Production and characterization of single-chain antibody (scFv) against 3ABC non-structural protein in Escherichia coli for sero-diagnosis of Foot and Mouth Disease virus

Antibody Phage Display Technology for Sensor-Based Virus Detection: Current Status and Future Prospects

Viruses are widespread in the environment, and many of them are major pathogens of serious plant, animal, and human diseases. The risk of pathogenicity, together with the capacity for constant mutation, emphasizes the need for measures to rapidly detect viruses. The need for highly sensitive bioanalytical methods to diagnose and monitor socially significant viral diseases has increased in the past few years. This is due, on the one hand, to the increased incidence of viral diseases in general (including the unprecedented spread of a new coronavirus infection, SARS-CoV-2), and, on the other hand, to the need to overcome the limitations of modern biomedical diagnostic methods. Phage display technology antibodies as nano-bio-engineered macromolecules can be used for sensor-based virus detection. This review analyzes the commonly used virus detection methods and approaches and shows the prospects for the use of antibodies prepared by phage display technology as sensing elements for sensor-based virus detection.

Recombinant antibodies by phage display for bioanalytical applications

Antibody phage display, aimed at preparing antibodies to defined antigens, is a useful replacement for hybridoma technology. The phage system replaces all work stages that follow animal immunization with simple procedures for manipulating DNA and bacteria. It enables the time needed to generate stable antibody-producing clones to be shortened considerably, making the process noticeably cheaper. Antibodies prepared by phage display undergo several affinity selection steps and can be used as selective receptors in biosensors. This article briefly describes the techniques used in the making of phage antibodies to various antigens. The possibilities and prospects are discussed of using phage antibodies as selective agents in analytical systems, including biosensors.

Expression and characterization of a novel single-chain anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody in the goat milk

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has essential functions in angiogenesis, endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tumor invasion. Different approaches have been developed to suppress tumor angiogenesis, which is considered a hallmark of cancer. Anti-VEGF monoclonal antibodies constitute an important strategy for cancer immunotherapy, which has been produced on several platforms. In this study, a novel single-chain anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody (scVEGFmAb) was produced in the goat mammary gland by adenoviral transduction. scVEGFmAb was purified by affinity chromatography. N-glycans were analyzed by exoglycosidase digestion and hydrophilic interaction ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The biological activity of scVEGFmAb was assessed by scratch and mouse aortic ring assays. scVEGFmAb was produced at 0.61 g/L in the goat milk, and its purification rendered 95 % purity. N-glycans attached to scVEGFmAb backbone were mainly neutral biantennary core fucosylated with Galβ1,4GlcNAc motif, and charged structures were capped with Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc. The chimeric molecule significantly prevented cell migration and suppressed microvessel sprouting. These results demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of producing an anti-VEGF therapeutic antibody in the milk of non-transgenic goats with the potential to counteract tumor angiogenesis.

Construction of Antibody Phage Libraries and Their Application in Veterinary Immunovirology

Antibody phage display (APD) technology has revolutionized the field of immunovirology with its application in viral disease diagnostics and antiviral therapy. This robust and versatile technology allows the expression of an antibody fused to a phage coat protein on the surface of a filamentous phage. The DNA sequence coding for the antibody is packaged within the phage, linking the phenotype to genotype. Antibody phage display inherits the ability to rapidly generate and modify or improve high-affinity monoclonal antibodies, rendering it indispensable in immunology. In the last two decades, phage-display-derived antibodies have been extensively used in human medicine as diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Recently, they are also gaining significant ground in veterinary medicine. Even though these advancements are mainly biased towards economically important animals such as chicken, cattle, and pigs, they are laying the foundation of fulfilling the unmet needs of veterinary medicine as antibody-based biologics in viral diagnostics, therapeutics, and immunoprophylaxis. This review provides a brief overview of the construction of antibody phage libraries and their application in diagnosis, prevention, and control of infectious viral diseases in veterinary medicine in detail.

Recombinant Antibodies in Veterinary Medicine: An Update

The production of recombinant antibodies has had a tremendous impact on several research fields, most prominently in biotechnology, immunology and medicine, enabling enormous advances in each. Thus far, a broad diversity of recombinant antibody (rAb) forms have been designed and expressed using different expression systems. Even though the majority of rAbs approved for clinical use are targeted to humans, advances in veterinary medicine seem promising. The aim of this mini-review is to present an update regarding the rAbs in veterinary medicine reported to date, as well as their potential use in diagnostics, prophylaxis and therapeutics. Full- and single-chain fragment variables are the most common forms of rAbs developed for the detection, prevention and control of parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases, as well as pain and cancer treatment. Nonetheless, advances in research seem to be skewed toward economically important animals, such as pigs, cows, poultry and dogs. Although significant results have been obtained from the rAbs reported here, most have not been developed enough to be approved. Further research and clinical trials should be encouraged to enable important findings to fulfill their intended potential to improve animal well-being.

Antibody Derived Peptides for Detection of Ebola Virus Glycoprotein

BACKGROUND

Current Ebola virus (EBOV) detection methods are costly and impractical for epidemic scenarios. Different immune-based assays have been reported for the detection and quantification of Ebola virus (EBOV) proteins. In particular, several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been described that bind the capsid glycoprotein (GP) of EBOV GP. However, the currently available platforms for the design and production of full-length mAbs are cumbersome and costly. The use of antibody fragments, rather than full-length antibodies, might represent a cost-effective alternative for the development of diagnostic and possibly even therapeutic alternatives for EBOV.

METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We report the design and expression of three recombinant anti-GP mAb fragments in Escherichia coli cultures. These fragments contained the heavy and light variable portions of the three well-studied anti-GP full-length mAbs 13C6, 13F6, and KZ52, and are consequently named scFv-13C6, scFv-13F6, and Fab-KZ52, respectively. All three fragments exhibited specific anti-GP binding activity in ELISA experiments comparable to that of full-length anti-GP antibodies (i.e., the same order of magnitude) and they are easily and economically produced in bacterial cultures.

CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE

Antibody fragments might represent a useful, effective, and low cost alternative to full-length antibodies in Ebola related capture and diagnostics applications.

Diagnostic assays developed for the control of foot-and-mouth disease in India

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and economically devastating disease of livestock, primarily affecting cattle, buffalo and pigs. FMD virus serotypes O, A and Asia1 are prevalent in India and systematic efforts are on to control and eventually eradicate the disease from the country. FMD epidemiology is complex due to factors like co-circulation, extinction, emergence and re-emergence of genotypes/lineages within the three serotypes, animal movement, diverse farm practices and large number of susceptible livestock in the country. Systematic vaccination, prompt diagnosis, strict biosecurity measures, and regular monitoring of vaccinal immunity and surveillance of virus circulation are indispensible features for the effective implementation of the control measures. Availability of suitable companion diagnostic tests is very important in this endeavour. In this review, the diagnostic assays developed and validated in India and their contribution in FMD control programme is presented.