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Czajka TF, Vance DJ, Song R, Mantis NJ. A Biparatopic Intrabody Renders Vero Cells Impervious to Ricin Intoxication. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.02.601761. [PMID: 39005371 PMCID: PMC11244990 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.02.601761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Expression of camelid-derived, single-domain antibodies (VHHs) within the cytoplasm of mammalian cells as "intrabodies" has opened-up novel avenues for medical countermeasures against fast-acting biothreat agents. In this report, we describe a heterodimeric intrabody that renders Vero cells virtually impervious to ricin toxin (RT), a potent Category B ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP). The intrabody consists of two structurally defined VHHs that target distinct epitopes on RT's enzymatic subunit (RTA): V9E1 targets RTA's P-stalk recruitment site, and V2A11 targets RTA's active site. Resistance to RT conferred by the biparatopic VHH construct far exceeded that of either of the VHHs alone and effectively inhibited all measurable RT-induced cytotoxicty in vitro. We propose that targeted delivery of bispecific intrabodies to lung tissues may represent a novel means to shield the airways from the effects of inhalational RT exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy F. Czajka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12201 United States
| | - David J. Vance
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12201 United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, 12208
| | - Renji Song
- Division of Research, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, 12208
| | - Nicholas J. Mantis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12201 United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, 12208
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Vance DJ, Basir S, Piazza CL, Willsey GG, Haque HME, Tremblay JM, Rudolph MJ, Muriuki B, Cavacini L, Weis DD, Shoemaker CB, Mantis NJ. Single-domain antibodies reveal unique borrelicidal epitopes on the Lyme disease vaccine antigen, outer surface protein A (OspA). Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0008424. [PMID: 38470113 PMCID: PMC11003225 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00084-24] [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: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Camelid-derived, single-domain antibodies (VHHs) have proven to be extremely powerful tools in defining the antigenic landscape of immunologically heterogeneous surface proteins. In this report, we generated a phage-displayed VHH library directed against the candidate Lyme disease vaccine antigen, outer surface protein A (OspA). Two alpacas were immunized with recombinant OspA serotype 1 from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto strain B31, in combination with the canine vaccine RECOMBITEK Lyme containing lipidated OspA. The phage library was subjected to two rounds of affinity enrichment ("panning") against recombinant OspA, yielding 21 unique VHHs within two epitope bins, as determined through competition enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with a panel of OspA-specific human monoclonal antibodies. Epitope refinement was conducted by hydrogen exchange-mass spectrometry. Six of the monovalent VHHs were expressed as human IgG1-Fc fusion proteins and shown to have functional properties associated with protective human monoclonal antibodies, including B. burgdorferi agglutination, outer membrane damage, and complement-dependent borreliacidal activity. The VHHs displayed unique reactivity profiles with the seven OspA serotypes associated with B. burgdorferi genospecies in the United States and Europe consistent with there being unique epitopes across OspA serotypes that should be considered when designing and evaluating multivalent Lyme disease vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Vance
- Division of Infectious Diseases, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Saiful Basir
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Carol Lyn Piazza
- Division of Infectious Diseases, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Graham G. Willsey
- Division of Infectious Diseases, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, New York, USA
| | | | - Jacque M. Tremblay
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Beatrice Muriuki
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lisa Cavacini
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David D. Weis
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Charles B. Shoemaker
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Mantis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
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Czajka TF, Vance DJ, Davis S, Rudolph MJ, Mantis NJ. Single-domain antibodies neutralize ricin toxin intracellularly by blocking access to ribosomal P-stalk proteins. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101742. [PMID: 35182523 PMCID: PMC8941211 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
During ricin intoxication in mammalian cells, ricin's enzymatic (RTA) and binding (RTB) subunits disassociate in the endoplasmic reticulum. RTA is then translocated into the cytoplasm where, by virtue of its ability to depurinate a conserved residue within the sarcin-ricin loop (SRL) of 28S rRNA, it functions as a ribosome-inactivating protein. It has been proposed that recruitment of RTA to the SRL is facilitated by ribosomal P-stalk proteins, whose C-terminal domains interact with a cavity on RTA normally masked by RTB; however, evidence that this interaction is critical for RTA activity within cells is lacking. Here, we characterized a collection of single-domain antibodies (VHHs) whose epitopes overlap with the P-stalk binding pocket on RTA. The crystal structures of three such VHHs (V9E1, V9F9, and V9B2) in complex with RTA revealed not only occlusion of the ribosomal P-stalk binding pocket but also structural mimicry of C-terminal domain peptides by complementarity-determining region 3. In vitro assays confirmed that these VHHs block RTA-P-stalk peptide interactions and protect ribosomes from depurination. Moreover, when expressed as "intrabodies," these VHHs rendered cells resistant to ricin intoxication. One VHH (V9F6), whose epitope was structurally determined to be immediately adjacent to the P-stalk binding pocket, was unable to neutralize ricin within cells or protect ribosomes from RTA in vitro. These findings are consistent with the recruitment of RTA to the SRL by ribosomal P-stalk proteins as a requisite event in ricin-induced ribosome inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy F Czajka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - David J Vance
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Simon Davis
- New York Structural Biology Center, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Nicholas J Mantis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA.
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Abstract
Ricin is a plant-derived toxin with a history as a biothreat agent. The toxin's enzymatic subunit, ricin toxin A chain (RTA), is a ribosome-inactivating protein that, when delivered into the cytoplasm of mammalian cells, arrests protein synthesis with extraordinary efficiency. Once within the cytoplasm, RTA is shielded from circulating toxin-neutralizing antibodies. Here, we describe methods we developed to neutralize RTA within the cytoplasm of Vero cells using DNA-based delivery of alpaca-derived single-domain antibodies (VHHs) targeting RTA's active site. We describe the design of the VHH expression vectors, assessment of transient expression of VHHs in Vero cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting, and cytotoxicity studies. While the protocols here are specific to ricin, they are easily modified for other toxins or even intracellular pathogens such as viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy F Czajka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas J Mantis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, NY, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY, USA.
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Nguyen T, Richards AF, Neupane DP, Feathers JR, Yang YA, Sim JH, Byun H, Lee S, Ahn C, Van Slyke G, Fromme JC, Mantis NJ, Song J. The structural basis of Salmonella A 2B 5 toxin neutralization by antibodies targeting the glycan-receptor binding subunits. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109654. [PMID: 34496256 PMCID: PMC8459933 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacterial pathogens secrete A(2)B5 toxins comprising two functionally distinct yet complementary “A” and “B” subunits to benefit the pathogens during infection. The lectin-like pentameric B subunits recognize specific sets of host glycans to deliver the toxin into target host cells. Here, we offer the molecular mechanism by which neutralizing antibodies, which have the potential to bind to all glycan-receptor binding sites and thus completely inhibit toxin binding to host cells, are inhibited from exerting this action. Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM)-based analyses indicate that the skewed positioning of the toxin A subunit(s) toward one side of the toxin B pentamer inhibited neutralizing antibody binding to the laterally located epitopes, rendering some glycan-receptor binding sites that remained available for the toxin binding and endocytosis process, which is strikingly different from the counterpart antibodies recognizing the far side-located epitopes. These results highlight additional features of the toxin-antibody interactions and offer important insights into anti-toxin strategies. Nguyen et al. find that toxin-neutralizing antibodies targeting glycan-receptor binding B subunits can be split into two classes based on their epitope locations. They describe how these two classes exhibit significantly different neutralizing efficacies, a feature that appears to be shared among A(2)B5 toxins, and thus they provide insights into anti-toxin strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tri Nguyen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Angelene F Richards
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Durga P Neupane
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - J Ryan Feathers
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Yi-An Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Ji Hyun Sim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Haewon Byun
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sohyoung Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Changhwan Ahn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Greta Van Slyke
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - J Christopher Fromme
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Nicholas J Mantis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Jeongmin Song
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Rudolph MJ, Poon AY, Kavaliauskiene S, Myrann AG, Reynolds-Peterson C, Davis SA, Sandvig K, Vance DJ, Mantis NJ. Structural Analysis of Toxin-Neutralizing, Single-Domain Antibodies that Bridge Ricin's A-B Subunit Interface. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167086. [PMID: 34089718 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Ricin toxin kills mammalian cells with notorious efficiency. The toxin's B subunit (RTB) is a Gal/GalNAc-specific lectin that attaches to cell surfaces and promotes retrograde transport of ricin's A subunit (RTA) to the trans Golgi network (TGN) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). RTA is liberated from RTB in the ER and translocated into the cell cytoplasm, where it functions as a ribosome-inactivating protein. While antibodies against ricin's individual subunits have been reported, we now describe seven alpaca-derived, single-domain antibodies (VHHs) that span the RTA-RTB interface, including four Tier 1 VHHs with IC50 values <1 nM. Crystal structures of each VHH bound to native ricin holotoxin revealed three different binding modes, based on contact with RTA's F-G loop (mode 1), RTB's subdomain 2γ (mode 2) or both (mode 3). VHHs in modes 2 and 3 were highly effective at blocking ricin attachment to HeLa cells and immobilized asialofetuin, due to framework residues (FR3) that occupied the 2γ Gal/GalNAc-binding pocket and mimic ligand. The four Tier 1 VHHs also interfered with intracellular functions of RTB, as they neutralized ricin in a post-attachment cytotoxicity assay (e.g., the toxin was bound to cell surfaces before antibody addition) and reduced the efficiency of toxin transport to the TGN. We conclude that the RTA-RTB interface is a target of potent toxin-neutralizing antibodies that interfere with both extracellular and intracellular events in ricin's cytotoxic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda Y Poon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Simona Kavaliauskiene
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Grethe Myrann
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, Norway
| | - Claire Reynolds-Peterson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Simon A Davis
- New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kirsten Sandvig
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, Norway; Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - David J Vance
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas J Mantis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.
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Ahn C, Yang YA, Neupane DP, Nguyen T, Richards AF, Sim JH, Mantis NJ, Song J. Mechanisms of typhoid toxin neutralization by antibodies targeting glycan receptor binding and nuclease subunits. iScience 2021; 24:102454. [PMID: 34113815 PMCID: PMC8169802 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nearly all clinical isolates of Salmonella Typhi, the cause of typhoid fever, are antibiotic resistant. All S. Typhi isolates secrete an A2B5 exotoxin called typhoid toxin to benefit the pathogen during infection. Here, we demonstrate that antibiotic-resistant S. Typhi secretes typhoid toxin continuously during infection regardless of antibiotic treatment. We characterize typhoid toxin antibodies targeting glycan-receptor-binding PltB or nuclease CdtB, which neutralize typhoid toxin in vitro and in vivo, as demonstrated by using typhoid toxin secreted by antibiotic-resistant S. Typhi during human cell infection and lethal dose typhoid toxin challenge to mice. TyTx11 generated in this study neutralizes typhoid toxin effectively, comparable to TyTx4 that binds to all PltB subunits available per holotoxin. Cryoelectron microscopy explains that the binding of TyTx11 to CdtB makes this subunit inactive through CdtB catalytic-site conformational change. The identified toxin-neutralizing epitopes are conserved across all S. Typhi clinical isolates, offering critical insights into typhoid toxin-neutralizing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhwan Ahn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Yi-An Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Durga P. Neupane
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Tri Nguyen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | | | - Ji Hyun Sim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Mantis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Jeongmin Song
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Abstract
Infection with obligatory intracellular bacteria is difficult to treat, as intracellular targets and delivery methods of therapeutics are not well known. Ehrlichia translocated factor-1 (Etf-1), a type IV secretion system (T4SS) effector, is a primary virulence factor for an obligatory intracellular bacterium, Ehrlichia chaffeensis In this study, we developed Etf-1-specific nanobodies (Nbs) by immunizing a llama to determine if intracellular Nbs block Etf-1 functions and Ehrlichia infection. Of 24 distinct anti-Etf-1 Nbs, NbD7 blocked mitochondrial localization of Etf-1-GFP in cotransfected cells. NbD7 and control Nb (NbD3) bound to different regions of Etf-1. Size-exclusion chromatography showed that the NbD7 and Etf-1 complex was more stable than the NbD3 and Etf-1 complex. Intracellular expression of NbD7 inhibited three activities of Etf-1 and E. chaffeensis: up-regulation of mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase, reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and inhibition of cellular apoptosis. Consequently, intracellular NbD7 inhibited Ehrlichia infection, whereas NbD3 did not. To safely and effectively deliver Nbs into the host cell cytoplasm, NbD7 was conjugated to cyclized cell-permeable peptide 12 (CPP12-NbD7). CPP12-NbD7 effectively entered mammalian cells and abrogated the blockade of cellular apoptosis caused by E. chaffeensis and inhibited infection by E. chaffeensis in cell culture and in a severe combined-immunodeficiency mouse model. Our results demonstrate the development of an Nb that interferes with T4SS effector functions and intracellular pathogen infection, along with an intracellular delivery method for this Nb. This strategy should overcome current barriers to advance mechanistic research and develop therapies complementary or alternative to the current broad-spectrum antibiotic.
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DeVree BT, Steiner LM, Głazowska S, Ruhnow F, Herburger K, Persson S, Mravec J. Current and future advances in fluorescence-based visualization of plant cell wall components and cell wall biosynthetic machineries. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:78. [PMID: 33781321 PMCID: PMC8008654 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-01922-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Plant cell wall-derived biomass serves as a renewable source of energy and materials with increasing importance. The cell walls are biomacromolecular assemblies defined by a fine arrangement of different classes of polysaccharides, proteoglycans, and aromatic polymers and are one of the most complex structures in Nature. One of the most challenging tasks of cell biology and biomass biotechnology research is to image the structure and organization of this complex matrix, as well as to visualize the compartmentalized, multiplayer biosynthetic machineries that build the elaborate cell wall architecture. Better knowledge of the plant cells, cell walls, and whole tissue is essential for bioengineering efforts and for designing efficient strategies of industrial deconstruction of the cell wall-derived biomass and its saccharification. Cell wall-directed molecular probes and analysis by light microscopy, which is capable of imaging with a high level of specificity, little sample processing, and often in real time, are important tools to understand cell wall assemblies. This review provides a comprehensive overview about the possibilities for fluorescence label-based imaging techniques and a variety of probing methods, discussing both well-established and emerging tools. Examples of applications of these tools are provided. We also list and discuss the advantages and limitations of the methods. Specifically, we elaborate on what are the most important considerations when applying a particular technique for plants, the potential for future development, and how the plant cell wall field might be inspired by advances in the biomedical and general cell biology fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian T DeVree
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Lisa M Steiner
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Sylwia Głazowska
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Felix Ruhnow
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Klaus Herburger
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Staffan Persson
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jozef Mravec
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Czajka TF, Vance DJ, Mantis NJ. Slaying SARS-CoV-2 One (Single-domain) Antibody at a Time. Trends Microbiol 2021; 29:195-203. [PMID: 33446406 PMCID: PMC7744031 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Camelid-derived and synthetic single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) are emerging as potent weapons against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. sdAbs are small, compact, thermostable immunoglobulin elements capable of binding targets with subnanomolar affinities. By leveraging the power of phage- and yeast surface-display technologies, rare sdAbs can be isolated from highly diverse and complex antibody libraries. Once in hand, sdAbs can be engineered to improve binding affinity, avidity, target specificities, and biodistribution. In this Opinion piece we highlight a series of sophisticated studies describing the identification of ultrapotent sdAbs directed against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. We discuss the possible applications of these antibodies in the global fight against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy F Czajka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12201, USA
| | - David J Vance
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Nicholas J Mantis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12201, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
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