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Sun H, Xia L, Li J, Zhang Y, Zhang G, Huang P, Wang X, Cui Y, Fang T, Fan P, Zhou Q, Chi X, Yu C. A novel bispecific antibody targeting two overlapping epitopes in RBD improves neutralizing potency and breadth against SARS-CoV-2. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2373307. [PMID: 38953857 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2373307] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has been evolving into a large number of variants, including the highly pathogenic Delta variant, and the currently prevalent Omicron subvariants with extensive evasion capability, which raises an urgent need to develop new broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies. Herein, we engineer two IgG-(scFv)2 form bispecific antibodies with overlapping epitopes (bsAb1) or non-overlapping epitopes (bsAb2). Both bsAbs are significantly superior to the parental monoclonal antibodies in terms of their antigen-binding and virus-neutralizing activities against all tested circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants including currently dominant JN.1. The bsAb1 can efficiently neutralize all variants insensitive to parental monoclonal antibodies or the cocktail with IC50 lower than 20 ng/mL, even slightly better than bsAb2. Furthermore, the cryo-EM structures of bsAb1 in complex with the Omicron spike protein revealed that bsAb1 with overlapping epitopes effectively locked the S protein, which accounts for its conserved neutralization against Omicron variants. The bispecific antibody strategy engineered from overlapping epitopes provides a novel solution for dealing with viral immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hancong Sun
- Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingyun Xia
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Research Center for Industries of the Future, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Department of Microbiology, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Public Health Detection and Etiological Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Research Center for Industries of the Future, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanying Zhang
- Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Huang
- Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingxing Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Public Health Detection and Etiological Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Cui
- Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Fang
- Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengfei Fan
- Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Research Center for Industries of the Future, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyang Chi
- Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Changming Yu
- Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Lehmann T, Schneider H, Tonillo J, Schanz J, Schwarz D, Schröter C, Jäger S, Kolmar H, Hecht S, Anderl J, Rasche N, Rieker M, Dickgiesser S. Welding PROxAb Shuttles: A Modular Approach for Generating Bispecific Antibodies via Site-Specific Protein-Protein Conjugation. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:780-789. [PMID: 38809610 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00124] [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: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation is an innovative therapeutic strategy to selectively eliminate disease-causing proteins. Exemplified by proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), they have shown promise in overcoming drug resistance and targeting previously undruggable proteins. However, PROTACs face challenges, such as low oral bioavailability and limited selectivity. The recently published PROxAb Shuttle technology offers a solution enabling the targeted delivery of PROTACs using antibodies fused with PROTAC-binding domains derived from camelid single-domain antibodies (VHHs). Here, a modular approach to quickly generate PROxAb Shuttles by enzymatically coupling PROTAC-binding VHHs to off-the-shelf antibodies was developed. The resulting conjugates retained their target binding and internalization properties, and incubation with BRD4-targeting PROTACs resulted in formation of defined PROxAb-PROTAC complexes. These complexes selectively induced degradation of the BRD4 protein, resulting in cytotoxicity specifically to cells expressing the antibody's target. The chemoenzymatic approach described herein provides a versatile and efficient solution for generating antibody-VHH conjugates for targeted protein degradation applications, but it could also be used to combine antibodies and VHH binders to generate bispecific antibodies for further applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Lehmann
- Clemens-Schöpf-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Hendrik Schneider
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Jason Tonillo
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Jennifer Schanz
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Daniel Schwarz
- Discovery Pharmacology, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | - Sebastian Jäger
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Clemens-Schöpf-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Hecht
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Jan Anderl
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Nicolas Rasche
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Marcel Rieker
- ADCs & Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, 64293 Darmstadt , Germany
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Swart IC, Van Gelder W, De Haan CAM, Bosch BJ, Oliveira S. Next generation single-domain antibodies against respiratory zoonotic RNA viruses. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1389548. [PMID: 38784667 PMCID: PMC11111979 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1389548] [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] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The global impact of zoonotic viral outbreaks underscores the pressing need for innovative antiviral strategies, particularly against respiratory zoonotic RNA viruses. These viruses possess a high potential to trigger future epidemics and pandemics due to their high mutation rate, broad host range and efficient spread through airborne transmission. Recent pandemics caused by coronaviruses and influenza A viruses underscore the importance of developing targeted antiviral strategies. Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), originating from camelids, also known as nanobodies or VHHs (Variable Heavy domain of Heavy chain antibodies), have emerged as promising tools to combat current and impending zoonotic viral threats. Their unique structure, coupled with attributes like robustness, compact size, and cost-effectiveness, positions them as strong alternatives to traditional monoclonal antibodies. This review describes the pivotal role of sdAbs in combating respiratory zoonotic viruses, with a primary focus on enhancing sdAb antiviral potency through optimization techniques and diverse administration strategies. We discuss both the promises and challenges within this dynamically growing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris C. Swart
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Willem Van Gelder
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Cornelis A. M. De Haan
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Berend-Jan Bosch
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Sabrina Oliveira
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Pharmaceutics, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Wang R, Guo J, Lu J, Du P, Zhang J, Yu Y, Chen L, Xiong Z, Xiang Y, Ni X, Xu J, Yang Z. A potential broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody against Betacoronavirus. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29252. [PMID: 38078658 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29252] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Three pandemics caused by human Betacoronavirus had broken out in the past two decades. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was one of the novel epidemic strains which caused the third pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global public health crisis. So far, more than millions of people have been infected. Considering the public health and economic impact of Betacoronavirus pandemic, drugs with broad-spectrum activity against these coronaviruses are urgently needed. In this study, two monoclonal antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) with good neutralizing activity were used to construct a novel immunoglobulin-like bispecific antibody BI31. The neutralizing effect of BI31 against the pseudovirus and the authentic virus is better than that of its parent antibodies alone and in combination. What surprised us most was that the newly constructed bispecific antibody also had the neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that the parent antibodies did not have. These suggested that the BI31 can not only be developed as a therapeutic drug against COVID-19 but it could also become a broad-spectrum therapeutic antibody against Betacoronavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Wang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Jiazheng Guo
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Jiansheng Lu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Du
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - YunZhou Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Xiaodan Ni
- Shuimu BioSciences Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Junjie Xu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhixin Yang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
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Tang H, Gao Y, Han J. Application Progress of the Single Domain Antibody in Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044176. [PMID: 36835588 PMCID: PMC9967291 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044176] [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: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The camelid-derived single chain antibody (sdAb), also termed VHH or nanobody, is a unique, functional heavy (H)-chain antibody (HCAb). In contrast to conventional antibodies, sdAb is a unique antibody fragment consisting of a heavy-chain variable domain. It lacks light chains and a first constant domain (CH1). With a small molecular weight of only 12~15 kDa, sdAb has a similar antigen-binding affinity to conventional Abs but a higher solubility, which exerts unique advantages for the recognition and binding of functional, versatile, target-specific antigen fragments. In recent decades, with their unique structural and functional features, nanobodies have been considered promising agents and alternatives to traditional monoclonal antibodies. As a new generation of nano-biological tools, natural and synthetic nanobodies have been used in many fields of biomedicine, including biomolecular materials, biological research, medical diagnosis and immune therapies. This article briefly overviews the biomolecular structure, biochemical properties, immune acquisition and phage library construction of nanobodies and comprehensively reviews their applications in medical research. It is expected that this review will provide a reference for the further exploration and unveiling of nanobody properties and function, as well as a bright future for the development of drugs and therapeutic methods based on nanobodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaping Tang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Animal Generational Physiology and Reproductive Regulation, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Jiangyuan Han
- College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
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