmons G, Wells L, Jin J, Singharoy A, Chiu W. Structural insights into the modulation of coronavirus spike tilting and infectivity by hinge glycans. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7175. [PMID: 37935678 PMCID: PMC10630519 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42836-9] [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: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus spike glycoproteins presented on the virion surface mediate receptor binding, and membrane fusion during virus entry and constitute the primary target for vaccine and drug development. How the structure dynamics of the full-length spikes incorporated in viral lipid envelope correlates with the virus infectivity remains poorly understood. Here we present structures and distributions of native spike conformations on vitrified human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) virions without chemical fixation by cryogenic electron tomography (cryoET) and subtomogram averaging, along with site-specific glycan composition and occupancy determined by mass spectrometry. The higher oligomannose glycan shield on HCoV-NL63 spikes than on SARS-CoV-2 spikes correlates with stronger immune evasion of HCoV-NL63. Incorporation of cryoET-derived native spike conformations into all-atom molecular dynamic simulations elucidate the conformational landscape of the glycosylated, full-length spike that reveals a role of hinge glycans in modulating spike bending. We show that glycosylation at N1242 at the upper portion of the stalk is responsible for the extensive orientational freedom of the spike crown. Subsequent infectivity assays implicated involvement of N1242-glyan in virus entry. Our results suggest a potential therapeutic target site for HCoV-NL63.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Chmielewski
- Biophysics Graduate Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Eric A Wilson
- School of Molecular Sciences, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Grigore Pintilie
- Department of Bioengineering, and of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Peng Zhao
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Muyuan Chen
- Division of CryoEM and Bioimaging, SSRL, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Michael F Schmid
- Division of CryoEM and Bioimaging, SSRL, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Graham Simmons
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Lance Wells
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jing Jin
- Department of Bioengineering, and of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Abhishek Singharoy
- School of Molecular Sciences, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| | - Wah Chiu
- Biophysics Graduate Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, and of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Division of CryoEM and Bioimaging, SSRL, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
119
|
de Oliveira DF. In silico identification of five binding sites on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and selection of seven ligands for such sites. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-19. [PMID: 37921757 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2278077] [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: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
To contribute to the development of products capable of complexing with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and thus preventing the virus from entering the host cell, this work aimed at discovering binding sites in the whole protein structure, as well as selecting substances capable of binding efficiently to such sites. Initially, the three-dimensional structure of the protein, with all receptor binding domains in the closed state, underwent blind docking with 38 substances potentially capable of binding to this protein according to the literature. This allowed the identification of five binding sites. Then, those substances with more affinities for these sites underwent pharmacophoric search in the ZINC15 database. The 14,329 substances selected from ZINC15 were subjected to docking to the five selected sites of the spike protein. The ligands with more affinities for the protein sites, as well as the selected sites themselves, were used in the de novo design of new ligands that were also docked to the binding sites of the protein. The best ligands, regardless of their origins, were used to form complexes with the spike protein, which were subsequently used in molecular dynamics simulations and calculations of ligands affinities to the protein through the molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area method (MMPBSA). Seven substances with good affinities to the spike protein (-12.9 to -20.6 kcal/mol), satisfactory druggability (Bioavailability score: 0.17 to 0.55), and low acute toxicity to mice (LD50: 751 to 1421 mg/kg) were selected as potentially useful for the future development of new products to manage COVID-19 infections.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
|
120
|
Rodrigues Reis CE, Milessi TS, Ramos MDN, Singh AK, Mohanakrishna G, Aminabhavi TM, Kumar PS, Chandel AK. Lignocellulosic biomass-based glycoconjugates for diverse biotechnological applications. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 68:108209. [PMID: 37467868 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Glycoconjugates are the ubiquitous components of mammalian cells, mainly synthesized by covalent bonds of carbohydrates to other biomolecules such as proteins and lipids, with a wide range of potential applications in novel vaccines, therapeutic peptides and antibodies (Ab). Considering the emerging developments in glycoscience, renewable production of glycoconjugates is of importance and lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is a potential source of carbohydrates to produce synthetic glycoconjugates in a sustainable pathway. In this review, recent advances in glycobiology aiming on glycoconjugates production is presented together with the recent and cutting-edge advances in the therapeutic properties and application of glycoconjugates, including therapeutic glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and nutraceuticals, emphasizing the integral role of glycosylation in their function and efficacy. Special emphasis is given towards the potential exploration of carbon neutral feedstocks, in which LCB has an emerging role. Techniques for extraction and recovery of mono- and oligosaccharides from LCB are critically discussed and influence of the heterogeneous nature of the feedstocks and different methods for recovery of these sugars in the development of the customized glycoconjugates is explored. Although reports on the use of LCB for the production of glycoconjugates are scarce, this review sets clear that the potential of LCB as a source for the production of valuable glycoconjugates cannot be underestimated and encourages that future research should focus on refining the existing methodologies and exploring new approaches to fully realize the potential of LCB in glycoconjugate production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Thais Suzane Milessi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Graduate Program of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos (PPGEQ-UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Márcio Daniel Nicodemos Ramos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Akhilesh Kumar Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari 845401, Bihar, India
| | - Gunda Mohanakrishna
- Center for Energy and Environment, School of Advanced Sciences, KLE Technological University, Hubballi 580 031, India
| | - Tejraj M Aminabhavi
- Center for Energy and Environment, School of Advanced Sciences, KLE Technological University, Hubballi 580 031, India.
| | - P Senthil Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam 603110, Tamil Nadu, India; Centre of Excellence in Water Research (CEWAR), Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam 603110, Tamil Nadu, India; School of Engineering, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Anuj K Chandel
- Department of Biotechnology, Engineering School of Lorena, University of São Paulo, Lorena, São Paulo 12602-810, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
121
|
Zheng X, Li Y, Cui T, Yang J, Meng X, Wang H, Chen L, He J, Chen N, Meng L, Ding L, Xie R. Traceless Protein-Selective Glycan Labeling and Chemical Modification. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:23670-23680. [PMID: 37857274 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c07889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Executing glycan editing at a molecular level not only is pivotal for the elucidation of complicated mechanisms involved in glycan-relevant biological processes but also provides a promising solution to potentiate disease therapy. However, the precision control of glycan modification or glyco-editing on a selected glycoprotein is by far a grand challenge. Of note is to preserve the intact cellular glycan landscape, which is preserved after editing events are completed. We report herein a versatile, traceless glycan modification methodology for customizing the glycoforms of targeted proteins (subtypes), by orchestrating chemical- and photoregulation in a protein-selective glycoenzymatic system. This method relies on a three-module, ligand-photocleavable linker-glycoenzyme (L-P-G) conjugate. We demonstrated that RGD- or synthetic carbohydrate ligand-containing conjugates (RPG and SPG) would not activate until after the ligand-receptor interaction is accomplished (chemical regulation). RPG and SPG can both release the glycoenzyme upon photoillumination (photoregulation). The adjustable glycoenzyme activity, combined with ligand recognition selectivity, minimizes unnecessary glycan editing perturbation, and photolytic cleavage enables precise temporal control of editing events. An altered target protein turnover and dimerization were observed in our system, emphasizing the significance of preserving the native physiological niche of a particular protein when precise modification on the carbohydrate epitope occurs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yiran Li
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Tongxiao Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiangfeng Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Haiqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Liusheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jian He
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Nan Chen
- ChinaChomiX Biotech (Nanjing) Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210061, China
| | - Liying Meng
- Department of Medical Experimental Center, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao 266035, China
| | - Lin Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ran Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| |
Collapse
|
122
|
Song D, Jia X, Gao Y, Xiao T, Dan J, Shen R, Cai J, Liang J, Zhu W, Hu J, Yan G, Zhang Q, Lin Y. STT3A-mediated viral N-glycosylation underlies the tumor selectivity of oncolytic virus M1. Oncogene 2023; 42:3575-3588. [PMID: 37864032 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02872-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses are emerging as promising anticancer agents. Although the essential biological function of N-glycosylation on viruses are widely accepted, roles of N-glycan and glycan-processing enzyme in oncolytic viral therapy are remain elusive. Here, via cryo-EM analysis, we identified three distinct N-glycans on the envelope of oncolytic virus M1 (OVM) as being necessary for efficient receptor binding. E1-N141-glycan has immediate impact on the binding of MXRA8 receptor, E2-N200-glycan mediates the maturation of E2 from its precursor PE2 which is unable to bind with MXRA8, and E2-N262-glycan slightly promotes receptor binding. The necessity of OVM N-glycans in receptor binding make them indispensable for oncolysis in vitro and in vivo. Further investigations identified STT3A, a key catalytic subunit of oligosaccharyltransferase (OST), as the determinant of OVM N-glycosylation, and STT3A expression in tumor cells is positively correlated with OVM-induced oncolysis. Increased STT3A expression was observed in various solid tumors, pointing to a broad-spectrum anticancer potential of OVM. Collectively, our research supports the importance of STT3A-mediated N-glycosylation in receptor binding and oncolysis of OVM, thus providing a novel predictive biomarker for OVM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deli Song
- State Key Lab for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xudong Jia
- State Key Lab for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yuanzhu Gao
- State Key Lab for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Tong Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jia Dan
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Runling Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jiankai Liang
- Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wenbo Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jun Hu
- Department of Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Guangmei Yan
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qinfen Zhang
- State Key Lab for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
| | - Yuan Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital-Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| |
Collapse
|
123
|
Hulbert SW, Desai P, Jewett MC, DeLisa MP, Williams AJ. Glycovaccinology: The design and engineering of carbohydrate-based vaccine components. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 68:108234. [PMID: 37558188 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines remain one of the most important pillars in preventative medicine, providing protection against a wide array of diseases by inducing humoral and/or cellular immunity. Of the many possible candidate antigens for subunit vaccine development, carbohydrates are particularly appealing because of their ubiquitous presence on the surface of all living cells, viruses, and parasites as well as their known interactions with both innate and adaptive immune cells. Indeed, several licensed vaccines leverage bacterial cell-surface carbohydrates as antigens for inducing antigen-specific plasma cells secreting protective antibodies and the development of memory T and B cells. Carbohydrates have also garnered attention in other aspects of vaccine development, for example, as adjuvants that enhance the immune response by either activating innate immune responses or targeting specific immune cells. Additionally, carbohydrates can function as immunomodulators that dampen undesired humoral immune responses to entire protein antigens or specific, conserved regions on antigenic proteins. In this review, we highlight how the interplay between carbohydrates and the adaptive and innate arms of the immune response is guiding the development of glycans as vaccine components that act as antigens, adjuvants, and immunomodulators. We also discuss how advances in the field of synthetic glycobiology are enabling the design, engineering, and production of this new generation of carbohydrate-containing vaccine formulations with the potential to prevent infectious diseases, malignancies, and complex immune disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophia W Hulbert
- Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Primit Desai
- Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Matthew P DeLisa
- Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Cornell Institute of Biotechnology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Asher J Williams
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
124
|
Bhattacharya M, Chatterjee S, Lee SS, Dhama K, Chakraborty C. Antibody evasion associated with the RBD significant mutations in several emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and its subvariants. Drug Resist Updat 2023; 71:101008. [PMID: 37757651 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.101008] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Since the origin of the wild strain of SARS-CoV-2, several variants have emerged, which were designated as VOC, VOI, and VUM from time to time. The Omicron variant is noted as the recent VOC. After the origin of the Omicron variant on November 2021, several subvariants of Omicron have originated subsequently, like BA.1/2, BA.2.75/2.75.2, BA.4/5, BF.7, BQ.1/1.1, XBB.1/1.5, etc. which are circulated throughout the globe. Scientists reported that antibody escape is a common phenomenon observed in all the previous VOCs, VOIs, including Omicron and its subvariants. The mutations in the NTD (N-terminal domain) and RBD (Receptor-binding domain) of the spike of these variants and subvariants are responsible for antibody escape. At the same time, it has been noted that spike RBD mutations have been increasing in the last few months. This review illustrates significant RBD mutations namely R346T, K417N/T, L452R, N460K E484A/K/Q, and N501Y found in the previous emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron and its subvariants in high frequency and their role in antibody evasion and immune evasion. The review also describes the different classes of nAb responsible for antibody escape in SARS-CoV-2 variants and the molecular perspective of the mutation in nAb escape. It will help the future researchers to develop efficient vaccines which can finally prevent the pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manojit Bhattacharya
- Department of Zoology, Fakir Mohan University, Vyasa Vihar, Balasore 756020, Odisha, India
| | - Srijan Chatterjee
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si 24252, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Soo Lee
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopaedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si 24252, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Chiranjib Chakraborty
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata 700126, West Bengal, India.
| |
Collapse
|
125
|
Lusvarghi S, Stauft CB, Vassell R, Williams B, Baha H, Wang W, Neerukonda SN, Wang T, Weiss CD. Effects of N-glycan modifications on spike expression, virus infectivity, and neutralization sensitivity in ancestral compared to Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011788. [PMID: 37943965 PMCID: PMC10662749 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein has 22 potential N-linked glycosylation sites per monomer that are highly conserved among diverse variants, but how individual glycans affect virus entry and neutralization of Omicron variants has not been extensively characterized. Here we compared the effects of specific glycan deletions or modifications in the Omicron BA.1 and D614G spikes on spike expression, processing, and incorporation into pseudoviruses, as well as on virus infectivity and neutralization by therapeutic antibodies. We found that loss of potential glycans at spike residues N717 and N801 each conferred a loss of pseudovirus infectivity for Omicron but not for D614G or Delta variants. This decrease in infectivity correlated with decreased spike processing and incorporation into Omicron pseudoviruses. Oligomannose-enriched Omicron pseudoviruses generated in GnTI- cells or in the presence of kifunensine were non-infectious, whereas D614G or Delta pseudoviruses generated under similar conditions remained infectious. Similarly, growth of live (authentic) SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of kifunensine resulted in a greater reduction of titers for the BA.1.1 variant than Delta or D614G variants relative to their respective, untreated controls. Finally, we found that loss of some N-glycans, including N343 and N234, increased the maximum percent neutralization by the class 3 S309 monoclonal antibody against D614G but not BA.1 variants, while these glycan deletions altered the neutralization potency of the class 1 COV2-2196 and Etesevimab monoclonal antibodies without affecting maximum percent neutralization. The maximum neutralization by some antibodies also varied with the glycan composition, with oligomannose-enriched pseudoviruses conferring the highest percent neutralization. These results highlight differences in the interactions between glycans and residues among SARS-CoV-2 variants that can affect spike expression, virus infectivity, and susceptibility of variants to antibody neutralization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Lusvarghi
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring Maryland, United States of America
| | - Charles B. Stauft
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring Maryland, United States of America
| | - Russell Vassell
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brittany Williams
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring Maryland, United States of America
| | - Haseebullah Baha
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring Maryland, United States of America
| | - Wei Wang
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sabari Nath Neerukonda
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tony Wang
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring Maryland, United States of America
| | - Carol D. Weiss
- Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
126
|
Singh JK, Singh J, Srivastava SK. Investigating the role of glycans in Omicron sub-lineages XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 binding to host receptor using molecular dynamics and binding free energy calculations. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2023; 37:551-563. [PMID: 37542610 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-023-00526-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Omicron derived lineages viz. BA.2, BA.3, BA.4 BA.5, BF.7 and XBBs show prominence with improved immune escape, transmissibility, infectivity, and pathogenicity in general. Sub-variants, XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 have shown rapid spread, with mutations embedded throughout the viral genome, including the spike protein. Changing atomic landscapes in spike contributes significantly to modulate host pathogen interactions and infections thereof. In the present work, we computationally analyzed the binding affinities of spike receptor binding domains (RBDs) of XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 towards human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) compared to Omicron. We have employed simulations and binding energy estimation of molecular complexes of spike-hACE2 to assess the interplay of interaction pattern and effect of mutations if any in the binding mode of the RBDs of these novel mutants. We calculated the binding free energy (BFE) of the RBD of the Omicron, XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 spike protein to hACE2. We showed that XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 can bind to human cells more strongly than Omicron due to the increased charge of the RBD, which enhances the electrostatic interactions with negatively charged hACE2. The per-residue decompositions further show that the Asp339His, Asp405Asn and Asn460Lys mutations in the XBBs RBD play a crucial role in enhancing the electrostatic interactions, by acquiring positively charged residues, thereby influencing the formation/loss of interfacial bonds and thus strongly affecting the spike RBD-hACE2 binding affinity. Simulation results also indicate less interference of heterogeneous glycans of XBB.1.5 spike RBD towards binding to hACE2. Moreover, despite having less interaction at the three interfacial contacts between XBB S RBD and hACE2 compared to Omicron, variants XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 had higher total binding free energies (ΔGbind) than Omicron due to the contribution of non-interfacial residues to the free energy, providing insight into the increased binding affinity of XBB1.5 and XBB.1.16. Furthermore, the presence of large positively charged surface patches in the XBBs act as drivers of electrostatic interactions, thus support the possibility of a higher binding affinity to hACE2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaikee Kumar Singh
- Structural Biology & Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Manipal University Jaipur, Dehmi Kalan, Off Jaipur-Ajmer Expressway, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, India
| | - Jai Singh
- Structural Biology & Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Manipal University Jaipur, Dehmi Kalan, Off Jaipur-Ajmer Expressway, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, India
| | - Sandeep Kumar Srivastava
- Structural Biology & Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Manipal University Jaipur, Dehmi Kalan, Off Jaipur-Ajmer Expressway, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, India.
| |
Collapse
|
127
|
Tulsian NK, Palur RV, Qian X, Gu Y, D/O Shunmuganathan B, Samsudin F, Wong YH, Lin J, Purushotorman K, Kozma MM, Wang B, Lescar J, Wang CI, Gupta RK, Bond PJ, MacAry PA. Defining neutralization and allostery by antibodies against COVID-19 variants. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6967. [PMID: 37907459 PMCID: PMC10618280 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42408-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The changing landscape of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein is linked to the emergence of variants, immune-escape and reduced efficacy of the existing repertoire of anti-viral antibodies. The functional activity of neutralizing antibodies is linked to their quaternary changes occurring as a result of antibody-Spike trimer interactions. Here, we reveal the conformational dynamics and allosteric perturbations linked to binding of novel human antibodies and the viral Spike protein. We identified epitope hotspots, and associated changes in Spike dynamics that distinguish weak, moderate and strong neutralizing antibodies. We show the impact of mutations in Wuhan-Hu-1, Delta, and Omicron variants on differences in the antibody-induced conformational changes in Spike and illustrate how these render certain antibodies ineffective. Antibodies with similar binding affinities may induce destabilizing or stabilizing allosteric effects on Spike, with implications for neutralization efficacy. Our results provide mechanistic insights into the functional modes and synergistic behavior of human antibodies against COVID-19 and may assist in designing effective antiviral strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Kumar Tulsian
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore.
| | - Raghuvamsi Venkata Palur
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138761, Singapore
| | - Xinlei Qian
- Antibody Engineering Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Yue Gu
- Antibody Engineering Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Bhuvaneshwari D/O Shunmuganathan
- Antibody Engineering Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Firdaus Samsudin
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138761, Singapore
| | - Yee Hwa Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Experimental Medicine Building, Singapore, 636921, Singapore
| | - Jianqing Lin
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Experimental Medicine Building, Singapore, 636921, Singapore
| | - Kiren Purushotorman
- Antibody Engineering Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Mary McQueen Kozma
- Antibody Engineering Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Bei Wang
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Julien Lescar
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Experimental Medicine Building, Singapore, 636921, Singapore
| | - Cheng-I Wang
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Ravindra Kumar Gupta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter John Bond
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138761, Singapore.
| | - Paul Anthony MacAry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore.
- Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
128
|
Magazine N, Zhang T, Bungwon AD, McGee MC, Wu Y, Veggiani G, Huang W. Immune Epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Considerations for Universal Vaccine Development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.26.564184. [PMID: 37961687 PMCID: PMC10634854 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.26.564184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite the success of global vaccination programs in slowing the spread of COVID-19, these efforts have been hindered by the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 strains capable of evading prior immunity. The mutation and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 have created a demand for persistent efforts in vaccine development. SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein has been the primary target for COVID-19 vaccine development, but it is also the hotspot of mutations directly involved in host susceptibility and immune evasion. Our ability to predict emerging mutants and select conserved epitopes is critical for the development of a broadly neutralizing therapy or a universal vaccine. In this article, we review the general paradigm of immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting the immunological epitopes of Spike protein that are likely associated with eliciting protective immunity resulting from vaccination. Specifically, we analyze the structural and evolutionary characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein related to immune activation and function via the toll-like receptors (TLRs), B cells, and T cells. We aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of immune epitopes of Spike protein, thereby contributing to the development of new strategies for broad neutralization or universal vaccination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Magazine
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Tianyi Zhang
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Anang D. Bungwon
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Michael C. McGee
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Yingying Wu
- Department of Mathematics, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Gianluca Veggiani
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
- Division of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Weishan Huang
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| |
Collapse
|
129
|
Woodall DW, Thomson CA, Dillon TM, McAuley A, Green LB, Foltz IN, Bondarenko PV. Native SEC and Reversed-Phase LC-MS Reveal Impact of Fab Glycosylation of Anti-SARS-COV-2 Antibodies on Binding to the Receptor Binding Domain. Anal Chem 2023; 95:15477-15485. [PMID: 37812809 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
The binding affinity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for their intended therapeutic targets is often affected by chemical and post-translational modifications in the antigen binding (Fab) domains. A new two-dimensional analytical approach is described here utilizing native size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to separate populations of antibodies and bound antibody-antigen complexes for subsequent characterization of these modifications by reversed-phase (RP) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) at the intact antibody level. Previously, we utilized peptide mapping to measure modifications impacting binding. However, in this study, the large size of the modification (N-glycosylation) allowed assessing its impact from small amounts (∼20 ug) of intact antibody, without the need for peptide mapping. Here, we apply the native SEC-based competitive binding assay to quickly and qualitatively investigate the effects of Fab glycosylation of four antispike protein mAbs that were developed for use in the treatment of COVID-19 disease. Three of the mAbs were observed to have consensus N-glycosylation sites (N-X-T/S) in the Fab domains, a relatively rare occurrence in therapeutic mAbs. The goal of the study was to characterize the levels of Fab glycosylation present, as well as determine the impact of glycosylation on binding to the spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) and the ability of the mAbs to inhibit RBD-ACE2 interaction at the intact antibody level, with minimal sample treatment and preparation. The three mAbs with Fab N-glycans were found to have glycosylation profiles ranging from full occupancy at each Fab (in one mAb) to partially glycosylated with mixed populations of two, one, or no glycan moieties. Competitive SEC analysis of mAb-RBD revealed that the glycosylated antibody populations outcompete their nonglycosylated counterparts for the available RBD molecules. This competitive SEC binding analysis was applied to investigate the three-body interaction of a glycosylated mAb blocking the interaction between endogenous binding partners RBD-ACE2, finding that both glycosylated and nonglycosylated mAb populations bound to RBD with high enough affinity to block RBD-ACE2 binding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Woodall
- Attribute Sciences, Process Development, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
| | - Christy A Thomson
- Discovery Protein Science, Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Burnaby, BC V5A1 V7, Canada
| | - Thomas M Dillon
- Attribute Sciences, Process Development, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
- Drug Product Technologies, Process Development, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
| | - Arnold McAuley
- Drug Product Technologies, Process Development, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
| | - Lydia B Green
- Biologics Discovery, Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Burnaby, BC V5A1 V7, Canada
| | - Ian N Foltz
- Biologics Discovery, Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Burnaby, BC V5A1 V7, Canada
| | - Pavel V Bondarenko
- Attribute Sciences, Process Development, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
| |
Collapse
|
130
|
Padhi AK, Kalita P, Maurya S, Poluri KM, Tripathi T. From De Novo Design to Redesign: Harnessing Computational Protein Design for Understanding SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Mechanisms and Developing Therapeutics. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:8717-8735. [PMID: 37815479 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c04542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
The continuous emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants and subvariants serves as compelling evidence that COVID-19 is an ongoing concern. The swift, well-coordinated response to the pandemic highlights how technological advancements can accelerate the detection, monitoring, and treatment of the disease. Robust surveillance systems have been established to understand the clinical characteristics of new variants, although the unpredictable nature of these variants presents significant challenges. Some variants have shown resistance to current treatments, but innovative technologies like computational protein design (CPD) offer promising solutions and versatile therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2. Advances in computing power, coupled with open-source platforms like AlphaFold and RFdiffusion (employing deep neural network and diffusion generative models), among many others, have accelerated the design of protein therapeutics with precise structures and intended functions. CPD has played a pivotal role in developing peptide inhibitors, mini proteins, protein mimics, decoy receptors, nanobodies, monoclonal antibodies, identifying drug-resistance mutations, and even redesigning native SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Pending regulatory approval, these designed therapies hold the potential for a lasting impact on human health and sustainability. As SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, use of such technologies enables the ongoing development of alternative strategies, thus equipping us for the "New Normal".
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aditya K Padhi
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Parismita Kalita
- Molecular and Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India
| | - Shweata Maurya
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Krishna Mohan Poluri
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Timir Tripathi
- Molecular and Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India
| |
Collapse
|
131
|
Hsiao YW, Bray DJ, Taddese T, Jiménez-Serratos G, Crain J. Structure adaptation in Omicron SARS-CoV-2/hACE2: Biophysical origins of evolutionary driving forces. Biophys J 2023; 122:4057-4067. [PMID: 37717145 PMCID: PMC10624932 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.09.003] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Since its emergence, the COVID-19 threat has been sustained by a series of transmission waves initiated by new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Some of these arise with higher transmissivity and/or increased disease severity. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to examine the modulation of the fundamental interactions between the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike glycoprotein and the host cell receptor (human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [hACE2]) arising from Omicron variant mutations (BA.1 and BA.2) relative to the original wild-type strain. Our key findings are that glycans play a vital role at the RBD···hACE2 interface for the Omicrons, and the interplay between glycans and sequence mutations leads to enhanced binding. We find significant structural differences in the complexes, which overall bring the spike protein and its receptor into closer proximity. These are consistent with and attributed to the higher positive charge on the RBD conferred by BA.1 and BA.2 mutations relative to the wild-type. However, further differences between subvariants BA.1 and BA.2 (which have equivalent RBD charges) are also evident: mutations reduce interdomain interactions between the up chain and its clockwise neighbor chain in particular for the latter, resulting in enhanced flexibility for BA.2. Consequently, we see occurrence of additional close contacts in one replica of BA.2, which include binding to hACE2 by a second RBD in addition to the up chain. Although this motif is not seen in BA.1, we find that the Omicrons can directly/indirectly bind a down-RBD to hACE2 through glycans: the role of the glycan on N90 of hACE2 switches from inhibiting to facilitating the binding to Omicron spike protein via glycan-protein lateral interactions. These structural and electrostatic differences offer further insight into the mechanisms by which viral mutations modulate host cell binding and provide a biophysical basis for evolutionary driving forces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Wen Hsiao
- The Hartree Centre, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, United Kingdom; Scientific Computing Department, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, United Kingdom.
| | - David J Bray
- The Hartree Centre, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, United Kingdom
| | - Tseden Taddese
- The Hartree Centre, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jason Crain
- IBM Research Europe, Hartree Centre, Warrington, United Kingdom; Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
132
|
Nagar G, Jain S, Rajurkar M, Lothe R, Rao H, Majumdar S, Gautam M, Rodriguez-Aponte SA, Crowell LE, Love JC, Dandekar P, Puranik A, Gairola S, Shaligram U, Jain R. Large-Scale Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Expressed in Yeast. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1602. [PMID: 37897004 PMCID: PMC10610970 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101602] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is an essential component of numerous protein-based vaccines for COVID-19. The receptor-binding domain of this spike protein is a promising antigen with ease of expression in microbial hosts and scalability at comparatively low production costs. This study describes the production, purification, and characterization of RBD of SARS-CoV-2 protein, which is currently in clinical trials, from a commercialization perspective. The protein was expressed in Pichia pastoris in a large-scale bioreactor of 1200 L capacity. Protein capture and purification are conducted through mixed-mode chromatography followed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. This two-step purification process produced RBD with an overall productivity of ~21 mg/L at >99% purity. The protein's primary, secondary, and tertiary structures were also verified using LCMS-based peptide mapping, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The glycoprotein was further characterized for quality attributes such as glycosylation, molecular weight, purity, di-sulfide bonding, etc. Through structural analysis, it was confirmed that the product maintained a consistent quality across different batches during the large-scale production process. The binding capacity of RBD of spike protein was also assessed using human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. A low binding constant range of KD values, ranging between 3.63 × 10-8 to 6.67 × 10-8, demonstrated a high affinity for the ACE2 receptor, revealing this protein as a promising candidate to prevent the entry of COVID-19 virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Nagar
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Siddharth Jain
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Meghraj Rajurkar
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Rakesh Lothe
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Harish Rao
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Sourav Majumdar
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Manish Gautam
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Sergio A. Rodriguez-Aponte
- Department of Biological Engineering, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
| | - Laura E. Crowell
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (L.E.C.); (J.C.L.)
| | - J. Christopher Love
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (L.E.C.); (J.C.L.)
| | - Prajakta Dandekar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India;
| | - Amita Puranik
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India
| | - Sunil Gairola
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Umesh Shaligram
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Hadapsar, Pune 411028, India; (G.N.); (S.G.)
| | - Ratnesh Jain
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India
| |
Collapse
|
133
|
Baghaie L, Leroy F, Sheikhi M, Jafarzadeh A, Szewczuk MR, Sheikhi A. Contemporaneous SARS-CoV-2-Neutralizing Antibodies Mediated by N-glycan Shields. Viruses 2023; 15:2079. [PMID: 37896856 PMCID: PMC10612084 DOI: 10.3390/v15102079] [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: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations and the glycosylation of epitopes can convert immunogenic epitopes into non-immunogenic ones via natural selection or evolutionary pressure, thereby decreasing their sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. Based on Thomas Francis's theory, memory B and T cells induced during primary infections or vaccination will freeze the new mutated epitopes specific to naïve B and T cells from the repertoire. On this basis, some researchers argue that the current vaccines derived from the previous strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus do not increase immunity and may also prevent the immune response against new epitopes. However, evidence shows that even if the binding affinity is reduced, the previous antibodies or T cell receptors (TCRs) can still bind to this new epitope of the Beta, Gamma, and Delta variant if their concentration is high enough (from a booster injection) and neutralize the virus. This paper presents some convincing immunological reasons that may challenge this theory and argue for the continuation of universal vaccination to prevent further mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Simultaneously, the information presented can be used to develop vaccines that target novel epitopes or create new recombinant drugs that do not lose their effectiveness when the virus mutates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leili Baghaie
- Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada;
| | - Fleur Leroy
- Faculté de Médecine, Maïeutique et Sciences de la Santé, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000 Strasbourg, France;
| | - Mehdi Sheikhi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful 64616-43993, Iran;
- Faculty of Medicine, Kazeroon Azad University, Kazeroon 14778-93855, Iran
| | - Abdollah Jafarzadeh
- Department of Immunology, Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 76169-13555, Iran;
| | - Myron R. Szewczuk
- Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada;
| | - Abdolkarim Sheikhi
- Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada;
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful 64616-43993, Iran;
| |
Collapse
|
134
|
Alshahrani M, Gupta G, Xiao S, Tao P, Verkhivker G. Comparative Analysis of Conformational Dynamics and Systematic Characterization of Cryptic Pockets in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 Spike Complexes with the ACE2 Host Receptor: Confluence of Binding and Structural Plasticity in Mediating Networks of Conserved Allosteric Sites. Viruses 2023; 15:2073. [PMID: 37896850 PMCID: PMC10612107 DOI: 10.3390/v15102073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the current study, we explore coarse-grained simulations and atomistic molecular dynamics together with binding energetics scanning and cryptic pocket detection in a comparative examination of conformational landscapes and systematic characterization of allosteric binding sites in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 spike full-length trimer complexes with the host receptor ACE2. Microsecond simulations, Markov state models and mutational scanning of binding energies of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 and BA.2.75 receptor binding domain complexes revealed the increased thermodynamic stabilization of the BA.2.75 variant and significant dynamic differences between these Omicron variants. Molecular simulations of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike full-length trimer complexes with the ACE2 receptor complemented atomistic studies and enabled an in-depth analysis of mutational and binding effects on conformational dynamic and functional adaptability of the Omicron variants. Despite considerable structural similarities, Omicron variants BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 can induce unique conformational dynamic signatures and specific distributions of the conformational states. Using conformational ensembles of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike trimer complexes with ACE2, we conducted a comprehensive cryptic pocket screening to examine the role of Omicron mutations and ACE2 binding on the distribution and functional mechanisms of the emerging allosteric binding sites. This analysis captured all experimentally known allosteric sites and discovered networks of inter-connected and functionally relevant allosteric sites that are governed by variant-sensitive conformational adaptability of the SARS-CoV-2 spike structures. The results detailed how ACE2 binding and Omicron mutations in the BA.2, BA.2.75 and XBB.1 spike complexes modulate the distribution of conserved and druggable allosteric pockets harboring functionally important regions. The results are significant for understanding the functional roles of druggable cryptic pockets that can be used for allostery-mediated therapeutic intervention targeting conformational states of the Omicron variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Alshahrani
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (M.A.); (G.G.)
| | - Grace Gupta
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (M.A.); (G.G.)
| | - Sian Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75275, USA; (S.X.); (P.T.)
| | - Peng Tao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75275, USA; (S.X.); (P.T.)
| | - Gennady Verkhivker
- Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (M.A.); (G.G.)
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
| |
Collapse
|
135
|
Burke MC, Liu Y, Remoroza C, Mirokhin YA, Sheetlin SL, Tchekhovskoi DV, Wang G, Yang X, Stein SE. Determining Site-Specific Glycan Profiles of Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins from Multiple Sources. J Proteome Res 2023; 22:3225-3241. [PMID: 37647588 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00271] [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: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Glycopeptide Abundance Distribution Spectra (GADS) were recently introduced as a means of representing, storing, and comparing glycan profiles of intact glycopeptides. Here, using that representation, an extensive analysis is made of multiple commercial sources of the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, each containing 22 N-linked glycan sites (sequons). Multiple proteases are used along with variable energy fragmentation followed by ion trap confirmation. This enables a detailed examination of the reproducibility of the method across multiple types of variability. These results show that GADS are consistent between replicates and laboratories for sufficiently abundant glycopeptides. Derived GADS enable the examination and comparison of the glycan profiles between commercial sources of the spike protein. Multiple distinct glycopeptide distributions, generated by multiple proteases, confirm these profiles. Comparisons of GADS derived from 11 sources of recombinant spike protein reveal that sources for which protein expression methods were the same produced near-identical glycan profiles, thereby demonstrating the ability of this method to measure GADS of sufficient reliability to distinguish different glycoform distributions between commercial vendors and potentially to reliably determine and compare differences in glycosylation for any glycoprotein under different conditions of production. All mass spectrometry data files have been deposited in the MassIVE repository under the identifier MSV000091776.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meghan C Burke
- Mass Spectrometry Data Center, Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Yi Liu
- Mass Spectrometry Data Center, Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Concepcion Remoroza
- Mass Spectrometry Data Center, Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Yuri A Mirokhin
- Mass Spectrometry Data Center, Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Sergey L Sheetlin
- Mass Spectrometry Data Center, Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Dmitrii V Tchekhovskoi
- Mass Spectrometry Data Center, Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Guanghui Wang
- Mass Spectrometry Data Center, Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- Mass Spectrometry Data Center, Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Stephen E Stein
- Mass Spectrometry Data Center, Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| |
Collapse
|
136
|
Ruocco V, Vavra U, König-Beihammer J, Bolaños−Martínez OC, Kallolimath S, Maresch D, Grünwald-Gruber C, Strasser R. Impact of mutations on the plant-based production of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBDs. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1275228. [PMID: 37868317 PMCID: PMC10588190 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1275228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Subunit vaccines based on recombinant viral antigens are valuable interventions to fight existing and evolving viruses and can be produced at large-scale in plant-based expression systems. The recombinant viral antigens are often derived from glycosylated envelope proteins of the virus and glycosylation plays an important role for the immunogenicity by shielding protein epitopes. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike is a principal target for vaccine development and has been produced in plants, but the yields of recombinant RBD variants were low and the role of the N-glycosylation in RBD from different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern is less studied. Here, we investigated the expression and glycosylation of six different RBD variants transiently expressed in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. All of the purified RBD variants were functional in terms of receptor binding and displayed almost full N-glycan occupancy at both glycosylation sites with predominately complex N-glycans. Despite the high structural sequence conservation of the RBD variants, we detected a variation in yield which can be attributed to lower expression and differences in unintentional proteolytic processing of the C-terminal polyhistidine tag used for purification. Glycoengineering towards a human-type complex N-glycan profile with core α1,6-fucose, showed that the reactivity of the neutralizing antibody S309 differs depending on the N-glycan profile and the RBD variant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Ruocco
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Vavra
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia König-Beihammer
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Omayra C. Bolaños−Martínez
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Somanath Kallolimath
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Maresch
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Strasser
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
137
|
Manfredelli D, Pariano M, Costantini C, Graziani A, Bozza S, Romani L, Puccetti P, Talesa VN, Antognelli C. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike Protein S1 Induces Methylglyoxal-Derived Hydroimidazolone/Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (MG-H1/RAGE) Activation to Promote Inflammation in Human Bronchial BEAS-2B Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14868. [PMID: 37834316 PMCID: PMC10573269 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a hyperinflammatory response. The mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammation are scantly known. Methylglyoxal (MG) is a glycolysis-derived byproduct endowed with a potent glycating action, leading to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), the main one being MG-H1. MG-H1 exerts strong pro-inflammatory effects, frequently mediated by the receptor for AGEs (RAGE). Here, we investigated the involvement of the MG-H1/RAGE axis as a potential novel mechanism in SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammation by resorting to human bronchial BEAS-2B and alveolar A549 epithelial cells, expressing different levels of the ACE2 receptor (R), exposed to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein 1 (S1). Interestingly, we found in BEAS-2B cells that do not express ACE2-R that S1 exerted a pro-inflammatory action through a novel MG-H1/RAGE-based pathway. MG-H1 levels, RAGE and IL-1β expression levels in nasopharyngeal swabs from SARS-CoV-2-positive and -negative individuals, as well as glyoxalase 1 expression, the major scavenging enzyme of MG, seem to support the results obtained in vitro. Altogether, our findings reveal a novel mechanism involved in the inflammation triggered by S1, paving the way for the study of the MG-H1/RAGE inflammatory axis in SARS-CoV-2 infection as a potential therapeutic target to mitigate COVID-19-associated pathogenic inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominga Manfredelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Bioscience and Medical Embryology Division, University of Perugia, L. Severi Square, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (D.M.); (M.P.); (V.N.T.)
| | - Marilena Pariano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Bioscience and Medical Embryology Division, University of Perugia, L. Severi Square, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (D.M.); (M.P.); (V.N.T.)
| | - Claudio Costantini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pathology Division, University of Perugia, L. Severi Square, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (C.C.); (L.R.)
| | - Alessandro Graziani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology Division, University of Perugia, L. Severi Square, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (A.G.); (S.B.)
| | - Silvia Bozza
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology Division, University of Perugia, L. Severi Square, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (A.G.); (S.B.)
| | - Luigina Romani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pathology Division, University of Perugia, L. Severi Square, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (C.C.); (L.R.)
| | - Paolo Puccetti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacology Division, University of Perugia, L. Severi Square, 06129 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo Nicola Talesa
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Bioscience and Medical Embryology Division, University of Perugia, L. Severi Square, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (D.M.); (M.P.); (V.N.T.)
| | - Cinzia Antognelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Bioscience and Medical Embryology Division, University of Perugia, L. Severi Square, 06129 Perugia, Italy; (D.M.); (M.P.); (V.N.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
138
|
Rocamora F, Peralta AG, Shin S, Sorrentino J, Wu MYM, Toth EA, Fuerst TR, Lewis NE. Glycosylation shapes the efficacy and safety of diverse protein, gene and cell therapies. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 67:108206. [PMID: 37354999 PMCID: PMC11168894 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Over recent decades, therapeutic proteins have had widespread success in treating a myriad of diseases. Glycosylation, a near universal feature of this class of drugs, is a critical quality attribute that significantly influences the physical properties, safety profile and biological activity of therapeutic proteins. Optimizing protein glycosylation, therefore, offers an important avenue to developing more efficacious therapies. In this review, we discuss specific examples of how variations in glycan structure and glycoengineering impacts the stability, safety, and clinical efficacy of protein-based drugs that are already in the market as well as those that are still in preclinical development. We also highlight the impact of glycosylation on next generation biologics such as T cell-based cancer therapy and gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frances Rocamora
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Angelo G Peralta
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Seunghyeon Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - James Sorrentino
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mina Ying Min Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Eric A Toth
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Thomas R Fuerst
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Nathan E Lewis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
139
|
Gorzkiewicz M, Cramer J, Xu HC, Lang PA. The role of glycosylation patterns of viral glycoproteins and cell entry receptors in arenavirus infection. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 166:115196. [PMID: 37586116 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115196] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammarenaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses that can be associated with rodent-transmitted diseases in humans. Their virions are composed of a nucleocapsid surrounded by a lipid bilayer with glycoprotein (GP) spikes interacting with receptors on target cells. Both the GP and receptors are highly glycosylated, with glycosylation patterns being crucial for virus binding and cell entry, viral tropism, immune responses, or therapy strategies. These effects have been previously described for several different viruses. In case of arenaviruses, they remain insufficiently understood. Thus, it is important to determine the mechanisms of glycosylation of viral proteins and receptors responsible for infection, in order to fully understand the biology of arenaviruses. In this article, we have summarized and critically evaluated the available literature data on the glycosylation of mammarenavirus-associated proteins to facilitate further research in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michal Gorzkiewicz
- Department of Molecular Medicine II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; Department of General Biophysics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 141/143 Pomorska St., 90-236 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Jonathan Cramer
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Haifeng C Xu
- Department of Molecular Medicine II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp A Lang
- Department of Molecular Medicine II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
140
|
van der Donk LEH, Bermejo-Jambrina M, van Hamme JL, Volkers MMW, van Nuenen AC, Kootstra NA, Geijtenbeek TBH. SARS-CoV-2 suppresses TLR4-induced immunity by dendritic cells via C-type lectin receptor DC-SIGN. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011735. [PMID: 37844099 PMCID: PMC10602378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19, an infectious disease with symptoms ranging from a mild cold to severe pneumonia, inflammation, and even death. Although strong inflammatory responses are a major factor in causing morbidity and mortality, superinfections with bacteria during severe COVID-19 often cause pneumonia, bacteremia and sepsis. Aberrant immune responses might underlie increased sensitivity to bacteria during COVID-19 but the mechanisms remain unclear. Here we investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 directly suppresses immune responses to bacteria. We studied the functionality of human dendritic cells (DCs) towards a variety of bacterial triggers after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein and SARS-CoV-2 primary isolate (hCoV-19/Italy). Notably, pre-exposure of DCs to either SARS-CoV-2 S protein or a SARS-CoV-2 isolate led to reduced type I interferon (IFN) and cytokine responses in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS), whereas other TLR agonists were not affected. SARS-CoV-2 S protein interacted with the C-type lectin receptor DC-SIGN and, notably, blocking DC-SIGN with antibodies restored type I IFN and cytokine responses to LPS. Moreover, blocking the kinase Raf-1 by a small molecule inhibitor restored immune responses to LPS. These results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 modulates DC function upon TLR4 triggering via DC-SIGN-induced Raf-1 pathway. These data imply that SARS-CoV-2 actively suppresses DC function via DC-SIGN, which might account for the higher mortality rates observed in patients with COVID-19 and bacterial superinfections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lieve E. H. van der Donk
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Bermejo-Jambrina
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - John L. van Hamme
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mette M. W. Volkers
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ad C. van Nuenen
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Neeltje A. Kootstra
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Teunis B. H. Geijtenbeek
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
141
|
Strasser R. Plant glycoengineering for designing next-generation vaccines and therapeutic proteins. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 67:108197. [PMID: 37315875 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Protein glycosylation has a huge impact on biological processes in all domains of life. The type of glycan present on a recombinant glycoprotein depends on protein intrinsic features and the glycosylation repertoire of the cell type used for expression. Glycoengineering approaches are used to eliminate unwanted glycan modifications and to facilitate the coordinated expression of glycosylation enzymes or whole metabolic pathways to furnish glycans with distinct modifications. The formation of tailored glycans enables structure-function studies and optimization of therapeutic proteins used in different applications. While recombinant proteins or proteins from natural sources can be in vitro glycoengineered using glycosyltransferases or chemoenzymatic synthesis, many approaches use genetic engineering involving the elimination of endogenous genes and introduction of heterologous genes to cell-based production systems. Plant glycoengineering enables the in planta production of recombinant glycoproteins with human or animal-type glycans that resemble natural glycosylation or contain novel glycan structures. This review summarizes key achievements in glycoengineering of plants and highlights current developments aiming to make plants more suitable for the production of a diverse range of recombinant glycoproteins for innovative therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Strasser
- Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
142
|
Gopal SV, Sanker V, Pandian S, Vignesh T, Vardhan M S K, Tipandjan A, Cadiravane S. Association Between Blood Groups and COVID-19 CT Severity: A Retrospective Analysis From a Tertiary Care Center. Cureus 2023; 15:e46506. [PMID: 37927694 PMCID: PMC10624934 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 infection can have varied severity; presenting symptoms include fever, coughing, headaches, sore throats, exhaustion, muscle aches, loss of taste or smell, rhinorrhea, stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. In various parts of the world, including India, researchers have looked into the relationship between blood type and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 infection severity and blood group. METHODOLOGY A total of 1,222 COVID-19 patients with real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmation of being COVID-positive were included in the study. Mortality rates, demographic information, comorbid illnesses, epidemiological information, laboratory test results, and comorbid disorders were all retrieved. Each participant's RH type and Groups A, B, O, and AB were determined. IBM SPSS software version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used for the statistical analysis. For a normal distribution, quantitative variables were shown as mean standard deviation (SD), and for a non-normal distribution, median (interquartile range (IQR)). Frequency and percentages were used to present qualitative characteristics. RESULTS Out of the 1,222 patients included in the study, 369 were normal, 406 were mild, 317 were moderate, and 130 were severe based on COVID-19 CT severity scoring. Among the blood groups, O positive (+) was the most common with 503 (41.2%) study participants, and AB negative (-) was the least common with seven (0.6%) participants. DISCUSSION In our study, comparing various blood groups, blood group O individuals have the highest risk of developing severe COVID-19 illness, and blood group AB individuals have a reduced risk. In terms of Rh status, patients who are Rh-positive are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 infection when compared with Rh- individuals. In the Indian population, blood group O is the commonest, and blood group AB is the least prevalent. Most of the individuals were Rh+, and the rest were Rh-. This is attributed to the increased infection rate in individuals with O+ blood type seen in our study when compared with other studies. CONCLUSION The findings indicated that individuals with blood groups A, B, and AB may be at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection, while blood group O might provide some protective effect. These results align with previous studies worldwide, suggesting that blood groups could influence the susceptibility to and severity of viral infections. The study emphasizes the need for further research with larger sample sizes and diverse populations to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sri Vengadesh Gopal
- Surgery, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, IND
| | - Vivek Sanker
- General Surgery, Noorul Islam Institute of Medical Science (NIMS) and Research Foundation, Trivandrum, IND
| | - Saravanan Pandian
- General Surgery, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, IND
| | - Thiruvalluvan Vignesh
- General Surgery, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, IND
| | - Krishna Vardhan M S
- General Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, IND
| | - Arun Tipandjan
- Radiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, IND
| | - Sharini Cadiravane
- General Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, IND
| |
Collapse
|
143
|
Wu M, Li W, Lin S, Fan J, Cui L, Xiang Y, Li K, Tang L, Duan Y, Chen Z, Yang F, Shui W, Lu G, Lai Y. A Suitable Membrane Distance Regulated by the RBD_ACE2 Interaction is Critical for SARS-CoV-2 Spike-Mediated Viral Invasion. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2301478. [PMID: 37590389 PMCID: PMC10558659 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202301478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike recognizing the receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) initiates membrane fusion between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and cell membrane. Although the structure of the RBD_ACE2 complex has been well studied, its functional mechanism in membrane fusion is still not fully understood. Here, using an in vitro cell-vesicle content-mixing assay, it is found that the cleavage at the S2' site by thrombin (Thr) protease strongly accelerates membrane fusion, compared to that of cleavage at the S1/S2 site by PreScission (3C) protease. Moreover, mutations at the RBD_ACE2 interface resulted in a positive correlation between binding affinity and fusion probability. In both the cell-vesicle and cell-cell fusion assays, by crosslinking two membranes via the neutravidin (NTV)_biotin interaction or complementary DNA strands, it is found that spike drives membrane fusion in the absence of ACE2, and a suitable distance between two membranes is critical for spike-mediated membrane fusion. Finally, unsuitable membrane crosslinkers significantly inhibited the fusion probability in the presence of ACE2. Taken together, the results suggest that the RBD_ACE2 complex may act as a crosslinker to bridge the viral and cell membranes at a suitable distance, which is critical, but also substitutable for spike-mediated SARS-CoV-2 entry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengdan Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Wei Li
- National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Sheng Lin
- West China Hospital Emergency DepartmentState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Jiaqi Fan
- National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Lele Cui
- National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Yijuan Xiang
- National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Kaiyu Li
- National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Linwei Tang
- National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Yanping Duan
- West China Hospital Emergency DepartmentState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Zimin Chen
- West China Hospital Emergency DepartmentState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Fanli Yang
- West China Hospital Emergency DepartmentState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Weiwei Shui
- National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Guangwen Lu
- West China Hospital Emergency DepartmentState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Ying Lai
- National Clinical Research Center for GeriatricsState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| |
Collapse
|
144
|
Onigbinde S, Reyes CDG, Fowowe M, Daramola O, Atashi M, Bennett AI, Mechref Y. Variations in O-Glycosylation Patterns Influence Viral Pathogenicity, Infectivity, and Transmissibility in SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1467. [PMID: 37892149 PMCID: PMC10604390 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The highly glycosylated S protein plays a vital role in host cell invasion, making it the principal target for vaccine development. Differences in mutations observed on the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants may result in distinct glycosylation patterns, thus influencing immunological evasion, infectivity, and transmissibility. The glycans can mask key epitopes on the S1 protein and alter its structural conformation, allowing the virus to escape the immune system. Therefore, we comprehensively characterize O-glycosylation in eleven variants of SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunits to understand the differences observed in the biology of the variants. In-depth characterization was performed with a double digestion strategy and an efficient LC-MS/MS approach. We observed that O-glycosylation is highly conserved across all variants in the region between the NTD and RBD, whereas other domains and regions exhibit variation in O-glycosylation. Notably, omicron has the highest number of O-glycosylation sites on the S1 subunit. Also, omicron has the highest level of sialylation in the RBD and RBM functional motifs. Our findings may shed light on how differences in O-glycosylation impact viral pathogenicity in variants of SARS-CoV-2 and facilitate the development of a robust vaccine with high protective efficacy against the variants of concern.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yehia Mechref
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (S.O.); (C.D.G.R.); (M.F.); (O.D.); (M.A.); (A.I.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
145
|
Reyes CDG, Onigbinde S, Sanni A, Bennett AI, Jiang P, Daramola O, Ahmadi P, Fowowe M, Atashi M, Sandilya V, Hakim MA, Mechref Y. N-Glycome Profile of the Spike Protein S1: Systemic and Comparative Analysis from Eleven Variants of SARS-CoV-2. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1421. [PMID: 37759821 PMCID: PMC10526240 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus rapidly spread worldwide, threatening public health. Since it emerged, the scientific community has been engaged in the development of effective therapeutics and vaccines. The subunit S1 in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 mediates the viral entry into the host and is therefore one of the major research targets. The S1 protein is extensively glycosylated, and there is compelling evidence that glycans protect the virus' active site from the human defense system. Therefore, investigation of the S1 protein glycome alterations in the different virus variants will provide a view of the glycan evolution and its relationship with the virus pathogenesis. In this study, we explored the N-glycosylation expression of the S1 protein for eleven SARS-CoV-2 variants: five variants of concern (VOC), including alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and omicron, and six variants of interest (VOI), including epsilon, eta, iota, lambda, kappa, and mu. The results showed significant differences in the N-glycome abundance of all variants. The N-glycome of the VOC showed a large increase in the abundance of sialofucosylated glycans, with the greatest abundance in the omicron variant. In contrast, the results showed a large abundance of fucosylated glycans for most of the VOI. Two glycan compositions, GlcNAc4,Hex5,Fuc,NeuAc (4-5-1-1) and GlcNAc6,Hex8,Fuc,NeuAc (6-8-1-1), were the most abundant structures across all variants. We believe that our data will contribute to understanding the S1 protein's structural differences between SARS-CoV-2 mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yehia Mechref
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; (C.D.G.R.); (S.O.); (A.S.); (A.I.B.); (P.J.); (O.D.); (P.A.); (M.F.); (M.A.); (V.S.); (M.A.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
146
|
Guseman AJ, Rennick LJ, Nambulli S, Roy CN, Martinez DR, Yang DT, Bhinderwala F, Vergara S, Schaefer A, Baric RS, Ambrose Z, Duprex WP, Gronenborn AM. Targeting spike glycans to inhibit SARS-CoV2 viral entry. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2301518120. [PMID: 37695910 PMCID: PMC10515186 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301518120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 spike harbors glycans which function as ligands for lectins. Therefore, it should be possible to exploit lectins to target SARS-CoV-2 and inhibit cellular entry by binding glycans on the spike protein. Burkholderia oklahomensis agglutinin (BOA) is an antiviral lectin that interacts with viral glycoproteins via N-linked high mannose glycans. Here, we show that BOA binds to the spike protein and is a potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 viral entry at nanomolar concentrations. Using a variety of biophysical approaches, we demonstrate that the interaction is avidity driven and that BOA cross-links the spike protein into soluble aggregates. Furthermore, using virus neutralization assays, we demonstrate that BOA effectively inhibits all tested variants of concern as well as SARS-CoV 2003, establishing that multivalent glycan-targeting molecules have the potential to act as pan-coronavirus inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex J. Guseman
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15261
| | - Linda J. Rennick
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Sham Nambulli
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Chandra N. Roy
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - David R. Martinez
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Darian T. Yang
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15261
| | - Fatema Bhinderwala
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15261
| | - Sandra Vergara
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15261
| | - Alexandra Schaefer
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Ralph S. Baric
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Zandrea Ambrose
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - W. Paul Duprex
- Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Angela M. Gronenborn
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA15261
| |
Collapse
|
147
|
Nguyen H, Nguyen HL, Lan PD, Thai NQ, Sikora M, Li MS. Interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with host cells and antibodies: experiment and simulation. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:6497-6553. [PMID: 37650302 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs01170g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the devastating global COVID-19 pandemic announced by WHO in March 2020. Through unprecedented scientific effort, several vaccines, drugs and antibodies have been developed, saving millions of lives, but the fight against COVID-19 continues as immune escape variants of concern such as Delta and Omicron emerge. To develop more effective treatments and to elucidate the side effects caused by vaccines and therapeutic agents, a deeper understanding of the molecular interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with them and human cells is required. With special interest in computational approaches, we will focus on the structure of SARS-CoV-2 and the interaction of its spike protein with human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) as a prime entry point of the virus into host cells. In addition, other possible viral receptors will be considered. The fusion of viral and human membranes and the interaction of the spike protein with antibodies and nanobodies will be discussed, as well as the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on protein synthesis in host cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hung Nguyen
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Hoang Linh Nguyen
- Institute of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Duy Tan University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Faculty of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
| | - Pham Dang Lan
- Life Science Lab, Institute for Computational Science and Technology, Quang Trung Software City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, 729110 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Physics and Engineering Physics, VNUHCM-University of Science, 227, Nguyen Van Cu Street, District 5, 749000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Quoc Thai
- Dong Thap University, 783 Pham Huu Lau Street, Ward 6, Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap, Vietnam
| | - Mateusz Sikora
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
148
|
Ho C, Nazarie WFWM, Lee PC. An In Silico Design of Peptides Targeting the S1/S2 Cleavage Site of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. Viruses 2023; 15:1930. [PMID: 37766336 PMCID: PMC10536081 DOI: 10.3390/v15091930] [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: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, invades host cells via its spike protein, which includes critical binding regions, such as the receptor-binding domain (RBD), the S1/S2 cleavage site, the S2 cleavage site, and heptad-repeat (HR) sections. Peptides targeting the RBD and HR1 inhibit binding to host ACE2 receptors and the formation of the fusion core. Other peptides target proteases, such as TMPRSS2 and cathepsin L, to prevent the cleavage of the S protein. However, research has largely ignored peptides targeting the S1/S2 cleavage site. In this study, bioinformatics was used to investigate the binding of the S1/S2 cleavage site to host proteases, including furin, trypsin, TMPRSS2, matriptase, cathepsin B, and cathepsin L. Peptides targeting the S1/S2 site were designed by identifying binding residues. Peptides were docked to the S1/S2 site using HADDOCK (High-Ambiguity-Driven protein-protein DOCKing). Nine peptides with the lowest HADDOCK scores and strong binding affinities were selected, which was followed by molecular dynamics simulations (MDSs) for further investigation. Among these peptides, BR582 and BR599 stand out. They exhibited relatively high interaction energies with the S protein at -1004.769 ± 21.2 kJ/mol and -1040.334 ± 24.1 kJ/mol, respectively. It is noteworthy that the binding of these peptides to the S protein remained stable during the MDSs. In conclusion, this research highlights the potential of peptides targeting the S1/S2 cleavage site as a means to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from entering cells, and contributes to the development of therapeutic interventions against COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chian Ho
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia; (C.H.); (W.F.W.M.N.)
| | - Wan Fahmi Wan Mohamad Nazarie
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia; (C.H.); (W.F.W.M.N.)
| | - Ping-Chin Lee
- Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia; (C.H.); (W.F.W.M.N.)
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
149
|
Bains A, Guan W, LiWang PJ. The Effect of Select SARS-CoV-2 N-Linked Glycan and Variant of Concern Spike Protein Mutations on C-Type Lectin-Receptor-Mediated Infection. Viruses 2023; 15:1901. [PMID: 37766307 PMCID: PMC10535197 DOI: 10.3390/v15091901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virion has shown remarkable resilience, capable of mutating to escape immune detection and re-establishing infectious capabilities despite new vaccine rollouts. Therefore, there is a critical need to identify relatively immutable epitopes on the SARS-CoV-2 virion that are resistant to future mutations the virus may accumulate. While hACE2 has been identified as the receptor that mediates SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility, it is only modestly expressed in lung tissue. C-type lectin receptors like DC-SIGN can act as attachment sites to enhance SARS-CoV-2 infection of cells with moderate or low hACE2 expression. We developed an easy-to-implement assay system that allows for the testing of SARS-CoV-2 trans-infection. Using our assay, we assessed how SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1-domain glycans and spike proteins from different strains affected the ability of pseudotyped lentivirions to undergo DC-SIGN-mediated trans-infection. Through our experiments with seven glycan point mutants, two glycan cluster mutants and four strains of SARS-CoV-2 spike, we found that glycans N17 and N122 appear to have significant roles in maintaining COVID-19's infectious capabilities. We further found that the virus cannot retain infectivity upon the loss of multiple glycosylation sites, and that Omicron BA.2 pseudovirions may have an increased ability to bind to other non-lectin receptor proteins on the surface of cells. Taken together, our work opens the door to the development of new therapeutics that can target overlooked epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 virion to prevent C-type lectin-receptor-mediated trans-infection in lung tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arjan Bains
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA;
| | - Wenyan Guan
- Materials and Biomaterials Science and Engineering, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA;
| | - Patricia J. LiWang
- Molecular Cell Biology, Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
| |
Collapse
|
150
|
Sauvageau J, Koyuturk I, St Michael F, Brochu D, Goneau MF, Schoenhofen I, Perret S, Star A, Robotham A, Haqqani A, Kelly J, Gilbert M, Durocher Y. Simplifying glycan monitoring of complex antigens such as the SARS-CoV-2 spike to accelerate vaccine development. Commun Chem 2023; 6:189. [PMID: 37684364 PMCID: PMC10491790 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00988-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycosylation is a key quality attribute that must be closely monitored for protein therapeutics. Established assays such as HILIC-Fld of released glycans and LC-MS of glycopeptides work well for glycoproteins with a few glycosylation sites but are less amenable for those with multiple glycosylation sites, resulting in complex datasets that are time consuming to generate and difficult to analyze. As part of efforts to improve preparedness for future pandemics, researchers are currently assessing where time can be saved in the vaccine development and production process. In this context, we evaluated if neutral and acidic monosaccharides analysis via HPAEC-PAD could be used as a rapid and robust alternative to LC-MS and HILIC-Fld for monitoring glycosylation between protein production batches. Using glycoengineered spike proteins we show that the HPAEC-PAD monosaccharide assays could quickly and reproducibly detect both major and minor glycosylation differences between batches. Moreover, the monosaccharide results aligned well with those obtained by HILIC-Fld and LC-MS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janelle Sauvageau
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada.
| | - Izel Koyuturk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H3C 3J7, Canada
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Avenue Royalmount, Montréal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Frank St Michael
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Denis Brochu
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Marie-France Goneau
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Ian Schoenhofen
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Sylvie Perret
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Avenue Royalmount, Montréal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Alexandra Star
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Anna Robotham
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Arsalan Haqqani
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - John Kelly
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Michel Gilbert
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Yves Durocher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H3C 3J7, Canada
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Avenue Royalmount, Montréal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|