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Liu XY, Wei DK, Li ZY, Lu JS, Xie XM, Yu YZ, Pang XB. Immunogenicity and immunoprotection of the functional TL-HN fragment derived from tetanus toxin. Vaccine 2023; 41:6834-6841. [PMID: 37816654 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.09.032] [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: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Tetanus toxin (TeNT) is a protein toxin produced by Clostridium tetani bacteria, which causes hyperreflexia and rhabdomyolysis by spastic paralysis. Like botulinum neurotoxin, TeNT comprises a heavy chain (HC) and a light chain (LC) linked via an interchain disulfide bond, which include the following three functional domains: a receptor-binding domain (Hc), a translocation domain (HN), and a catalytic domain (LC). Herein, we produced and characterized three functional domains of TeNT and three types of TeNT-derived L-HN fragments (TL-HN, TL-GS-HN and TL-2A-HN), which contained L and HN domains but lacked the Hc domain. The immunological effects of these different functional domains or fragments of TeNT were explored in an animal model. Our investigations showed the TL-HN functional fragment provided the best immunoprotection among all the TeNT functional domains. The TL-HN fragment, as a protective antigen, induced the highest levels of neutralizing antibodies, indicating that it might contain some crucial epitopes. Further experiments revealed that the protective effect of TL-HN was superior to that of the THc, TL, or THN fragments, either individually or in combination. Therefore, the TL-HN fragment exerts an important function in immune protection against tetanus toxin, providing a good basis for the development of TeNT vaccines or antibodies, and could serve as a promising subunit vaccine to replace THc or tetanus toxoid (TT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Yang Liu
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China; Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Dong-Kui Wei
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China; Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Li
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China; Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jian-Sheng Lu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xin-Mei Xie
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China.
| | - Yun-Zhou Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China.
| | - Xiao-Bin Pang
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China.
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Li Z, Li B, Lu J, Liu X, Tan X, Wang R, Du P, Yu S, Xu Q, Pang X, Yu Y, Yang Z. Biological and Immunological Characterization of a Functional L-HN Derivative of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype F. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15030200. [PMID: 36977091 PMCID: PMC10056376 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030200] [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: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) can cause nerve paralysis syndrome in mammals and other vertebrates. BoNTs are the most toxic biotoxins known and are classified as Class A biological warfare agents. BoNTs are mainly divided into seven serotypes A-G and new neurotoxins BoNT/H and BoNT/X, which have similar functions. BoNT proteins are 150 kDa polypeptide consisting of two chains and three domains: the light chain (L, catalytic domain, 50 kDa) and the heavy chain (H, 100 kDa), which can be divided into an N-terminal membrane translocation domain (HN, 50 kDa) and a C-terminal receptor binding domain (Hc, 50 kDa). In current study, we explored the immunoprotective efficacy of each functional molecule of BoNT/F and the biological characteristics of the light chain-heavy N-terminal domain (FL-HN). The two structure forms of FL-HN (i.e., FL-HN-SC: single chain FL-HN and FL-HN-DC: di-chain FL-HN) were developed and identified. FL-HN-SC could cleave the vesicle associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) substrate protein in vitro as FL-HN-DC or FL. While only FL-HN-DC had neurotoxicity and could enter neuro-2a cells to cleave VAMP2. Our results showed that the FL-HN-SC had a better immune protection effect than the Hc of BoNT/F (FHc), which indicated that L-HN-SC, as an antigen, provided the strongest protective effects against BoNT/F among all the tested functional molecules. Further in-depth research on the different molecular forms of FL-HN suggested that there were some important antibody epitopes at the L-HN junction of BoNT/F. Thus, FL-HN-SC could be used as a subunit vaccine to replace the FHc subunit vaccine and/or toxoid vaccine, and to develop antibody immune molecules targeting L and HN domains rather than the FHc domain. FL-HN-DC could be used as a new functional molecule to evaluate and explore the structure and activity of toxin molecules. Further exploration of the biological activity and molecular mechanism of the functional FL-HN or BoNT/F is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Li
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Bolin Li
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jiansheng Lu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xuyang Liu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Xiao Tan
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Peng Du
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Shuo Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Qing Xu
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xiaobin Pang
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Yunzhou Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (Z.Y.)
| | - Zhixin Yang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (Z.Y.)
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Chauhan R, Chauhan Kushwah V, Agnihotri S, Vimal M, Saxena N, Dhaked RK. Designing, synthesis and evaluation of derived analogues of selected small molecule non-peptidic inhibitors against serotype BoNT/ F. Toxicon 2023; 222:106981. [PMID: 36503896 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.106981] [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: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins are lethal Biowarfare categorized in group A of selected agents, by CDC USA. The unavailability of counter-measures against these neurotoxins has been a matter of extensive research. The 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) scaffold is established privileged compound and its potential as drug candidate against BoNTs is recently being explored. We have reported 8-HQ compounds NSC1014 and NSC1011 as potential small molecule inhibitors against BoNT/F. In the present study, analogues of NSC84087 and NSC1014 were designed, synthesized and studied for their inhibitory role against BoNT/F intoxication through in silico study, in vitro and in-vivo assays. ∼25 in-house synthesized small molecule inhibitors were evaluated against rBoNT/F light chain through fluorescence thermal shift (FTS) assay and then further assessed through endopeptidase assay. The binding affinity analysis was done through surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based Proteon™ XPR 36 system. Finally, the in-vivo efficacy of these compounds was evaluated in mice model. Analogues C87.9, C87.10 and C87.12 of compound NSC84087 and C14.10, C14.11 and C14.13 of NSC1014 showed promising results through FTS assay and endopeptidase assay. SPR based protein-small molecule interaction studies showed KD values in sub-micromolar range signifying high affinity interaction. The IC50 of C14.10 was found to be the lowest of 3.016 ± 0.798 μM as determined through endopeptidase assay. Finally, efficacy of selected molecules was evaluated in mice, C14.10 and C14.13 protected 40% animals against 4X LD50 and extended survival time up to 200% at 10X LD50. The present study thus proposes the emergence of NSC84087 and NSC1014 analogues as lead compound against BoNT/F.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritika Chauhan
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, 474002, MP, India
| | - Vinita Chauhan Kushwah
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, 474002, MP, India
| | - Surabhi Agnihotri
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, 474002, MP, India
| | - Manorama Vimal
- Synthetic Chemistry Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, 474002, MP, India
| | - Nandita Saxena
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, 474002, MP, India
| | - Ram Kumar Dhaked
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior, 474002, MP, India.
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Li Z, Lu J, Tan X, Wang R, Xu Q, Yu Y, Yang Z. Functional EL-HN Fragment as a Potent Candidate Vaccine for the Prevention of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype E. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14020135. [PMID: 35202162 PMCID: PMC8880310 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14020135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), which is the most toxic known protein and the causative agent of human botulism. BoNTs have similar structures and functions, comprising three functional domains: catalytic domain (L), translocation domain (HN), and receptor-binding domain (Hc). In the present study, BoNT/E was selected as a model toxin to further explore the immunological significance of each domain. The EL-HN fragment (L and HN domains of BoNT/E) retained the enzymatic activity without in vivo neurotoxicity. Extensive investigations showed EL-HN functional fragment had the highest protective efficacy and contained some functional neutralizing epitopes. Further experiments demonstrated the EL-HN provided a superior protective effect compared with the EHc or EHc and EL-HN combination. Thus, the EL-HN played an important role in immune protection against BoNT/E and could provide an excellent platform for the design of botulinum vaccines and neutralizing antibodies. The EL-HN has the potential to replace EHc or toxoid as the optimal immunogen for the botulinum vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Li
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China; (Z.L.); (J.L.); (X.T.); (R.W.)
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Jiansheng Lu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China; (Z.L.); (J.L.); (X.T.); (R.W.)
| | - Xiao Tan
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China; (Z.L.); (J.L.); (X.T.); (R.W.)
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China; (Z.L.); (J.L.); (X.T.); (R.W.)
| | - Qing Xu
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
- Correspondence: (Q.X.); (Y.Y.); (Z.Y.)
| | - Yunzhou Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China; (Z.L.); (J.L.); (X.T.); (R.W.)
- Correspondence: (Q.X.); (Y.Y.); (Z.Y.)
| | - Zhixin Yang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China; (Z.L.); (J.L.); (X.T.); (R.W.)
- Correspondence: (Q.X.); (Y.Y.); (Z.Y.)
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Characterization of immune response induced against catalytic domain of botulinum neurotoxin type E. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13932. [PMID: 32811892 PMCID: PMC7434876 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70929-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) represent a family of bacterial toxins responsible for neuroparalytic disease 'botulism' in human and animals. Their potential use as biological weapon led to their classification in category 'A' biowarfare agent by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. In present study, gene encoding full length catalytic domain of BoNT/E-LC was cloned, expressed and protein was purified using Ni-NTA chromatography. Humoral immune response was confirmed by Ig isotyping and cell-mediated immunity by cytokine profiling and intracellular staining for enumeration of IFN-γ secreting CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Increased antibody titer with the predominance of IgG subtype was observed. An interaction between antibodies produced against rBoNT/E-LC was established that showed the specificity against BoNT/E in SPR assay. Animal protection with rBoNT/E-LC was conferred through both humoral and cellular immune responses. These findings were supported by cytokine profiling and flow cytometric analysis. Splenocytes stimulated with rBoNT/E-LC showed a 3.27 and 2.8 times increase in the IFN-γ secreting CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, respectively; in immunized group (P < 0.05). Protection against BoNT/E challenge tended to relate with increase in the percentage of rBoNT/E-LC specific IL-2 in the splenocytes supernatant (P = 0.034) and with IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cell responses (P = 0.045). We have immunologically evaluated catalytically active rBoNT/E-LC. Our results provide valuable investigational report for immunoprophylactic role of catalytic domain of BoNT/E.
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Yadav SK, Singh M, Sarkaraisamy P. Expression and purification of catalytic domain of botulinum neurotoxin serotype ‘F’: immunological characterization and its application in detection. FOOD BIOTECHNOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/08905436.2020.1740731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shiv Kumar Yadav
- BDTE Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior, India
| | - Monika Singh
- BDTE Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Gwalior, India
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Chauhan R, Chauhan V, Sonkar P, Vimal M, Dhaked RK. Targeted 8-hydroxyquinoline fragment based small molecule drug discovery against neglected botulinum neurotoxin type F. Bioorg Chem 2019; 92:103297. [PMID: 31557621 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.103297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Botulinum neurotoxins are highly potent biological warfare agents. The unavailability of countermeasures against these neurotoxins has been a matter of extensive research. However, no clinical therapeutics has come to existence till date. The 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) scaffold is established privileged compound and its potential as drug candidate against BoNTs is recently being explored. METHODS In present work, three course studies were performed involving in silico, in vitro and in vivo cascade to screen 8-HQ small molecule inhibitors against BoNT/F intoxication. ~800 molecules obtained from open repositories were screened in silico and commercially obtained twenty-four 8-HQ derived small molecule inhibitors were evaluated against rBoNT/F light chain through fluorescence thermal shift (FTS) assay. Selected compounds were further evaluated through endopeptidase assay. Further binding affinity analysis was done through surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based Proteon™ XPR 36 system. Finally, the in vivo efficacy of these compounds was evaluated in mice model. RESULTS Three compounds NSC1011, NSC1014 and NSC84094 were found to be highly inhibitory after screening of 8-HQ compounds through FTS assay and endopeptidase assay. SPR based protein-small molecule interaction studies showed highest affinity binding of NSC1014 (KD: 5.58E-06) with BoNT/F-LC. NSC1011, NSC1014, and NSC84094 displayed IC50 of 30.47 ± 6.24, 14.91 ± 2.49 and 17.39 ± 2.74 μM, respectively, in endopeptidase assay. NSC1011 and NSC1014 displayed marked extension of survival time in mice model. CONCLUSION NSC1011 and NSC1014 have emerged as promising drug candidate against BoNT/F intoxication displaying higher potential than previously reported compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritika Chauhan
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior 474002, MP, India
| | - Vinita Chauhan
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior 474002, MP, India
| | - Priyanka Sonkar
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior 474002, MP, India
| | - Manorama Vimal
- Synthetic Chemistry Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior 474002, MP, India
| | - Ram Kumar Dhaked
- Biotechnology Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior 474002, MP, India.
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