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Zia A, Orozco A, Fang ISY, Tang AM, Mendoza Viruega AS, Dong S, Leung LYT, Devraj VM, Oludada OE, Ehrhardt GRA. High throughput long-read sequencing of circulating lymphocytes of the evolutionarily distant sea lamprey reveals diversity and common elements of the variable lymphocyte receptor B (VLRB) repertoire. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1427075. [PMID: 39170622 PMCID: PMC11335541 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1427075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The leucine-rich repeat-based variable lymphocyte receptor B (VLRB) antibody system of jawless vertebrates is capable of generating an antibody repertoire equal to or exceeding the diversity of antibody repertoires of jawed vertebrates. Unlike immunoglobulin-based immune repertoires, the VLRB repertoire diversity is characterized by variable lengths of VLRB encoding transcripts, rendering conventional immunoreceptor repertoire sequencing approaches unsuitable for VLRB repertoire sequencing. Here we demonstrate that long-read single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing (PacBio) approaches permit the efficient large-scale assessment of the VLRB repertoire. We present a computational pipeline for sequence data processing and provide the first repertoire-based analysis of VLRB protein characteristics including properties of its subunits and regions of diversity within each structural leucine-rich repeat subunit. Our study provides a template to explore changes in the VLRB repertoire during immune responses and to establish large scale VLRB repertoire databases for computational approaches aimed at isolating monoclonal VLRB reagents for biomedical research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ariel Orozco
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Irene S. Y. Fang
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aspen M. Tang
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Shilan Dong
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Vijaya M. Devraj
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Ascough S, Ingram RJ, Chu KKY, Moore SJ, Gallagher T, Dyson H, Doganay M, Metan G, Ozkul Y, Baillie L, Williamson ED, Robinson JH, Maillere B, Boyton RJ, Altmann DM. Impact of HLA Polymorphism on the Immune Response to Bacillus Anthracis Protective Antigen in Vaccination versus Natural Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10101571. [PMID: 36298436 PMCID: PMC9610610 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10101571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The causative agent of anthrax, Bacillus anthracis, evades the host immune response and establishes infection through the production of binary exotoxins composed of Protective Antigen (PA) and one of two subunits, lethal factor (LF) or edema factor (EF). The majority of vaccination strategies have focused upon the antibody response to the PA subunit. We have used a panel of humanised HLA class II transgenic mouse strains to define HLA-DR-restricted and HLA-DQ-restricted CD4+ T cell responses to the immunodominant epitopes of PA. This was correlated with the binding affinities of epitopes to HLA class II molecules, as well as the responses of two human cohorts: individuals vaccinated with the Anthrax Vaccine Precipitated (AVP) vaccine (which contains PA and trace amounts of LF), and patients recovering from cutaneous anthrax infections. The infected and vaccinated cohorts expressing different HLA types were found to make CD4+ T cell responses to multiple and diverse epitopes of PA. The effects of HLA polymorphism were explored using transgenic mouse lines, which demonstrated differential susceptibility, indicating that HLA-DR1 and HLA-DQ8 alleles conferred protective immunity relative to HLA-DR15, HLA-DR4 and HLA-DQ6. The HLA transgenics enabled a reductionist approach, allowing us to better define CD4+ T cell epitopes. Appreciating the effects of HLA polymorphism on the variability of responses to natural infection and vaccination is vital in planning protective strategies against anthrax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Ascough
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
- Correspondence: (S.A.); (D.M.A.)
| | - Rebecca J. Ingram
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute of Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
| | | | | | - Theresa Gallagher
- BioMET, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Hugh Dyson
- Defence Science Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
| | - Mehmet Doganay
- Department of Medical Genetics, Erciyes University Hospital, Kayseri 38095, Turkey
| | - Gökhan Metan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, Ankara 06000, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Ozkul
- Department of Medical Genetics, Erciyes University Hospital, Kayseri 38095, Turkey
| | - Les Baillie
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | | | - John H. Robinson
- Institute for Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Bernard Maillere
- CEA-Saclay, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé, Université Paris-Saclay, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Rosemary J. Boyton
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
- Lung Division, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Daniel M. Altmann
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
- Correspondence: (S.A.); (D.M.A.)
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Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry Reveals a Novel Binding Region of a Neutralizing Fully Human Monoclonal Antibody to Anthrax Protective Antigen. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14020092. [PMID: 35202120 PMCID: PMC8877668 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14020092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) containing protective antigen (PA) is the only FDA-approved anthrax vaccine in the United States. Characterization of the binding of AVA-induced anti-PA human antibodies against the PA antigen after vaccination is crucial to understanding mechanisms of the AVA-elicited humoral immune response. Hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) is often coupled with a short liquid chromatography gradient (e.g., 5–10 min) for the characterization of protein interactions. We recently developed a long-gradient (e.g., 90 min), sub-zero temperature, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography HDX-MS (UPLC-HDX-MS) platform that has significantly increased separation power and limited back-exchange for the analysis of protein samples with high complexity. In this study, we demonstrated the utility of this platform for mapping antibody–antigen epitopes by examining four fully human monoclonal antibodies to anthrax PA. Antibody p1C03, with limited neutralizing activity in vivo, bound to a region on domain 1A of PA. p6C04 and p1A06, with no neutralizing activities, bound to the same helix on domain 3 to prevent oligomerization of PA. We found p6C01 strongly bound to domain 3 on a different helix region. We also identified a secondary epitope for p6C01, which likely leads to the blocking of furin cleavage of PA after p6C01 binding. This novel binding of p6C01 results in highly neutralizing activity. This is the first report of this distinct binding mechanism for a highly neutralizing fully human antibody to anthrax protective antigen. Studying such epitopes can facilitate the development of novel therapeutics against anthrax.
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Smith K, Garman L, Norris K, Muther J, Duke A, Engler RJM, Nelson MR, Collins LC, Spooner C, Guthridge C, James JA. Insufficient Anthrax Lethal Toxin Neutralization Is Associated with Antibody Subclass and Domain Specificity in the Plasma of Anthrax-Vaccinated Individuals. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061204. [PMID: 34199431 PMCID: PMC8229884 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) is a significant line of defense against bioterrorist attack from Bacillus anthracis spores. However, in a subset of individuals, this vaccine may produce a suboptimal quantity of anti-protective antigen (PA), antibodies that are poorly neutralizing, and/or antibody titers that wane over time, necessitating annual boosters. To study individuals with such poor responses, we examine the properties of anti-PA in a subset of vaccinated individuals that make significant quantities of antibody but are still unable to neutralize toxin. In this cohort, characterized by poorly neutralizing antibody, we find that increased IgG4 to IgG1 subclass ratios, low antibody avidity, and insufficient antibody targeting domain 4 associate with improper neutralization. Thus, future vaccines and vaccination schedules should be formulated to improve these deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Smith
- Department of Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (K.N.); (J.M.); (A.D.); (C.G.)
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (J.A.J.); Tel.: +1-405-271-3275 (K.S.); +1-405-271-4987 (J.A.J.)
| | - Lori Garman
- Department of Genes and Human Disease, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA;
| | - Kathleen Norris
- Department of Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (K.N.); (J.M.); (A.D.); (C.G.)
| | - Jennifer Muther
- Department of Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (K.N.); (J.M.); (A.D.); (C.G.)
| | - Angie Duke
- Department of Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (K.N.); (J.M.); (A.D.); (C.G.)
| | - Renata J. M. Engler
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (R.J.M.E.); (M.R.N.); (L.C.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Michael R. Nelson
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (R.J.M.E.); (M.R.N.); (L.C.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Limone C. Collins
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (R.J.M.E.); (M.R.N.); (L.C.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Christina Spooner
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (R.J.M.E.); (M.R.N.); (L.C.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Carla Guthridge
- Department of Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (K.N.); (J.M.); (A.D.); (C.G.)
| | - Judith A. James
- Department of Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (K.N.); (J.M.); (A.D.); (C.G.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Oklahoma University Health Science Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
- Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Oklahoma University Health Science Center, 1000 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (J.A.J.); Tel.: +1-405-271-3275 (K.S.); +1-405-271-4987 (J.A.J.)
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5
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Rapid and robust bioanalytical assays are critical for SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic and vaccine development and beyond. Bioanalysis 2020; 12:1199-1203. [PMID: 32453605 PMCID: PMC7255425 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2020-0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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Toxin-neutralizing antibodies elicited by naturally acquired cutaneous anthrax are elevated following severe disease and appear to target conformational epitopes. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230782. [PMID: 32294093 PMCID: PMC7159215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding immune responses to native antigens in response to natural infections can lead to improved approaches to vaccination. This study sought to characterize the humoral immune response to anthrax toxin components, capsule and spore antigens in individuals (n = 46) from the Kayseri and Malatya regions of Turkey who had recovered from mild or severe forms of cutaneous anthrax infection, compared to regional healthy controls (n = 20). IgG antibodies to each toxin component, the poly-γ-D-glutamic acid capsule, the Bacillus collagen-like protein of anthracis (BclA) spore antigen, and the spore carbohydrate anthrose, were detected in the cases, with anthrax toxin neutralization and responses to Protective Antigen (PA) and Lethal Factor (LF) being higher following severe forms of the disease. Significant correlative relationships among responses to PA, LF, Edema Factor (EF) and capsule were observed among the cases. Though some regional control sera exhibited binding to a subset of the tested antigens, these samples did not neutralize anthrax toxins and lacked correlative relationships among antigen binding specificities observed in the cases. Comparison of serum binding to overlapping decapeptides covering the entire length of PA, LF and EF proteins in 26 cases compared to 8 regional controls revealed that anthrax toxin-neutralizing antibody responses elicited following natural cutaneous anthrax infection are directed to conformational epitopes. These studies support the concept of vaccination approaches that preserve conformational epitopes.
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7
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Lu RM, Hwang YC, Liu IJ, Lee CC, Tsai HZ, Li HJ, Wu HC. Development of therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of diseases. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:1. [PMID: 31894001 PMCID: PMC6939334 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-019-0592-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1082] [Impact Index Per Article: 270.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been more than three decades since the first monoclonal antibody was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) in 1986, and during this time, antibody engineering has dramatically evolved. Current antibody drugs have increasingly fewer adverse effects due to their high specificity. As a result, therapeutic antibodies have become the predominant class of new drugs developed in recent years. Over the past five years, antibodies have become the best-selling drugs in the pharmaceutical market, and in 2018, eight of the top ten bestselling drugs worldwide were biologics. The global therapeutic monoclonal antibody market was valued at approximately US$115.2 billion in 2018 and is expected to generate revenue of $150 billion by the end of 2019 and $300 billion by 2025. Thus, the market for therapeutic antibody drugs has experienced explosive growth as new drugs have been approved for treating various human diseases, including many cancers, autoimmune, metabolic and infectious diseases. As of December 2019, 79 therapeutic mAbs have been approved by the US FDA, but there is still significant growth potential. This review summarizes the latest market trends and outlines the preeminent antibody engineering technologies used in the development of therapeutic antibody drugs, such as humanization of monoclonal antibodies, phage display, the human antibody mouse, single B cell antibody technology, and affinity maturation. Finally, future applications and perspectives are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruei-Min Lu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chyi Hwang
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - I-Ju Liu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chiu Lee
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Han-Zen Tsai
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Jung Li
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Han-Chung Wu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan. .,, 128 Academia Rd., Section 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
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8
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Shah HB, Smith K, Wren JD, Webb CF, Ballard JD, Bourn RL, James JA, Lang ML. Insights From Analysis of Human Antigen-Specific Memory B Cell Repertoires. Front Immunol 2019; 9:3064. [PMID: 30697210 PMCID: PMC6340933 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.03064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory B cells that are generated during an infection or following vaccination act as sentinels to guard against future infections. Upon repeat antigen exposure memory B cells differentiate into new antibody-secreting plasma cells to provide rapid and sustained protection. Some pathogens evade or suppress the humoral immune system, or induce memory B cells with a diminished ability to differentiate into new plasma cells. This leaves the host vulnerable to chronic or recurrent infections. Single cell approaches coupled with next generation antibody gene sequencing facilitate a detailed analysis of the pathogen-specific memory B cell repertoire. Monoclonal antibodies that are generated from antibody gene sequences allow a functional analysis of the repertoire. This review discusses what has been learned thus far from analysis of diverse pathogen-specific memory B cell compartments and describes major differences in their repertoires. Such information may illuminate ways to advance the goal of improving vaccine and therapeutic antibody design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemangi B Shah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Kenneth Smith
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Jonathan D Wren
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Carol F Webb
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States.,Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Cell Biology and Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Jimmy D Ballard
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Rebecka L Bourn
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Judith A James
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States.,Department of Medicine and Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Mark L Lang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
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Shali A, Hasannia S, Gashtasbi F, Abdous M, Shahangian SS, Jalili S. Generation and screening of efficient neutralizing single domain antibodies (VHHs) against the critical functional domain of anthrax protective antigen (PA). Int J Biol Macromol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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10
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Du P, Xu L, Qiu W, Zeng D, Yue J, Wang S, Huang P, Sun Z. A fully human monoclonal antibody with novel binding epitope and excellent neutralizing activity to multiple human IFN-α subtypes: A candidate therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus. MAbs 2016; 7:969-80. [PMID: 26048268 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2015.1055443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, heterogeneous autoimmune disease short of effective therapeutic agents. A multitude of studies of SLE in the last decade have accentuated a central role of the interferon alpha (IFN-α) pathway in SLE pathogenesis. We report here a candidate therapeutic neutralizing antibody, AIA22, with a different binding epitope and discrepant neutralizing profile from the anti-multiple IFN-α subtype antibodies currently in clinical trials. AIA22 specifically interacts with multiple IFN-α subtypes, binds to the type I IFN receptor 2 (IFNAR2) recognition region of IFN-α (considered a novel antigen epitope), and effectively neutralizes the activity of almost all of the IFN-α subtypes (with the exception of IFN-α7) both in vitro and in vivo. Concurrently, structural modeling and computational design yielded a mutational antibody of AIA22, AIAmut, which exhibited substantially improved neutralizing activity to multiple IFN-α subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Du
- a Beijing Institute of Biotechnology ; Beijing , China
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11
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Antigen nature and complexity influence human antibody light chain usage and specificity. Vaccine 2016; 34:2813-20. [PMID: 27113164 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Human antibodies consist of a heavy chain and one of two possible light chains, kappa (κ) or lambda (λ). Here we tested how these two possible light chains influence the overall antibody response to polysaccharide and protein antigens by measuring light chain usage in human monoclonal antibodies from antibody secreting cells obtained following vaccination with Pneumovax23. Remarkably, we found that individuals displayed restricted light chain usage to certain serotypes and that lambda antibodies have different specificities and modes of cross-reactivity than kappa antibodies. Thus, at both the monoclonal (7 kappa, no lambda) and serum levels (145μg/mL kappa, 2.82μg/mL lambda), antibodies to cell wall polysaccharide were nearly always kappa. The pneumococcal reference serum 007sp was analyzed for light chain usage to 12 pneumococcal serotypes for which it is well characterized. Similar to results at the monoclonal level, certain serotypes tended to favor one of the light chains (14 and 19A, lambda; 6A and 23F, kappa). We also explored differences in light chain usage at the serum level to a variety of antigens. We examined serum antibodies to diphtheria toxin mutant CRM197 and Epstein-Barr virus protein EBNA-1. These responses tended to be kappa dominant (average kappa-to-lambda ratios of 4.52 and 9.72 respectively). Responses to the influenza vaccine were more balanced with kappa-to-lambda ratio averages having slight strain variations: seasonal H1N1, 1.1; H3N2, 0.96; B, 0.91. We conclude that antigens with limited epitopes tend to produce antibodies with restricted light chain usage and that in most individuals, antibodies with lambda light chains have specificities different and complementary to kappa-containing antibodies.
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12
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Ward JM, James JA, Zhao YD, Webb CF. Antibody Reactivity of B Cells in Lupus Patients with Increased Disease Activity and ARID3a Expression. Antibodies (Basel) 2015; 4:354-368. [PMID: 28580178 PMCID: PMC5451160 DOI: 10.3390/antib4040354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Earlier studies showed that the DNA-binding protein, Bright/ARID3a bound to a subset of human and mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain promoters where it enhanced expression. Indeed, mice with transgenic expression of ARID3a in all B lymphocytes have expanded MZ B cells and produce anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs). Consistent with our findings in mice, we observed that human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients had expanded numbers of peripheral blood ARID3a+ B cells that were associated with increased disease activity (p = 0.0038). We hypothesized that ARID3a+ naïve B cells would eventually produce autoantibodies, explaining associations between ARID3a expression and disease activity in lupus. Unlike healthy controls, ARID3a was expressed in the naïve B cell population in SLE patients, and we hypothesized that these might represent expansions of autoreactive cells. Therefore, monoclonal antibodies were generated from single-sorted naïve B cells derived from patients with normal (ARID3aN) and high (ARID3aH) numbers of ARID3a+ B cells. We found that ARID3a expression did not correlate with autoantibody expression. Furthermore, measures of antigen specificities of autoreactive antibodies did not reveal skewing toward particular proteins. These data suggest that the association of increased disease activity in SLE with numbers of ARID3a+ B lymphocytes may be mediated by an antibody-independent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M. Ward
- Immunobiology and Cancer Research, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Judith A. James
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
- Department of Arthritis and Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
- Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Yan D. Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Carol F. Webb
- Immunobiology and Cancer Research, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed;
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Ohanjanian L, Remy KE, Li Y, Cui X, Eichacker PQ. An overview of investigational toxin-directed therapies for the adjunctive management of Bacillus anthracis infection and sepsis. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2015; 24:851-65. [PMID: 25920540 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2015.1041587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sepsis with Bacillus anthracis infection has a very high mortality rate despite appropriate antibiotic and supportive therapies. Over the past 15 years, recent outbreaks in the US and in Europe, coupled with anthrax's bioterrorism weapon potential, have stimulated efforts to develop adjunctive therapies to improve clinical outcomes. Since lethal toxin and edema toxin (LT and ET) make central contributions to the pathogenesis of B. anthracis, these have been major targets in this effort. AREAS COVERED Here, the authors review different investigative biopharmaceuticals that have been recently identified for their therapeutic potential as inhibitors of LT or ET. Among these inhibitors are two antibody preparations that have been included in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and several more that have reached Phase I testing. Presently, however, many of these candidate agents have only been studied in vitro and very few tested in bacteria-challenged models. EXPERT OPINION Although a large number of drugs have been identified as potential therapeutic inhibitors of LT and ET, in most cases their testing has been limited. The use of the two SNS antibody therapies during a large-scale exposure to B. anthracis will be difficult. Further testing and development of agents with oral bioavailability and relatively long shelf lives should be a focus for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lernik Ohanjanian
- National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center, Critical Care Medicine Department , Building 10, Room 2C145, Bethesda, MD 20892 , USA +1 301 402 2914 ; +1 301 402 1213 ;
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14
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Generation and Characterization of Human Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Anthrax Protective Antigen following Vaccination with a Recombinant Protective Antigen Vaccine. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2015; 22:553-60. [PMID: 25787135 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00792-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The anthrax protective antigen (PA) is the central component of the three-part anthrax toxin, and it is the primary immunogenic component in the approved AVA anthrax vaccine and the "next-generation" recombinant PA (rPA) anthrax vaccines. Animal models have indicated that PA-specific antibodies (AB) are sufficient to protect against infection with Bacillus anthracis. In this study, we investigated the PA domain specificity, affinity, mechanisms of neutralization, and synergistic effects of PA-specific antibodies from a single donor following vaccination with the rPA vaccine. Antibody-secreting cells were isolated 7 days after the donor received a boost vaccination, and 34 fully human monoclonal antibodies (hMAb) were identified. Clones 8H6, 4A3, and 22F1 were able to neutralize lethal toxin (LeTx) both in vitro and in vivo. Clone 8H6 neutralized LeTx by preventing furin cleavage of PA in a dose-dependent manner. Clone 4A3 enhanced degradation of nicked PA, thereby interfering with PA oligomerization. The mechanism of 22F1 is still unclear. A fourth clone, 2A6, that was protective only in vitro was found to be neutralizing in vivo in combination with a toxin-enhancing antibody, 8A7, which binds to domain 3 of PA and PA oligomers. These results provide novel insights into the antibody response elicited by the rPA vaccine and may be useful for PA-based vaccine and immunotherapeutic cocktail design.
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Whiting G, Wheeler JX, Rijpkema S. Identification of peptide sequences as a measure of Anthrax vaccine stability during storage. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2014; 10:1669-81. [PMID: 24637775 PMCID: PMC4185962 DOI: 10.4161/hv.28443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The UK anthrax vaccine is an alum precipitate of a sterile filtrate of Bacillus anthracis Sterne culture (AVP). An increase in shelf life of AVP from 3 to 5 years prompted us to investigate the in vivo potency and the antigen content of 12 batches with a shelf life of 6.4 to 9.9 years and one bulk with a shelf life of 23.8 years. All batches, except for a 9.4-year-old batch, passed the potency test. Mass spectrometry (MS) and in-gel difference 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (DIGE) were used to examine antigens of the pellet and supernatant of AVP. The pellet contained proteins with a MW in excess of 15 kDa. DIGE of desorbed proteins from the pellet revealed that with aging, 19 spots showed a significant change in size or intensity, a sign of protein degradation. MS identified 21 proteins including protective antigen (PA), enolase, lethal factor (LF), nucleoside diphosphate kinase, edema factor, and S-layer proteins. Fifteen proteins were detected for the first time including metabolic enzymes, iron binding proteins, and manganese dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). The supernatant contained131 peptide sequences. Peptides representing septum formation inhibitor protein and repeat domain protein were most abundant. Five proteins were shared with the pellet: 2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine-6-dicarboxylate N-succinyltransferase, enolase, LF, MnSOD, and PA. The number of peptide sequences increased with age. Peptides from PA and LF appeared once batches exceeded their shelf life by 2 and 4 years, respectively. In conclusion, changes in antigen content resulting from decay or desorption only had a limited effect on in vivo potency of AVP. The presence of PA and LF peptides in the supernatant can inform on the age and stability of AVP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail Whiting
- Division of Bacteriology; National Institute for Biological Standards and Control; Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Jun X Wheeler
- Laboratory of Molecular Structure; National Institute for Biological Standards and Control; Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Sjoerd Rijpkema
- Division of Bacteriology; National Institute for Biological Standards and Control; Hertfordshire, UK
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Lu H, Catania J, Baranji K, Feng J, Gu M, Lathey J, Sweeny D, Sanford H, Sapru K, Patamawenu T, Chen JH, Ng A, Fesseha Z, Kluepfel-Stahl S, Minang J, Alleva D. Characterization of the native form of anthrax lethal factor for use in the toxin neutralization assay. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2013; 20:986-97. [PMID: 23637044 PMCID: PMC3697443 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00046-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The cell-based anthrax toxin neutralization assay (TNA) is used to determine functional antibody titers of sera from animals and humans immunized with anthrax vaccines. The anthrax lethal toxin is a critical reagent of the TNA composed of protective antigen (PA) and lethal factor (LF), which are neutralization targets of serum antibodies. Cytotoxic potency of recombinant LF (rLF) lots can vary substantially, causing a challenge in producing a renewable supply of this reagent for validated TNAs. To address this issue, we characterized a more potent rLF variant (rLF-A) with the exact native LF amino acid sequence that lacks the additional N-terminal histidine and methionine residues present on the commonly used form of rLF (rLF-HMA) as a consequence of the expression vector. rLF-A can be used at 4 to 6 ng/ml (in contrast to 40 ng/ml rLF-HMA) with 50 ng/ml recombinant PA (rPA) to achieve 95 to 99% cytotoxicity. In the presence of 50 ng/ml rPA, both rLF-A and rLF-HMA allowed for similar potencies (50% effective dilution) among immune sera in the TNA. rPA, but not rLF, was the dominant factor in determining potency of serum samples containing anti-PA antibodies only or an excess of anti-PA relative to anti-rLF antibodies. Such anti-PA content is reflected in immune sera derived from most anthrax vaccines in development. These results support that 7- to 10-fold less rLF-A can be used in place of rLF-HMA without changing TNA serum dilution curve parameters, thus extending the use of a single rLF lot and a consistent, renewable supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Lu
- Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
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Smith K, Muther JJ, Duke AL, McKee E, Zheng NY, Wilson PC, James JA. Fully human monoclonal antibodies from antibody secreting cells after vaccination with Pneumovax®23 are serotype specific and facilitate opsonophagocytosis. Immunobiology 2013; 218:745-54. [PMID: 23084371 PMCID: PMC3556204 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2012.08.278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
B lymphocyte memory generates antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) that represent a source of protective antibodies that may be exploited for therapeutics. Here we vaccinated four donors with Pneumovax®23 and produced human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) from ASCs. We have cloned 137 hmAbs and the specificities of these antibodies encompass 19 of the 23 serotypes in the vaccine, as well as cell wall polysaccharide (CWPS). Although the majority of the antibodies are serotype specific, 12% cross-react with two serotypes. The Pneumovax®23 ASC antibody sequences are highly mutated and clonal, indicating an anamnestic response, even though this was a primary vaccination. Hmabs from 64% of the clonal families facilitate opsonophagocytosis. Although 9% of the total antibodies bind to CWPS impurity in the vaccine, none of these clonal families showed opsonophagocytic activity. Overall, these studies have allowed us to address unanswered questions in the field of human immune responses to polysaccharide vaccines, including the cross-reactivity of individual antibodies between serotypes and the percentage of antibodies that are protective after vaccination with Pneumovax®23.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Smith
- Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
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Dumas EK, Nguyen ML, Cox PM, Rodgers H, Peterson JL, James JA, Farris AD. Stochastic humoral immunity to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen: identification of anti-peptide IgG correlating with seroconversion to Lethal Toxin neutralization. Vaccine 2013; 31:1856-63. [PMID: 23415781 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2012] [Revised: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
A substantial fraction of individuals vaccinated against anthrax have low to immeasurable levels of serum Lethal Toxin (LeTx)-neutralizing activity. The only known correlate of protection against Bacillus anthracis in the currently licensed vaccine is magnitude of the IgG response to Protective Antigen (PA); however, some individuals producing high serum levels of anti-PA IgG fail to neutralize LeTx in vitro. This suggests that non-protective humoral responses to PA may be immunodominant in some individuals. Therefore, to better understand why anthrax vaccination elicits heterogeneous levels of protection, this study was designed to elucidate the relationship between anti-PA fine specificity and LeTx neutralization in response to PA vaccination. Inbred mice immunized with recombinant PA produced high levels of anti-PA IgG and neutralized LeTx in vitro and in vivo. Decapeptide binding studies using pooled sera reproducibly identified the same 9 epitopes. Unexpectedly, sera from individual mice revealed substantial heterogeneity in the anti-PA IgG and LeTx neutralization responses, despite relative genetic homogeneity, shared environment and exposure to the same immunogen. This heterogeneity permitted the identification of specificities that correlate with LeTx-neutralizing activity. IgG binding to six decapeptides comprising two PA epitopes, located in domains I and IV, significantly correlate with seroconversion to LeTx neutralization. These results indicate that stochastic variation in humoral immunity is likely to be a major contributor to the general problem of heterogeneity in vaccine responsiveness and suggest that vaccine effectiveness could be improved by approaches that focus the humoral response toward protective epitopes in a greater fraction of vaccinees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric K Dumas
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, United States.
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Anthrax lethal toxin and the induction of CD4 T cell immunity. Toxins (Basel) 2012; 4:878-99. [PMID: 23162703 PMCID: PMC3496994 DOI: 10.3390/toxins4100878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2012] [Revised: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 10/10/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis secretes exotoxins which act through several mechanisms including those that can subvert adaptive immunity with respect both to antigen presenting cell and T cell function. The combination of Protective Antigen (PA) and Lethal Factor (LF) forming Lethal Toxin (LT), acts within host cells to down-regulate the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade. Until recently the MAPK kinases were the only known substrate for LT; over the past few years it has become evident that LT also cleaves Nlrp1, leading to inflammasome activation and macrophage death. The predicted downstream consequences of subverting these important cellular pathways are impaired antigen presentation and adaptive immunity. In contrast to this, recent work has indicated that robust memory T cell responses to B. anthracis antigens can be identified following natural anthrax infection. We discuss how LT affects the adaptive immune response and specifically the identification of B. anthracis epitopes that are both immunogenic and protective with the potential for inclusion in protein sub-unit based vaccines.
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Chow SK, Casadevall A. Monoclonal antibodies and toxins--a perspective on function and isotype. Toxins (Basel) 2012; 4:430-54. [PMID: 22822456 PMCID: PMC3398419 DOI: 10.3390/toxins4060430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2012] [Revised: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody therapy remains the only effective treatment for toxin-mediated diseases. The development of hybridoma technology has allowed the isolation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with high specificity and defined properties, and numerous mAbs have been purified and characterized for their protective efficacy against different toxins. This review summarizes the mAb studies for 6 toxins—Shiga toxin, pertussis toxin, anthrax toxin, ricin toxin, botulinum toxin, and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)—and analyzes the prevalence of mAb functions and their isotypes. Here we show that most toxin-binding mAbs resulted from immunization are non-protective and that mAbs with potential therapeutic use are preferably characterized. Various common practices and caveats of protection studies are discussed, with the goal of providing insights for the design of future research on antibody-toxin interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siu-Kei Chow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases of the Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; ; Tel.: +1-718-430-2811; Fax: +1-718-430-8711
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