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Obeng EM, Dzuvor CKO, Danquah MK. Anti-SARS-CoV-1 and -2 nanobody engineering towards avidity-inspired therapeutics. NANO TODAY 2022; 42:101350. [PMID: 34840592 PMCID: PMC8608585 DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2021.101350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
In the past two decades, the emergence of coronavirus diseases has been dire distress on both continental and global fronts and has resulted in the search for potent treatment strategies. One crucial challenge in this search is the recurrent mutations in the causative virus spike protein, which lead to viral escape issues. Among the current promising therapeutic discoveries is the use of nanobodies and nanobody-like molecules. While these nanobodies have demonstrated high-affinity interaction with the virus, the unpredictable spike mutations have warranted the need for avidity-inspired therapeutics of potent inhibitors such as nanobodies. This article discusses novel approaches for the design of anti-SARS-CoV-1 and -2 nanobodies to facilitate advanced innovations in treatment technologies. It further discusses molecular interactions and suggests multivalent protein nanotechnology and chemistry approaches to translate mere molecular affinity into avidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene M Obeng
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Christian K O Dzuvor
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Michael K Danquah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, United States
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Shrestha B, Schaefer A, Zhu Y, Saada J, Jacobs TM, Chavez EC, Omsted SS, Cruz-Teran CA, Vaca GB, Vincent K, Moench TR, Lai SK. Engineering sperm-binding IgG antibodies for the development of an effective nonhormonal female contraception. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/606/eabd5219. [PMID: 34380769 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abd5219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Many women risk unintended pregnancy because of medical contraindications or dissatisfaction with contraceptive methods, including real and perceived side effects associated with the use of exogenous hormones. We pursued direct vaginal delivery of sperm-binding monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that can limit progressive sperm motility in the female reproductive tract as a strategy for effective nonhormonal contraception. Here, motivated by the greater agglutination potencies of polyvalent immunoglobulins but the bioprocessing ease and stability of immunoglobulin G (IgG), we engineered a panel of sperm-binding IgGs with 6 to 10 antigen-binding fragments (Fabs), isolated from a healthy immune-infertile woman against a unique surface antigen universally present on human sperm. These highly multivalent IgGs (HM-IgGs) were at least 10- to 16-fold more potent and faster at agglutinating sperm than the parent IgG while preserving the crystallizable fragment (Fc) of IgG that mediates trapping of individual spermatozoa in mucus. The increased potencies translated into effective (>99.9%) reduction of progressively motile sperm in the sheep vagina using as little as 33 μg of the 10-Fab HM-IgG. HM-IgGs were produced at comparable yields and had identical thermal stability to the parent IgG, with greater homogeneity. HM-IgGs represent not only promising biologics for nonhormonal contraception but also a promising platform for engineering potent multivalent mAbs for other biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhawana Shrestha
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alison Schaefer
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yong Zhu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Jamal Saada
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Timothy M Jacobs
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Dualogics LLC, Durham, NC 27713, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Chavez
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Stuart S Omsted
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Carlos A Cruz-Teran
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Gabriela Baldeon Vaca
- Divisions of Infectious Disease and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Kathleen Vincent
- Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Thomas R Moench
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Mucommune LLC, Durham, NC 27709, USA.,Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Samuel K Lai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. .,UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Mucommune LLC, Durham, NC 27709, USA
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Shrestha B, Schaefer A, Chavez EC, Kopp AJ, Jacobs TM, Moench TR, Lai SK. Engineering tetravalent IgGs with enhanced agglutination potencies for trapping vigorously motile sperm in mucin matrix. Acta Biomater 2020; 117:226-234. [PMID: 32937206 PMCID: PMC8778962 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Multivalent antibodies such as sIgA can crosslink motile entities such as sperm and bacteria, creating agglomerates that are too large to permeate the dense mucin matrix in mucus, a process commonly referred to as immune exclusion. Unfortunately, sIgA remains challenging to produce in large quantities, and easily aggregates, which prevented their use in clinical applications. To develop sIgA-like tetravalent antibodies that are stable and can be easily produced in large quantities, we designed two IgGs possessing 4 identical Fab domains, with the Fabs arranged either in serial or in the diametrically opposite orientation. As a proof-of-concept, we engineered these tetravalent IgG constructs to bind a ubiquitous sperm antigen using a Fab previously isolated from an immune infertile woman. Both constructs possess at least 4-fold greater agglutination potency and induced much more rapid sperm agglutination than the parent IgG, while exhibiting comparable production yields and identical thermostability as the parent IgG. These tetravalent IgGs offer promise for non-hormonal contraception and underscores the multimerization of IgG as a promising strategy to enhance antibody effector functions based on immune exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhawana Shrestha
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
| | - Alison Schaefer
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
| | - Elizabeth C Chavez
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
| | - Alexander J Kopp
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
| | - Timothy M Jacobs
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
| | | | - Samuel K Lai
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Mucommune, LLC., Durham, NC 27709, United States.
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Anderson DJ, Politch JA, Cone RA, Zeitlin L, Lai SK, Santangelo PJ, Moench TR, Whaley KJ. Engineering monoclonal antibody-based contraception and multipurpose prevention technologies†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:275-285. [PMID: 32607584 PMCID: PMC7401387 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections are highly prevalent, and over 40% of pregnancies are unplanned. We are producing new antibody-based multipurpose prevention technology products to address these problems and fill an unmet need in female reproductive health. We used a Nicotiana platform to manufacture monoclonal antibodies against two prevalent sexually transmitted pathogens, HIV-1 and HSV-2, and incorporated them into a vaginal film (MB66) for preclinical and Phase 1 clinical testing. These tests are now complete and indicate that MB66 is effective and safe in women. We are now developing an antisperm monoclonal antibody to add contraceptive efficacy to this product. The antisperm antibody, H6-3C4, originally isolated by Shinzo Isojima from the blood of an infertile woman, recognizes a carbohydrate epitope on CD52g, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein found in abundance on the surface of human sperm. We engineered the antibody for production in Nicotiana; the new antibody which we call "human contraception antibody," effectively agglutinates sperm at concentrations >10 μg/ml and maintains activity under a variety of physiological conditions. We are currently seeking regulatory approval for a Phase 1 clinical trial, which will include safety and "proof of principle" efficacy endpoints. Concurrently, we are working with new antibody production platforms to bring the costs down, innovative antibody designs that may produce more effective second-generation antibodies, and delivery systems to provide extended protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah J Anderson
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph A Politch
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard A Cone
- Biophysics Department, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Mucommune, LLC, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Samuel K Lai
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Department of Microbiomology & Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Philip J Santangelo
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas R Moench
- Mucommune, LLC, Durham, NC, USA
- ZabBio, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
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Webster GR, van Dolleweerd C, Guerra T, Stelter S, Hofmann S, Kim M, Teh AY, Diogo GR, Copland A, Paul MJ, Hart P, Reljic R, Ma JK. A polymeric immunoglobulin-antigen fusion protein strategy for enhancing vaccine immunogenicity. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2018; 16:1983-1996. [PMID: 29682888 PMCID: PMC6230950 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a strategy based on polymeric immunoglobulin G scaffolds (PIGS) was used to produce a vaccine candidate for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A genetic fusion construct comprising genes encoding the mycobacterial Ag85B antigen, an immunoglobulin γ-chain fragment and the tailpiece from immunoglobulin μ chain was engineered. Expression was attempted in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and in Nicotiana benthamiana. The recombinant protein assembled into polymeric structures (TB-PIGS) in N. benthamiana, similar in size to polymeric IgM. These complexes were subsequently shown to bind to the complement protein C1q and FcγRs with increased affinity. Modification of the N-glycans linked to TB-PIGS by removal of xylose and fucose residues that are normally found in plant glycosylated proteins also resulted in increased affinity for low-affinity FcγRs. Immunization studies in mice indicated that TB-PIGS are highly immunogenic with and without adjuvant. However, they did not improve protective efficacy in mice against challenge with M. tuberculosis compared to conventional vaccination with BCG, suggesting that additional or alternative antigens may be needed to protect against this disease. Nevertheless, these results establish a novel platform for producing polymeric antigen-IgG γ-chain molecules with inherent functional characteristics that are desirable in vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina R. Webster
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | | | - Thais Guerra
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Szymon Stelter
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Sven Hofmann
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Mi‐Young Kim
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Audrey Y‐H. Teh
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Gil Reynolds Diogo
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Alastair Copland
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Mathew J. Paul
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Peter Hart
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Rajko Reljic
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
| | - Julian K‐C. Ma
- Institute for Infection and ImmunitySt. George's University of LondonLondonUK
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