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Potter JA, Aitken A, Yang L, Hill J, Tortajada A, Hurwitz JL, Jones BG, Alias N, Zhou M, Connaris H. HEX17(Neumifil): An intranasal respiratory biotherapeutic with broad-acting antiviral activity. Antiviral Res 2024; 228:105945. [PMID: 38914284 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105945] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Broad-acting antiviral strategies to prevent respiratory tract infections are urgently required. Emerging or re-emerging viral diseases caused by new or genetic variants of viruses such as influenza viruses (IFVs), respiratory syncytial viruses (RSVs), human rhinoviruses (HRVs), parainfluenza viruses (PIVs) or coronaviruses (CoVs), pose a severe threat to human health, particularly in the very young or old, or in those with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although vaccines remain a key component in controlling and preventing viral infections, they are unable to provide broad-spectrum protection against recurring seasonal infections or newly emerging threats. HEX17 (aka Neumifil), is a first-in-class protein-based antiviral prophylactic for respiratory viral infections. HEX17 consists of a hexavalent carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) with high affinity to sialic acids, which are typically present on terminating branches of glycans on viral cellular receptors. This allows HEX17 to block virus engagement of host receptors and inhibit infection of a wide range of viral pathogens and their variants with reduced risk of antiviral resistance. As described herein, HEX17 has demonstrated broad-spectrum efficacy against respiratory viral pathogens including IFV, RSV, CoV and HRV in multiple in vivo and in vitro studies. In addition, HEX17 can be easily administered via an intranasal spray and is currently undergoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane A Potter
- Pneumagen Ltd., Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DR, UK.
| | - Angus Aitken
- Pneumagen Ltd., Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DR, UK
| | - Lei Yang
- Pneumagen Ltd., Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DR, UK
| | - Jennifer Hill
- Pneumagen Ltd., Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DR, UK
| | - Antoni Tortajada
- Pneumagen Ltd., Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DR, UK
| | - Julia L Hurwitz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Bart G Jones
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Nadiawati Alias
- University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Mingkui Zhou
- Pneumagen Ltd., Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DR, UK
| | - Helen Connaris
- University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, UK.
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Ornelas MY, Ouyang WO, Wu NC. A library-on-library screen reveals the breadth expansion landscape of a broadly neutralizing betacoronavirus antibody. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.06.597810. [PMID: 38915656 PMCID: PMC11195093 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.06.597810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) typically evolve cross-reactivity breadth through acquiring somatic hypermutations. While evolution of breadth requires improvement of binding to multiple antigenic variants, most experimental evolution platforms select against only one antigenic variant at a time. In this study, a yeast display library-on-library approach was applied to delineate the affinity maturation of a betacoronavirus bnAb, S2P6, against 27 spike stem helix peptides in a single experiment. Our results revealed that the binding affinity landscape of S2P6 varies among different stem helix peptides. However, somatic hypermutations that confer general improvement in binding affinity across different stem helix peptides could also be identified. We further showed that a key somatic hypermutation for breadth expansion involves long-range interaction. Overall, our work not only provides a proof-of-concept for using a library-on-library approach to analyze the evolution of antibody breadth, but also has important implications for the development of broadly protective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marya Y. Ornelas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Wenhao O. Ouyang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Nicholas C. Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Mader K, Dustin LB. Beyond bNAbs: Uses, Risks, and Opportunities for Therapeutic Application of Non-Neutralising Antibodies in Viral Infection. Antibodies (Basel) 2024; 13:28. [PMID: 38651408 PMCID: PMC11036282 DOI: 10.3390/antib13020028] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The vast majority of antibodies generated against a virus will be non-neutralising. However, this does not denote an absence of protective capacity. Yet, within the field, there is typically a large focus on antibodies capable of directly blocking infection (neutralising antibodies, NAbs) of either specific viral strains or multiple viral strains (broadly-neutralising antibodies, bNAbs). More recently, a focus on non-neutralising antibodies (nNAbs), or neutralisation-independent effects of NAbs, has emerged. These can have additive effects on protection or, in some cases, be a major correlate of protection. As their name suggests, nNAbs do not directly neutralise infection but instead, through their Fc domains, may mediate interaction with other immune effectors to induce clearance of viral particles or virally infected cells. nNAbs may also interrupt viral replication within infected cells. Developing technologies of antibody modification and functionalisation may lead to innovative biologics that harness the activities of nNAbs for antiviral prophylaxis and therapeutics. In this review, we discuss specific examples of nNAb actions in viral infections where they have known importance. We also discuss the potential detrimental effects of such responses. Finally, we explore new technologies for nNAb functionalisation to increase efficacy or introduce favourable characteristics for their therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lynn B. Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK;
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Matthys A, Saelens X. Promises and challenges of single-domain antibodies to control influenza. Antiviral Res 2024; 222:105807. [PMID: 38219914 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The World Health Organization advices the use of a quadrivalent vaccine as prophylaxis against influenza, to prevent severe influenza-associated disease and -mortality, and to keep up with influenza antigenic diversity. Different small molecule antivirals to treat influenza have become available. However, emergence of drug resistant influenza viruses has been observed upon use of these antivirals. An appealing alternative approach to prevent or treat influenza is the use of antibody-based antivirals, such as conventional monoclonal antibodies and single-domain antibodies (sdAbs). The surface of the influenza A and B virion is decorated with hemagglutinin molecules, which act as receptor-binding and membrane fusion proteins and represent the main target of neutralizing antibodies. SdAbs that target influenza A and B hemagglutinin have been described. In addition, sdAbs directed against the influenza A virus neuraminidase have been reported, whereas no sdAbs targeting influenza B neuraminidase have been described to date. SdAbs directed against influenza A matrix protein 2 or its ectodomain have been reported, while no sdAbs have been described targeting the influenza B matrix protein 2. Known for their high specificity, ease of production and formatting, sdAb-based antivirals could be a major leap forward in influenza control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Matthys
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Xavier Saelens
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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