1
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Harmsen MM, Cornelissen JC, van der Wal FJ, Bergervoet JHW, Koene M. Single-Domain Antibody Multimers for Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotypes C, D, and Their Mosaics in Endopep-MS. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:573. [PMID: 37755999 PMCID: PMC10535107 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15090573] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are highly toxic proteins that require high-affinity immunocapture reagents for use in endopeptidase-based assays. Here, 30 novel and 2 earlier published llama single-domain antibodies (VHHs) against the veterinary-relevant BoNT serotypes C and D were yeast-produced. These VHHs recognized 10 independent antigenic sites, and many cross-reacted with the BoNT/DC and CD mosaic variants. As VHHs are highly suitable for genetically linking to increase antigen-binding affinity, 52 VHH multimers were produced and their affinity for BoNT/C, D, DC, and CD was determined. A selection of 15 multimers with high affinity (KD < 0.1 nM) was further shown to be resilient to a high salt wash that is used for samples from complex matrices and bound native BoNTs from culture supernatants as shown by Endopep-MS. High-affinity multimers suitable for further development of a highly sensitive Endopep-MS assay include four multimers that bind both BoNT/D and CD with KD of 14-99 pM, one multimer for BoNT/DC (65 pM) that also binds BoNT/C (75 pM), and seven multimers for BoNT/C (<1-19 pM), six of which also bind BoNT/DC with lower affinity (93-508 pM). In addition to application in diagnostic tests, these VHHs could be used for the development of novel therapeutics for animals or humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel M. Harmsen
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands (F.J.v.d.W.)
| | - Jan C. Cornelissen
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands (F.J.v.d.W.)
| | - Fimme J. van der Wal
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands (F.J.v.d.W.)
| | - Jan H. W. Bergervoet
- Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam Koene
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands (F.J.v.d.W.)
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2
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Tomimoto Y, Yamazaki R, Shirai H. Increasing the melting temperature of VHH with the in silico free energy score. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4922. [PMID: 36966210 PMCID: PMC10039853 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32022-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
VHH, the antigen-binding fragment of a heavy chain-only antibody, is a useful component of antibody-based therapeutics. Thermal stability, represented by the melting temperature (Tm), is one of the key factors affecting the developability of antibody-based therapeutics. In this study, we examined whether the in silico free energy score dStability can be used to design mutants with improved Tm compared to the anti-lysozyme VHH, D3-L11. After verifying that exhaustive mutagenesis was inefficient for improving Tm, we performed a two-round rational approach that combined dStability calculations with a small number of experiments. This method improved the Tm by more than 5 °C in several single mutants including A79I. It reduced the affinity for the antigen by less than 1.6-fold. We speculate that stabilization of A79I required exquisite compatibility among neighboring residues to fill in the internal cavity in the protein. Given that we identified only one mutation that could simultaneously improve Tm and almost maintain affinity, we concluded that achieving both is extremely difficult, even with single mutations that are not located in the paratope. Therefore, we recommend using a variety of approaches when trying to achieve such a feat. Our method will be a useful complementary approach to other existing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Tomimoto
- Applied Research and Operations, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba city, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan
| | - Rika Yamazaki
- Applied Research and Operations, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba city, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan
| | - Hiroki Shirai
- Applied Research and Operations, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba city, Ibaraki, 305-8585, Japan.
- Riken Center for Computational Science, Nihonbashi 1-Chome Mitsui Building, 15th floor, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Tsukuba, 103-0027, Japan.
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3
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Pang Q, Chen Y, Mukhtar H, Xiong J, Wang X, Xu T, Hammock BD, Wang J. Camelization of a murine single-domain antibody against aflatoxin B 1 and its antigen-binding analysis. Mycotoxin Res 2022; 38:51-60. [PMID: 35023020 PMCID: PMC8754551 DOI: 10.1007/s12550-021-00433-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a highly toxic mycotoxin, always contaminated in a variety of agricultural products. Camelid variable domain of heavy chain antibody (VHH) is a noteworthy reagent in immunoassay, owing to its excellent characteristics. Immunization of camelid animals is a straightforward strategy to produce VHHs. In this study, to avoid the dependence on the large animals, the camelized, murine antibody (cVHs) against AFB1 was prepared in vitro based on the identities between murine VH and camelid VHH and then to develop an immunoassay for AFB1. A murine anti-AFB1 VH fragment (VH-2E6) was selected for camelization through replacement of conserved hydrophobic residues in framework region 2 (FR2) (cVH-FR2), point mutation at position 103 in the FR4 region (cVH-103), and CDR3-grafted with a high AFB1-affinity VHH (cVH-Nb26). The cVH-Nb26 had a yield of 5 mg/L as refolded protein expressed from Escherichia coli and 10 mg/L expressed from Pichia pastoris. Compared with anti-AFB1 single-chain fragment variable (scFv) 2E6, cVH-Nb26 performed more than 20-fold enhancement of AFB1-binding interactions. Although the AFB1-affinity of cVH-Nb26 cannot meet the application requirement in the present form, our study provides effective strategies for preparation of camelized antibody in vitro, which could be a promising immunoreagent for AFB1 detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Pang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Yanhong Chen
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Hina Mukhtar
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Xiong
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ting Xu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Bruce D Hammock
- Department of Entomology and UCD Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jia Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
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4
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Bivalent single domain antibody constructs for effective neutralization of Venezuelan equine encephalitis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:700. [PMID: 35027600 PMCID: PMC8758676 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04434-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a mosquito borne alphavirus which leads to high viremia in equines followed by lethal encephalitis and lateral spread to humans. In addition to naturally occurring outbreaks, VEEV is a potential biothreat agent with no approved human vaccine or therapeutic currently available. Single domain antibodies (sdAb), also known as nanobodies, have the potential to be effective therapeutic agents. Using an immune phage display library derived from a llama immunized with an equine vaccine that included inactivated VEEV, five sdAb sequence families were identified that showed varying ability to neutralize VEEV. One of the sequence families had been identified previously in selections against chikungunya virus, a related alphavirus of public health concern. A key advantage of sdAb is the ability to optimize properties such as neutralization capacity through protein engineering. Neutralization of VEEV was improved by two orders of magnitude by genetically linking sdAb. One of the bivalent constructs showed effective neutralization of both VEEV and chikungunya virus. Several of the bivalent constructs neutralized VEEV in cell-based assays with reductions in the number of plaques by 50% at protein concentrations of 1 ng/mL or lower, making future evaluation of their therapeutic potential compelling.
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5
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Breger JC, Ellis GA, Walper SA, Susumu K, Medintz IL. Implementing Multi-Enzyme Biocatalytic Systems Using Nanoparticle Scaffolds. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2487:227-262. [PMID: 35687240 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2269-8_15] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Interest in multi-enzyme synthesis outside of cells (in vitro) is becoming far more prevalent as the field of cell-free synthetic biology grows exponentially. Such synthesis would allow for complex chemical transformations based on the exquisite specificity of enzymes in a "greener" manner as compared to organic chemical transformations. Here, we describe how nanoparticles, and in this specific case-semiconductor quantum dots, can be used to both stabilize enzymes and further allow them to self-assemble into nanocomplexes that facilitate high-efficiency channeling phenomena. Pertinent protocol information is provided on enzyme expression, choice of nanoparticulate material, confirmation of enzyme attachment to nanoparticles, assay format and tracking, data analysis, and optimization of assay formats to draw the best analytical information from the underlying processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce C Breger
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Gregory A Ellis
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Scott A Walper
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kimihiro Susumu
- Optical Sciences Division, Code 5611, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
- Jacobs Corporation, Hanover, MD, USA
| | - Igor L Medintz
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, Washington, DC, USA.
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6
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Roth KDR, Wenzel EV, Ruschig M, Steinke S, Langreder N, Heine PA, Schneider KT, Ballmann R, Fühner V, Kuhn P, Schirrmann T, Frenzel A, Dübel S, Schubert M, Moreira GMSG, Bertoglio F, Russo G, Hust M. Developing Recombinant Antibodies by Phage Display Against Infectious Diseases and Toxins for Diagnostics and Therapy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:697876. [PMID: 34307196 PMCID: PMC8294040 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.697876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies are essential molecules for diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by pathogens and their toxins. Antibodies were integrated in our medical repertoire against infectious diseases more than hundred years ago by using animal sera to treat tetanus and diphtheria. In these days, most developed therapeutic antibodies target cancer or autoimmune diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic was a reminder about the importance of antibodies for therapy against infectious diseases. While monoclonal antibodies could be generated by hybridoma technology since the 70ies of the former century, nowadays antibody phage display, among other display technologies, is robustly established to discover new human monoclonal antibodies. Phage display is an in vitro technology which confers the potential for generating antibodies from universal libraries against any conceivable molecule of sufficient size and omits the limitations of the immune systems. If convalescent patients or immunized/infected animals are available, it is possible to construct immune phage display libraries to select in vivo affinity-matured antibodies. A further advantage is the availability of the DNA sequence encoding the phage displayed antibody fragment, which is packaged in the phage particles. Therefore, the selected antibody fragments can be rapidly further engineered in any needed antibody format according to the requirements of the final application. In this review, we present an overview of phage display derived recombinant antibodies against bacterial, viral and eukaryotic pathogens, as well as microbial toxins, intended for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Daniel Ralph Roth
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Esther Veronika Wenzel
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.,Abcalis GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maximilian Ruschig
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stephan Steinke
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Nora Langreder
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Philip Alexander Heine
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Kai-Thomas Schneider
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rico Ballmann
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Viola Fühner
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Stefan Dübel
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.,Abcalis GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany.,YUMAB GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maren Schubert
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - Federico Bertoglio
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Giulio Russo
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.,Abcalis GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Hust
- Institut für Biochemie, Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik, Abteilung Biotechnologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.,YUMAB GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany
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7
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Anderson G, Liu JL, Esparza TJ, Voelker BT, Hofmann ER, Goldman ER. Single-Domain Antibodies for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein. Anal Chem 2021; 93:7283-7291. [PMID: 33955213 PMCID: PMC8117401 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c00677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this work was to develop recombinantly expressed variable domains derived from camelid heavy-chain antibodies known as single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) directed against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein for incorporation into detection assays. To achieve this, a llama was immunized using a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and an immune phage-display library of variable domains was developed. The sdAbs selected from this library segregated into five distinct sequence families. Three of these families bind to unique epitopes with high affinity, low nM to sub-nM KD, as determined by surface plasmon resonance. To further enhance the utility of these sdAbs for the detection of nucleocapsid protein, homobivalent and heterobivalent genetic fusion constructs of the three high-affinity sdAbs were prepared. The effectiveness of the sdAbs for the detection of nucleocapsid protein was evaluated using MagPlex fluid array assays, a multiplexed immunoassay on color-coded magnetic microspheres. Using the optimal bivalent pair, one immobilized on the microsphere and the other serving as the biotinylated recognition reagent, a detection limit as low as 50 pg/mL of recombinant nucleocapsid and of killed virus down to 1.28 × 103 pfu/mL was achieved. The sdAbs described here represent immune reagents that can be tailored to be optimized for a number of detection platforms and may one day aid in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 to assist in controlling the current pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- George
P. Anderson
- Center
for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20375, United States
| | - Jinny L. Liu
- Center
for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20375, United States
| | - Thomas J. Esparza
- Laboratory
of Functional and Molecular Imaging, The
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Intramural
Research Program, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
- Henry
M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Bruce T. Voelker
- Chemical
Biological Center, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities
Development Command, 8198 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - E. Randal Hofmann
- Chemical
Biological Center, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities
Development Command, 8198 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
- EXCET,
Inc., 6225 Brandon Avenue
#360, Springfield, Virginia 22150, United States
| | - Ellen R. Goldman
- Center
for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20375, United States
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8
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Shin JE, Riesselman AJ, Kollasch AW, McMahon C, Simon E, Sander C, Manglik A, Kruse AC, Marks DS. Protein design and variant prediction using autoregressive generative models. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2403. [PMID: 33893299 PMCID: PMC8065141 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22732-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to design functional sequences and predict effects of variation is central to protein engineering and biotherapeutics. State-of-art computational methods rely on models that leverage evolutionary information but are inadequate for important applications where multiple sequence alignments are not robust. Such applications include the prediction of variant effects of indels, disordered proteins, and the design of proteins such as antibodies due to the highly variable complementarity determining regions. We introduce a deep generative model adapted from natural language processing for prediction and design of diverse functional sequences without the need for alignments. The model performs state-of-art prediction of missense and indel effects and we successfully design and test a diverse 105-nanobody library that shows better expression than a 1000-fold larger synthetic library. Our results demonstrate the power of the alignment-free autoregressive model in generalizing to regions of sequence space traditionally considered beyond the reach of prediction and design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Eun Shin
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adam J Riesselman
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- insitro, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aaron W Kollasch
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Conor McMahon
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elana Simon
- Harvard College, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Reverie Labs, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Chris Sander
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aashish Manglik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew C Kruse
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Debora S Marks
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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9
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Liu JL, Webb EM, Zabetakis D, Burke CW, Gardner CL, Glass PJ, Legler PM, Weger-Lucarelli J, Anderson GP, Goldman ER. Stabilization of a Broadly Neutralizing Anti-Chikungunya Virus Single Domain Antibody. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:626028. [PMID: 33585527 PMCID: PMC7876468 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.626028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A single domain antibody (clone CC3) previously found to neutralize a vaccine strain of the chikungunya virus (PRNT50 = 2. 5 ng/mL) was found to be broadly neutralizing. Clone CC3 is not only able to neutralize a wild-type (WT) strain of chikungunya virus (CHIKV), but also neutralizes WT strains of Mayaro virus (MAYV) and Ross River virus (RRV); both arthralgic, Old World alphaviruses. Interestingly, CC3 also demonstrated a degree of neutralizing activity against the New World alphavirus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV); albeit both the vaccine strain, TC-83, and the parental, WT Trinidad donkey strain had PRNT50 values ~1,000-fold higher than that of CHIKV. However, no neutralization activity was observed with Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV). Ten CC3 variants designed to possess a range of isoelectric points, both higher and lower, were constructed. This approach successfully identified several lower pI mutants which possessed improved thermal stabilities by as much as 10°C over the original CC3 (Tm = 62°C), and excellent refolding abilities while maintaining their capacity to bind and neutralize CHIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinny L Liu
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Center for BioMolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Emily M Webb
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Dan Zabetakis
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Center for BioMolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Crystal W Burke
- Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, United States
| | - Christina L Gardner
- Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, United States
| | - Pamela J Glass
- Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, United States
| | - Patricia M Legler
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Center for BioMolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
| | | | - George P Anderson
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Center for BioMolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ellen R Goldman
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Center for BioMolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
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10
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Selection and Characterization of Single-Domain Antibodies for Detection of Lassa Nucleoprotein. Antibodies (Basel) 2020; 9:antib9040071. [PMID: 33348599 PMCID: PMC7768477 DOI: 10.3390/antib9040071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus is the etiologic agent of Lassa fever, an acute and often fatal illness endemic to West Africa. It is important to develop new reagents applicable either for the specific diagnosis or as improved therapeutics for the treatment of Lassa fever. Here, we describe the development and initial testing of llama-derived single-domain antibodies that are specific for the Lassa virus nucleoprotein. Four sequence families based on complementarity-determining region (CDR) homology were identified by phage-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, however, the highest affinity clones all belonged to the same sequence family which possess a second disulfide bond between Framework 2 and CDR3. The affinity and thermal stability were evaluated for each clone. A MagPlex-based homogeneous sandwich immunoassay for Lassa virus-like particles was also demonstrated to show their potential for further development as diagnostic reagents.
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11
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Ma H, Ó'Fágáin C, O'Kennedy R. Antibody stability: A key to performance - Analysis, influences and improvement. Biochimie 2020; 177:213-225. [PMID: 32891698 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
An antibody's stability greatly influences its performance (i.e. its specificity and affinity). Thus, stability is a major issue for researchers and manufacturers, especially with the increasing use of antibodies in therapeutics, diagnostics and rapid analytical platforms. Here we review antibody stability under five headings: (i) measurement techniques; (ii) stability issues in expression and production (expression, proteolysis, aggregation); (iii) effects of antibody format and engineering on stability and (iv) formulation, drying and storage conditions. We consider more than 100 sources, including patents, and conclude with (v) recommendations to promote antibody stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ma
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, D09 V2O9, Ireland
| | - Ciarán Ó'Fágáin
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, D09 V2O9, Ireland.
| | - Richard O'Kennedy
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, D09 V2O9, Ireland; Qatar Foundation, Research Complex, And Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Education City, Doha, Qatar
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12
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Biswas M, Yamazaki T, Chiba J, Akashi-Takamura S. Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies for Influenza: Passive Immunotherapy and Intranasal Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030424. [PMID: 32751206 PMCID: PMC7565570 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza viruses cause annual epidemics and occasional pandemics. The high diversity of viral envelope proteins permits viruses to escape host immunity. Therefore, the development of a universal vaccine and broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) is essential for controlling various mutant viruses. Here, we review some potentially valuable bnAbs for influenza; one is a novel passive immunotherapy using a variable domain of heavy chain-only antibody (VHH), and the other is polymeric immunoglobulin A (pIgA) induced by intranasal vaccination. Recently, it was reported that a tetravalent multidomain antibody (MDAb) was developed by genetic fusion of four VHHs, which are bnAbs against the influenza A or B viruses. The transfer of a gene encoding the MDAb–Fc fusion protein provided cross-protection against both influenza A and B viruses in vivo. An intranasal universal influenza vaccine, which can induce neutralizing pIgAs in the upper respiratory tract, is currently undergoing clinical studies. A recent study has revealed that tetrameric IgAs formed in nasal mucosa are more broadly protective against influenza than the monomeric and dimeric forms. These broadly neutralizing antibodies have high potential to control the currently circulating influenza virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrityunjoy Biswas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan; (M.B.); (S.A.-T.)
| | - Tatsuya Yamazaki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan; (M.B.); (S.A.-T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-56-162-3311
| | - Joe Chiba
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan;
| | - Sachiko Akashi-Takamura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan; (M.B.); (S.A.-T.)
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Anderson GP, Liu JL, Shriver-Lake LC, Zabetakis D, Sugiharto VA, Chen HW, Lee CR, Defang GN, Wu SJL, Venkateswaran N, Goldman ER. Oriented Immobilization of Single-Domain Antibodies Using SpyTag/SpyCatcher Yields Improved Limits of Detection. Anal Chem 2019; 91:9424-9429. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- George P. Anderson
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - Jinny L. Liu
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - Lisa C. Shriver-Lake
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - Dan Zabetakis
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - Victor A. Sugiharto
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20817, United States
| | - Hua-Wei Chen
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20817, United States
| | - Cheng-Rei Lee
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6720A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20817, United States
| | - Gabriel N. Defang
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Shuenn-Jue L. Wu
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Neeraja Venkateswaran
- Tetracore, Inc., 9901 Belward Campus Drive, Suite 300, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Ellen R. Goldman
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
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14
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Bever CS, Scotcher M, Cheng LW, Hnasko RM, Stanker LH. Development and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies to Botulinum Neurotoxin Type E. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:E407. [PMID: 31337022 PMCID: PMC6669634 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11070407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Botulism is a devastating disease caused by botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) secreted primarily by Clostridium botulinum. Mouse bioassays without co-inoculation with antibodies are the standard method for the detection of BoNTs, but are not capable of distinguishing between the different serotypes (A-G). Most foodborne intoxications are caused by serotypes BoNT/A and BoNT/B. BoNT/E outbreaks are most often observed in northern coastal regions and are associated with eating contaminated marine animals and other fishery products. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed for the detection of BoNT/E3. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated against BoNT/E3 by immunizing with recombinant peptide fragments of the light and heavy chains of BoNT/E3. In all, 12 mAbs where characterized for binding to both the recombinant peptides and holotoxin, as well as their performance in Western blots and sandwich ELISAs. The most sensitive sandwich assay, using different mAbs for capture and detection, exhibited a limit of detection of 0.2 ng/ml in standard buffer matrix and 10 ng/mL in fish product matrices. By employing two different mAbs for capture and detection, a more standardized sandwich assay was constructed. Development of sensitive and selective mAbs to BoNT/E would help in the initial screening of potential food contamination, speeding diagnosis and reducing use of laboratory animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candace S Bever
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA
| | - Miles Scotcher
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA
| | - Luisa W Cheng
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA.
| | - Robert M Hnasko
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA
| | - Larry H Stanker
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA.
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15
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Shriver-Lake LC, Liu JL, Zabetakis D, Sugiharto VA, Lee CR, Defang GN, Wu SJL, Anderson GP, Goldman ER. Selection and Characterization of Anti-Dengue NS1 Single Domain Antibodies. Sci Rep 2018; 8:18086. [PMID: 30591706 PMCID: PMC6308234 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35923-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Reliable detection and diagnosis of dengue virus (DENV) is important for both patient care and epidemiological control. Starting with a llama immunized with a mixture of recombinant nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antigen from the four DENV serotypes, a phage display immune library of single domain antibodies was constructed and binders selected which exhibited specificity and affinity for DENV NS1. Each of these single domain antibodies was evaluated for its binding affinity to NS1 from the four serotypes, and incorporated into a sandwich format for NS1 detection. An optimal pair was chosen that provided the best combination of sensitivity for all four DENV NS1 antigens spiked into 50% human serum while showing no cross reactivity to NS1 from Zika virus, yellow fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and minimal binding to NS1 from Japanese encephalitis virus and West Nile virus. These rugged and robust recombinant binding molecules offer attractive alternatives to conventional antibodies for implementation into immunoassays destined for resource limited locals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa C Shriver-Lake
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Jinny L Liu
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Dan Zabetakis
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Victor A Sugiharto
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Cheng-Rei Lee
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Gabriel N Defang
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Shuenn-Jue L Wu
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - George P Anderson
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Ellen R Goldman
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA.
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16
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Liu JL, Shriver-Lake LC, Zabetakis D, Goldman ER, Anderson GP. Selection of Single-Domain Antibodies towards Western Equine Encephalitis Virus. Antibodies (Basel) 2018; 7:E44. [PMID: 31544894 PMCID: PMC6698954 DOI: 10.3390/antib7040044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, we describe the selection and characterization of single-domain antibodies (sdAb) towards the E2/E3E2 envelope protein of the Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV). Our purpose was to identify novel recognition elements which could be used for the detection, diagnosis, and perhaps treatment of western equine encephalitis (WEE). To achieve this goal, we prepared an immune phage display library derived from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of a llama that had been immunized with an equine vaccine that includes killed WEEV (West Nile Innovator + VEWT). This library was panned against recombinant envelope (E2/E3E2) protein from WEEV, and seven representative sdAb from the five identified sequence families were characterized. The specificity, affinity, and melting point of each sdAb was determined, and their ability to detect the recombinant protein in a MagPlex sandwich immunoassay was confirmed. Thus, these new binders represent novel recognition elements for the E2/E3E2 proteins of WEEV that are available to the research community for further investigation into their applicability for use in the diagnosis or treatment of WEE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinny L Liu
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| | - Lisa C Shriver-Lake
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| | - Dan Zabetakis
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| | - Ellen R Goldman
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| | - George P Anderson
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
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17
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Selection and characterization of protective anti-chikungunya virus single domain antibodies. Mol Immunol 2018; 105:190-197. [PMID: 30550981 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus that causes an arthralgia febrile illness that has affected millions of people on three continents. Previously, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies that have prophylactic and therapeutic activity were found to remove virus in joint tissues, thereby reducing the severity of symptoms in mice and non-human primates. In this study, we sought to develop thermostable small recombinant antibodies against CHIKV for future diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic applications. To develop these single domain antibodies (sdAb) a CHIKV immune library was constructed by displaying the consortium of variable heavy domains (VHH) amplified from peripheral white blood cells isolated from llamas immunized with CHIKV virus-like particles (VLPs). Five anti-CHIKV sdAb isolated using bio-panning were evaluated for their affinity and thermal stability. Their ability to detect CHIKV VLPs was demonstrated in both MagPlex- and ELISA- based assays. Finally, the ability of two sdAb, CC3 and CA6, to inhibit CHIKV infection were tested using a plaque reduction and neutralization test (PRNT), yielding PRNT50 values of 0.6 and 45.6 nM, respectively.
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18
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Anderson GP, Shriver-Lake LC, Walper SA, Ashford L, Zabetakis D, Liu JL, Breger JC, Brozozog Lee PA, Goldman ER. Genetic Fusion of an Anti-BclA Single-Domain Antibody with Beta Galactosidase. Antibodies (Basel) 2018; 7:antib7040036. [PMID: 31544886 PMCID: PMC6698959 DOI: 10.3390/antib7040036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Bacillus collagen-like protein of anthracis (BclA), found in Bacillus anthracis spores, is an attractive target for immunoassays. Previously, using phage display we had selected llama-derived single-domain antibodies that bound to B. anthracis spore proteins including BclA. Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), the recombinantly expressed heavy domains from the unique heavy-chain-only antibodies found in camelids, provide stable and well-expressed binding elements with excellent affinity. In addition, sdAbs offer the important advantage that they can be tailored for specific applications through protein engineering. A fusion of a BclA targeting sdAb with the enzyme Beta galactosidase (β-gal) would enable highly sensitive immunoassays with no need for a secondary reagent. First, we evaluated five anti-BclA sdAbs, including four that had been previously identified but not characterized. Each was tested to determine its binding affinity, melting temperature, producibility, and ability to function as both capture and reporter in sandwich assays for BclA. The sdAb with the best combination of properties was constructed as a fusion with β-gal and shown to enable sensitive detection. This fusion has the potential to be incorporated into highly sensitive assays for the detection of anthrax spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- George P Anderson
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| | - Lisa C Shriver-Lake
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| | - Scott A Walper
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| | - Lauryn Ashford
- The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, 1333 16th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20036, USA.
| | - Dan Zabetakis
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| | - Jinny L Liu
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| | - Joyce C Breger
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
| | | | - Ellen R Goldman
- Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC 20375, USA.
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Goldman ER, Broussard A, Anderson GP, Liu JL. Bglbrick strategy for the construction of single domain antibody fusions. Heliyon 2017; 3:e00474. [PMID: 29322100 PMCID: PMC5753753 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Single domain antibodies, recombinantly expressed variable domains derived from camelid heavy chain antibodies, are often expressed as multimers for detection and therapeutic applications. Constructs in which several single domain antibodies are genetically fused serially, as well as those in which single domain antibodies are genetically linked with domains that naturally form multimers, yield improvement in apparent binding affinity due to avidity. Here, using a single domain antibody that binds envelope protein from the Dengue virus, we demonstrated the construction of single domain antibody dimers using the Bglbrick cloning strategy. Constructing single domain antibodies and multimerization domains as Bglbrick parts enables the easy mixing and matching of parts. The dimeric constructs provided enhanced fluorescent signal in assays for detection of Dengue virus like particles over the monomeric single domain antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen R Goldman
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington DC 20375, USA
| | - Aeris Broussard
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions Summer Internship Program, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC 20375, USA
| | - George P Anderson
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington DC 20375, USA
| | - Jinny L Liu
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington DC 20375, USA
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Liu JL, Shriver-Lake LC, Anderson GP, Zabetakis D, Goldman ER. Selection, characterization, and thermal stabilization of llama single domain antibodies towards Ebola virus glycoprotein. Microb Cell Fact 2017; 16:223. [PMID: 29233140 PMCID: PMC5726015 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-017-0837-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A key advantage of recombinant antibody technology is the ability to optimize and tailor reagents. Single domain antibodies (sdAbs), the recombinantly produced variable domains derived from camelid and shark heavy chain antibodies, provide advantages of stability and solubility and can be further engineered to enhance their properties. In this study, we generated sdAbs specific for Ebola virus envelope glycoprotein (GP) and increased their stability to expand their utility for use in austere locals. Ebola virus is extremely virulent and causes fatal hemorrhagic fever in ~ 50 percent of the cases. The viral GP binds to host cell receptors to facilitate viral entry and thus plays a critical role in pathogenicity. Results An immune phage display library containing more than 107 unique clones was developed from a llama immunized with a combination of killed Ebola virus and recombinantly produced GP. We panned the library to obtain GP binding sdAbs and isolated sdAbs from 5 distinct sequence families. Three GP binders with dissociation constants ranging from ~ 2 to 20 nM, and melting temperatures from ~ 57 to 72 °C were selected for protein engineering in order to increase their stability through a combination of consensus sequence mutagenesis and the addition of a non-canonical disulfide bond. These changes served to increase the melting temperatures of the sdAbs by 15–17 °C. In addition, fusion of a short positively charged tail to the C-terminus which provided ideal sites for the chemical modification of these sdAbs resulted in improved limits of detection of GP and Ebola virus like particles while serving as tracer antibodies. Conclusions SdAbs specific for Ebola GP were selected and their stability and functionality were improved utilizing protein engineering. Thermal stability of antibody reagents may be of particular importance when operating in austere locations that lack reliable refrigeration. Future efforts can evaluate the potential of these isolated sdAbs as candidates for diagnostic or therapeutic applications for Ebola. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12934-017-0837-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinny L Liu
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Lisa C Shriver-Lake
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - George P Anderson
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Dan Zabetakis
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Ellen R Goldman
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20375, USA.
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Goldman ER, Liu JL, Zabetakis D, Anderson GP. Enhancing Stability of Camelid and Shark Single Domain Antibodies: An Overview. Front Immunol 2017; 8:865. [PMID: 28791022 PMCID: PMC5524736 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Single domain antibodies (sdAbs) are gaining a reputation as superior recognition elements as they combine the advantages of the specificity and affinity found in conventional antibodies with high stability and solubility. Melting temperatures (Tms) of sdAbs cover a wide range from below 50 to over 80°C. Many sdAbs have been engineered to increase their Tm, making them stable until exposed to extreme temperatures. SdAbs derived from the variable heavy chains of camelid and shark heavy chain-only antibodies are termed VHH and VNAR, respectively, and generally exhibit some ability to refold and bind antigen after heat denaturation. This ability to refold varies from 0 to 100% and is a property dependent on both intrinsic factors of the sdAb and extrinsic conditions such as the sample buffer ionic strength, pH, and sdAb concentration. SdAbs have also been engineered to increase their solubility and refolding ability, which enable them to function even after exposure to temperatures that exceed their melting point. In addition, efforts to improve their stability at extreme pH and in the presence of chemical denaturants or proteases have been undertaken. Multiple routes have been employed to engineer sdAbs with these enhanced stabilities. The methods utilized to achieve these goals include grafting complementarity-determining regions onto stable frameworks, introduction of non-canonical disulfide bonds, random mutagenesis combined with stringent selection, point mutations such as inclusion of negative charges, and genetic fusions. Increases of up to 20°C have been realized, pushing the Tm of some sdAbs to over 90°C. Herein, we present an overview of the work done to stabilize sdAbs derived from camelids and sharks. Utilizing these various strategies sdAbs have been stabilized without significantly compromising their affinity, thereby providing superior reagents for detection, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen R Goldman
- Center for BioMolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jinny L Liu
- Center for BioMolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Dan Zabetakis
- Center for BioMolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States
| | - George P Anderson
- Center for BioMolecular Science and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States
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