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Xia F, Li M, Liu Q, Liu H, Yang Y, Liu M, Chen G, Luo L, Liu Y, Liu G. Allergenicity and Linear Epitope Analysis of Scy p 8, an Allergen from Mud Crab. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:13402-13414. [PMID: 38821040 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c02693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Scy p 8 (triosephosphate isomerase) as a crab allergen in inducing distinct T-helper (Th) cell differentiation and a linear epitope associated with allergenicity remain elusive. In this study, mice sensitized with Scy p 8 exhibited significantly upregulated levels of IgE, IgG1, and IL-4 release, inducing a Th2 immune response. Moreover, the release of IFN-γ (Th1) and the levels of Treg cells were downregulated, while IL-17A (Th17) was upregulated, indicating that Scy p 8 disrupted the Th1/Th2 balance and Th17/Treg balance in mice. Furthermore, bioinformatics prediction and serum samples from crab-allergic patients and mice enabled the discovery of 8 linear epitopes of Scy p 8. Meanwhile, the analysis of peptide similarity and tertiary superposition revealed that 8 epitopes of Scy p 8 exhibited conservation across various species, potentially resulting in cross-reactivity. These findings possess the potential to enhance the comprehension of crab allergens, thereby establishing a foundation for investigating cross-reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Xia
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Processing Technology for Aquatic Products, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
| | - Mengsi Li
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Processing Technology for Aquatic Products, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
| | - Qingmei Liu
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Processing Technology for Aquatic Products, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
| | - Hong Liu
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Processing Technology for Aquatic Products, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
| | - Yang Yang
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Processing Technology for Aquatic Products, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Xiamen Ocean Vocational College, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Guixia Chen
- Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, China
| | - Lianzhong Luo
- Engineering Research Center of Marine Biopharmaceutical Resources, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, Fujian 361023, China
| | - Yixiang Liu
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Processing Technology for Aquatic Products, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
| | - Guangming Liu
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Processing Technology for Aquatic Products, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
- Xiamen Ocean Vocational College, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
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Buraphaka H, Dobutr T, Wiese MD, Lopata AL, Daduang S. Structure-based epitope prediction and assessment of cross-reactivity of Myrmecia pilosula venom-specific IgE and recombinant Sol g proteins (Solenopsis geminata). Sci Rep 2024; 14:11145. [PMID: 38750087 PMCID: PMC11096326 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61843-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The global distribution of tropical fire ants (Solenopsis geminata) raises concerns about anaphylaxis and serious medical issues in numerous countries. This investigation focused on the cross-reactivity of allergen-specific IgE antibodies between S. geminata and Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper ant) venom proteins due to the potential emergence of cross-reactive allergies in the future. Antibody epitope analysis unveiled one predominant conformational epitope on Sol g 1.1 (PI score of 0.989), followed by Sol g 2.2, Sol g 4.1, and Sol g 3.1. Additionally, Pilosulin 1 showed high allergenic potential (PI score of 0.94), with Pilosulin 5a (PI score of 0.797) leading in B-cell epitopes. The sequence analysis indicated that Sol g 2.2 and Sol g 4.1 pose a high risk of cross-reactivity with Pilosulins 4.1a and 5a. Furthermore, the cross-reactivity of recombinant Sol g proteins with M. pilosula-specific IgE antibodies from 41 patients revealed high cross-reactivity for r-Sol g 3.1 (58.53%) and r-Sol g 4.1 (43.90%), followed by r-Sol g 2.2 (26.82%), and r-Sol g 1.1 (9.75%). Therefore, this study demonstrates cross-reactivity (85.36%) between S. geminata and M. pilosula, highlighting the allergenic risk. Understanding these reactions is vital for the prevention of severe allergic reactions, especially in individuals with pre-existing Jumper Jack ant allergy, informing future management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hathairat Buraphaka
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
- Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Theerawat Dobutr
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
- Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
| | - Michael D Wiese
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Andreas L Lopata
- Molecular Allergy Research Laboratory, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University AU, Townsville, Australia.
- Tropical Futures Institute, James Cook University SG, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Sakda Daduang
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
- Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
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Sharma E, Vitte J. A systematic review of allergen cross-reactivity: Translating basic concepts into clinical relevance. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. GLOBAL 2024; 3:100230. [PMID: 38524786 PMCID: PMC10959674 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2024.100230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Access to the molecular culprits of allergic reactions allows for the leveraging of molecular allergology as a new precision medicine approach-one built on interdisciplinary, basic, and clinical knowledge. Molecular allergology relies on the use of allergen molecules as in vitro tools for the diagnosis and management of allergic patients. It complements the conventional approach based on skin and in vitro allergen extract testing. Major applications of molecular allergology comprise accurate identification of the offending allergen thanks to discrimination between genuine sensitization and allergen cross-reactivity, evaluation of potential severity, patient-tailored choice of the adequate allergen immunotherapy, and prediction of its expected efficacy and safety. Allergen cross-reactivity, defined as the recognition of 2 or more allergen molecules by antibodies or T cells of the same specificity, frequently interferes with allergen extract testing. At the mechanistic level, allergen cross-reactivity depends on the allergen, the host's immune response, and the context of their interaction. The multiplicity of allergen molecules and families adds further difficulty. Understanding allergen cross-reactivity at the immunologic level and translating it into a daily tool for the management of allergic patients is further complicated by the ever-increasing number of characterized allergenic molecules, the lack of dedicated resources, and the need for a personalized, patient-centered approach. Conversely, knowledge sharing paves the way for improved clinical use, innovative diagnostic tools, and further interdisciplinary research. Here, we aimed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased state-of-the art systematic review on allergen cross-reactivity. To optimize learning, we enhanced the review with basic, translational, and clinical definitions, clinical vignettes, and an overview of online allergen databases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joana Vitte
- Aix-Marseille University, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Desbrest Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health (IDESP), University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
- University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, INSERM UMR-S 1250 P3CELL and University Hospital of Reims, Immunology Laboratory, Reims, France
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Tsuchiya Y, Yonezawa T, Yamamori Y, Inoura H, Osawa M, Ikeda K, Tomii K. PoSSuM v.3: A Major Expansion of the PoSSuM Database for Finding Similar Binding Sites of Proteins. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:7578-7587. [PMID: 38016694 PMCID: PMC10716853 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Information on structures of protein-ligand complexes, including comparisons of known and putative protein-ligand-binding pockets, is valuable for protein annotation and drug discovery and development. To facilitate biomedical and pharmaceutical research, we developed PoSSuM (https://possum.cbrc.pj.aist.go.jp/PoSSuM/), a database for identifying similar binding pockets in proteins. The current PoSSuM database includes 191 million similar pairs among almost 10 million identified pockets. PoSSuM drug search (PoSSuMds) is a resource for investigating ligand and receptor diversity among a set of pockets that can bind to an approved drug compound. The enhanced PoSSuMds covers pockets associated with both approved drugs and drug candidates in clinical trials from the latest release of ChEMBL. Additionally, we developed two new databases: PoSSuMAg for investigating antibody-antigen interactions and PoSSuMAF to simplify exploring putative pockets in AlphaFold human protein models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Tsuchiya
- Artificial
Intelligence Research Center, National Institute
of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Tomoki Yonezawa
- Division
of Physics for Life Functions, Keio University
Faculty of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan
| | - Yu Yamamori
- Artificial
Intelligence Research Center, National Institute
of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Hiroko Inoura
- Artificial
Intelligence Research Center, National Institute
of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Masanori Osawa
- Division
of Physics for Life Functions, Keio University
Faculty of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Ikeda
- Division
of Physics for Life Functions, Keio University
Faculty of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan
- Medicinal
Chemistry Applied AI Unit, HPC- and AI-driven Drug Development Platform
Division, RIKEN Center for Computational
Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Kentaro Tomii
- Artificial
Intelligence Research Center, National Institute
of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
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Song LB, Jiao YX, Xu ZQ, Zhu DX, Yang YS, Wei JF, Sun JL, Lu Y. Identification of Pla a 7 as a novel pollen allergen group in Platanus acerifolia pollen. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 125:111160. [PMID: 37948987 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111160] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Platanus acerifolia is recognized as a source of allergenic pollen worldwide. Currently, five Platanus acerifolia pollen allergens belonging to different protein families have been identified, in which profilin and enolase were characterized by our group recently. Besides, we also screened and identified a novel allergen candidate as triosephosphate isomerase, which was different from already known types of pollen allergens. However, the role of this novel allergen group in Platanus acerifolia pollen allergy was unclear. Therefore, we further investigated the allergenicity and clarify its clinical relevance in this study. METHODS The natural triosephosphate isomerase from Platanus acerifolia pollen was purified by three steps of chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry. The cDNA sequence of this protein was matched from in-house transcripts based on internal peptide sequences, which was further confirmed by PCR cloning. The recombinant triosephosphate isomerase was expressed and purified from E. coli. Allergenicity analysis of this protein was carried out by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, immunoblot, and basophil activation test. RESULTS A novel allergen group belonging to triosephosphate isomerase was firstly identified in Platanus acerifolia pollen and named as Pla a 7. The cDNA of Pla a 7 contained an open reading frame of 762 bp encoding 253 amino acids. The natural Pla a 7 displayed 41.4% IgE reactivity with the patients' sera by ELISA, in which the absorbance value showed correlation to the serum sIgE against Platanus acerifolia pollen extract. Inhibition of IgE-binding to pollen extracts reached 26%-94% in different Pla a 7-positive sera. The recombinant Pla a 7 exhibited weaker IgE-reactivity in ELISA than its natural form, but showed comparable activity in immunoblot. The allergenicity was further confirmed by basophil activation test. CONCLUSIONS Triosephosphate isomerase (Pla a 7) was first recognized as pollen allergen in Platanus acerifolia pollen, which is a completely different type of pollen allergen from those previously reported. This finding is essential to enrich information on allergen components and pave the way for molecular diagnosis or treatment strategies for Platanus acerifolia pollen allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le-Bin Song
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong-Xin Jiao
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Xu
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dan-Xuan Zhu
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong-Shi Yang
- Department of Allergy, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ji-Fu Wei
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China; Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jin-Lyu Sun
- Department of Allergy, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Negi SS, Schein CH, Braun W. The updated Structural Database of Allergenic Proteins (SDAP 2.0) provides 3D models for allergens and incorporated bioinformatics tools. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. GLOBAL 2023; 2:100162. [PMID: 37781674 PMCID: PMC10509899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Background Allergenic proteins can cause IgE-mediated adverse reactions in sensitized individuals. Although the sequences of many allergenic proteins have been identified, bioinformatics data analysis with advanced computational methods and modeling is needed to identify the basis for IgE binding and cross-reactivity. Objective We aim to present the features and use of the updated Structural Database of Allergenic Proteins 2.0 (SDAP 2.0) webserver, a unique, publicly available resource to compare allergens using specially designed computational tools and new high-quality 3-D models for most known allergens. Methods Previously developed and novel software tools for identifying cross-reactive allergens using sequence and structure similarity are implemented in SDAP 2.0. A comprehensive set of high-quality 3-D models of most allergens was generated with the state-of-the-art AlphaFold 2 software. A graphics tool enables the interactive visualization of IgE epitopes on experimentally determined and modeled 3-D structures. Results A user can search for allergens similar to a given input sequence with the FASTA algorithm or the window-based World Health Organization/International Union of Immunological Societies (WHO/IUIS) guidelines on safety concerns of novel food products. Peptides similar to known IgE epitopes can be identified with the property distance tool and conformational epitopes by the Cross-React method. The updated database contains 1657 manually curated sequences including all allergens from the IUIS database, 334 experimentally determined X-ray or NMR structures, and 1565 3-D models. Each allergen/isoallergen is classified according to its protein family. Conclusions SDAP provides access to the steadily increasing information on allergenic structures and epitopes with integrated bioinformatics tools to identify and analyze their similarities. In addition to serving the research and regulatory community, it provides clinicians with tools to identify potential coallergies in a sensitive patient and can help companies to design hypoallergenic foods and immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surendra S. Negi
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex
| | - Catherine H. Schein
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex
| | - Werner Braun
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex
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Bochorishvili E, Abramidze T, Mgaloblishvili N, Shengelidze G, Gotua M. Sensitization patterns of plant panallergens in Georgian allergic population from the molecular perspective. Postepy Dermatol Alergol 2023; 40:534-541. [PMID: 37692265 PMCID: PMC10485763 DOI: 10.5114/ada.2023.130482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In allergy diagnostics, component-resolved diagnostics (CRD) allows the clinician to assess the presence of specific IgE (sIgE) to allergenic proteins. Molecular diagnostics has improved our ability to identify not only species-specific, but also panallergen components. Aim To characterize the Georgian allergic population according to the most frequently recognized plant panallergen components (profilins, PR-10 and nonspecific lipid transfer proteins) using sensitization data from multiplex CRD and investigate their association with particular allergic diseases. Material and methods Patients, IgE positive to at least one studied panallergen component, were selected out of total 435 allergic individuals and stratified in two age groups: children and adults. Descriptive statistics, Chi square test (χ2) and Pearson Correlation test (r) were used for analysing the data. Results 38% (164/435) of investigated allergic patients showed IgE reactivity to at least one molecule belonging to Profilin, PR-10 and nsLTP families. Generally, PR-10 reactive individuals represented the largest group of patients (56.0%), followed by Profilins (43.0%) and nsLTP (32.0%). For the PR-10 allergen group, IgE sensitization was dominated by Bet v 1, for Profilin - by Hev b 8 and for nsLTP - by Pru p 3. It was shown that sensitization with nsLTPs revealed statistically important associations with allergic rhinitis (p = 0.005) and dermatitis (p = 0.02). PR-10 allergen sensitization was associated with allergic rhinitis (p = 0.04) and asthma (p = 0.04). Conclusions According to our results, sensitization to plant panallergens in the Georgian population creates characteristic features overlapping serotypes of Central Europe and Mediterranean region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterine Bochorishvili
- Department of Immunology, Center of Allergy and Immunology, Tbilisi, Georgia
- PhD student, David Tvildiani Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Tamar Abramidze
- Department of Immunology, Center of Allergy and Immunology, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | | | - George Shengelidze
- PhD student, David Tvildiani Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Department of Allergy, Center of Allergy and Immunology, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Maia Gotua
- Department of Allergy, Center of Allergy and Immunology, Tbilisi, Georgia
- David Tvildiani Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
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Guo W, Luo H, Cao Y, Jiang Z, Liu H, Zou J, Sheng C, Xi Y. Multi-omics research on common allergens during the ripening of pollen and poplar flocs of Populus deltoides. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1136613. [PMID: 37396639 PMCID: PMC10313134 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1136613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Background Populus deltoides is widely cultivated in China and produces a large number of pollen and poplar flocs from March to June per year. Previous studies have found that the pollen of P. deltoides contains allergens. However, studies on the ripening mechanism of pollen/poplar flocs and their common allergens are very limited. Methods Proteomics and metabolomics were used to study the changes of proteins and metabolites in pollen and poplar flocs of P. deltoides at different developmental stages. Allergenonline database was used to identify common allergens in pollen and poplar flocs at different developmental stages. Western blot (WB) was used to detect the biological activity of common allergens between mature pollen and poplar flocs. Results In total, 1400 differently expressed proteins (DEPs) and 459 different metabolites (DMs) were identified from pollen and poplar flocs at different developmental stages. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DEPs in pollen and poplar flocs were significantly enriched in ribosome and oxidative phosphorylation signaling pathways. The DMs in pollen are mainly involved in aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and arginine biosynthesis, while the DMs in poplar flocs are mainly involved in glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. Additionally, 72 common allergens were identified in pollen and poplar flocs at different developmental stages. WB showed that there were distinct binding bands between 70 and 17KD at the two groups of allergens. Conclusions A multitude of proteins and metabolites are closely related to the ripening of pollen and poplar flocs of Populus deltoides, and they contain common allergens between mature pollen and poplar flocs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guo
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Hui Luo
- School of Basic Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Yi Cao
- School of Basic Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Ziyun Jiang
- School of Basic Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Hui Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Jie Zou
- School of Basic Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Changle Sheng
- School of Basic Medicine, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Yilong Xi
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
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Tsuchiya Y, Yamamori Y, Tomii K. Protein-protein interaction prediction methods: from docking-based to AI-based approaches. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:1341-1348. [PMID: 36570321 PMCID: PMC9759050 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-01032-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs), such as protein-protein inhibitor, antibody-antigen complex, and supercomplexes play diverse and important roles in cells. Recent advances in structural analysis methods, including cryo-EM, for the determination of protein complex structures are remarkable. Nevertheless, much room remains for improvement and utilization of computational methods to predict PPIs because of the large number and great diversity of unresolved complex structures. This review introduces a wide array of computational methods, including our own, for estimating PPIs including antibody-antigen interactions, offering both historical and forward-looking perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Tsuchiya
- grid.208504.b0000 0001 2230 7538Artificial Intelligence Research Center (AIRC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, 135-0064 Japan
| | - Yu Yamamori
- grid.208504.b0000 0001 2230 7538Artificial Intelligence Research Center (AIRC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, 135-0064 Japan
| | - Kentaro Tomii
- grid.208504.b0000 0001 2230 7538Artificial Intelligence Research Center (AIRC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, 135-0064 Japan
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10
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Mendes MFDA, de Souza Bragatte M, Vianna P, de Freitas MV, Pöhner I, Richter S, Wade RC, Salzano FM, Vieira GF. MatchTope: A tool to predict the cross reactivity of peptides complexed with Major Histocompatibility Complex I. Front Immunol 2022; 13:930590. [PMID: 36389840 PMCID: PMC9650389 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.930590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic targeting of the immune system, for example in vaccinology and cancer treatment, is a challenging task and the subject of active research. Several in silico tools used for predicting immunogenicity are based on the analysis of peptide sequences binding to the Major Histocompatibility Complex (pMHC). However, few of these bioinformatics tools take into account the pMHC three-dimensional structure. Here, we describe a new bioinformatics tool, MatchTope, developed for predicting peptide similarity, which can trigger cross-reactivity events, by computing and analyzing the electrostatic potentials of pMHC complexes. We validated MatchTope by using previously published data from in vitro assays. We thereby demonstrate the strength of MatchTope for similarity prediction between targets derived from several pathogens as well as for indicating possible cross responses between self and tumor peptides. Our results suggest that MatchTope can enhance and speed up future studies in the fields of vaccinology and cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Fabiano de Almeida Mendes
- Bioinformatic Core, Immunogenetics Laboratory, Genetics Department, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marcelo de Souza Bragatte
- Bioinformatic Core, Immunogenetics Laboratory, Genetics Department, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Priscila Vianna
- Bioinformatic Core, Immunogenetics Laboratory, Genetics Department, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Martiela Vaz de Freitas
- Bioinformatic Core, Immunogenetics Laboratory, Genetics Department, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ina Pöhner
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Richter
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebecca C. Wade
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Heidelberg, Germany
- Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance and Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Francisco Mauro Salzano
- Bioinformatic Core, Immunogenetics Laboratory, Genetics Department, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Fioravanti Vieira
- Bioinformatic Core, Immunogenetics Laboratory, Genetics Department, Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Post-Graduation Program in Health and Human Development, Universidade La Salle Canoas, Canoas, Brazil
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11
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Li R, Banjanin B, Schneider RK, Costa IG. Detection of cell markers from single cell RNA-seq with sc2marker. BMC Bioinformatics 2022; 23:276. [PMID: 35831796 PMCID: PMC9281170 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-022-04817-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) allows the detection of rare cell types in complex tissues. The detection of markers for rare cell types is useful for further biological analysis of, for example, flow cytometry and imaging data sets for either physical isolation or spatial characterization of these cells. However, only a few computational approaches consider the problem of selecting specific marker genes from scRNA-seq data. Results Here, we propose sc2marker, which is based on the maximum margin index and a database of proteins with antibodies, to select markers for flow cytometry or imaging. We evaluated the performances of sc2marker and competing methods in ranking known markers in scRNA-seq data of immune and stromal cells. The results showed that sc2marker performed better than the competing methods in accuracy, while having a competitive running time. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-022-04817-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronghui Li
- Joint Research Center for Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Computational Genomics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Bella Banjanin
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Rebekka K Schneider
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ivan G Costa
- Joint Research Center for Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Computational Genomics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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12
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Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei belongs to a genus of protists that cause life-threatening and economically important diseases of human and animal populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. T. brucei cells are covered in surface glycoproteins, some of which are used to escape the host immune system. Exo-/endocytotic trafficking of these and other molecules occurs via a single copy organelle called the flagellar pocket (FP). The FP is maintained and enclosed around the flagellum by the flagellar pocket collar (FPC). To date, the most important cytoskeletal component of the FPC is an essential calcium-binding, polymer-forming protein called TbBILBO1. In searching for novel tools to study this protein, we raised nanobodies (Nb) against purified, full-length TbBILBO1. Nanobodies were selected according to their binding properties to TbBILBO1, tested as immunofluorescence tools, and expressed as intrabodies (INb). One of them, Nb48, proved to be the most robust nanobody and intrabody. We further demonstrate that inducible, cytoplasmic expression of INb48 was lethal to these parasites, producing abnormal phenotypes resembling those of TbBILBO1 RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown. Our results validate the feasibility of generating functional single-domain antibody-derived intrabodies to target trypanosome cytoskeleton proteins. IMPORTANCETrypanosoma brucei belongs to a group of important zoonotic parasites. We investigated how these organisms develop their cytoskeleton (the internal skeleton that controls cell shape) and focused on an essential protein (BILBO1) first described in T. brucei. To develop our analysis, we used purified BILBO1 protein to immunize an alpaca to make nanobodies (Nb). Nanobodies are derived from the antigen-binding portion of a novel antibody type found only in the camel and shark families of animals. Anti-BILBO1 nanobodies were obtained, and their encoding genes were inducibly expressed within the cytoplasm of T. brucei as intrabodies (INb). Importantly, INb48 expression rapidly killed parasites producing phenotypes normally observed after RNA knockdown, providing clear proof of principle. The importance of this study is derived from this novel approach, which can be used to study neglected and emerging pathogens as well as new model organisms, especially those that do not have the RNAi system.
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13
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Dreskin SC, Koppelman SJ, Andorf S, Nadeau KC, Kalra A, Braun W, Negi SS, Chen X, Schein CH. The importance of the 2S albumins for allergenicity and cross-reactivity of peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame seeds. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 147:1154-1163. [PMID: 33217410 PMCID: PMC8035160 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame seeds are among the most important food-related causes of anaphylaxis. Important clinical questions include: Why is there a variable occurrence of coallergy among these foods and Is this immunologically mediated? The clinical and immunologic data summarized here suggest an immunologic basis for these coallergies that is based on similarities among the 2S albumins. Data from component resolved diagnostics have highlighted the relationship between IgE binding to these allergens and the presence of IgE-mediated food allergy. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments provide strong evidence that the 2S albumins are the most important allergens in peanuts for inducing an allergic effector response. Although the 2S albumins are diverse, they have a common disulfide-linked core with similar physicochemical properties that make them prime candidates to explain much of the observed coallergy among peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame seeds. The well-established frequency of cashew and pistachio nut coallergy (64%-100%) highlights how the structural similarities among their 2S albumins may account for observed clinical cross-reactivity. A complete understanding of the physicochemical properties of the 2S albumins in peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame seeds will enhance our ability to diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent these allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C Dreskin
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colo.
| | - Stef J Koppelman
- Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb
| | - Sandra Andorf
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Kari C Nadeau
- Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Anjeli Kalra
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colo
| | - Werner Braun
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex
| | - Surendra S Negi
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex
| | - Xueni Chen
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colo
| | - Catherine H Schein
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex; Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex.
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14
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Karmakar B, Saha B, Jana K, Gupta Bhattacharya S. Identification and biochemical characterization of Asp t 36, a new fungal allergen from Aspergillus terreus. J Biol Chem 2021; 295:17852-17864. [PMID: 33454019 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.015801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus terreus is an allergenic fungus, in addition to causing infections in both humans and plants. However, the allergens in this fungus are still unknown, limiting the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. We used a proteomic approach to search for allergens, identifying 16 allergens based on two-dimensional immunoblotting with A. terreus susceptible patient sera. We further characterized triose-phosphate isomerase (Asp t 36), one of the dominant IgE (IgE)-reactive proteins. The gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Phylogenetic analysis showed Asp t 36 to be highly conserved with close similarity to the triose-phosphate isomerase protein sequence from Dermatophagoides farinae, an allergenic dust mite. We identified four immunodominant epitopes using synthetic peptides, and mapped them on a homology-based model of the tertiary structure of Asp t 36. Among these, two were found to create a continuous surface patch on the 3D structure, rendering it an IgE-binding hotspot. Biophysical analysis indicated that Asp t 36 shows similar secondary structure content and temperature sensitivity with other reported triose-phosphate isomerase allergens. In vivo studies using a murine model displayed that the recombinant Asp t 36 was able to stimulate airway inflammation, as demonstrated by an influx of eosinophils, goblet cell hyperplasia, elevated serum Igs, and induction of Th2 cytokines. Collectively, our results reveal the immunogenic property of Asp t 36, a major allergen from A. terreus, and define a new fungal allergen more broadly. This allergen could serve as a potent candidate for investigating component resolved diagnosis and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijoya Karmakar
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute (Main Campus), Kolkata, India
| | - Bodhisattwa Saha
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India.
| | - Kuladip Jana
- Division of Molecular Medicines, Bose Institute (Centenary Building), Kolkata, India
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15
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Barazorda-Ccahuana HL, Theiss-De-Rosso V, Valencia DE, Gómez B. Heat-Stable Hazelnut Profilin: Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Immunoinformatics Analysis. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1742. [PMID: 32764224 PMCID: PMC7464029 DOI: 10.3390/polym12081742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat treatment can modify the allergenic potential, reducing allergenicity in specific proteins. Profilins are one of the important hazelnut allergens; these proteins are considered panallergens due to their high capacity for cross-reactivity with other allergens. In the present work, we evaluated the thermostability of hazelnut profilin, combining molecular dynamics simulation and immunoinformatic techniques. This approach helped us to have reliable results in immunogenicity studies. We modeled Cor a 2 profilin and applied annealing simulation, equilibrium, and production simulation at constant temperatures ranging from 300 to 500 K using Gromacs software. Despite the hazelnut profilins being able to withstand temperatures of up to 400 K, this does not seem to reduce its allergenicity. We have found that profilin subjected to temperatures of 450 and 500 K could generate cross-reactivity with other food allergens. In conclusion, we note a remarkable thermostability of Cor a 2 at 400 K which avoids its structural unfolding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruna L. Barazorda-Ccahuana
- Centro de Investigación en Ingeniería Molecular—CIIM, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Urb. San José s/n—Umacollo, Arequipa 04000, Peru; (D.E.V.); (B.G.)
| | | | - Diego Ernesto Valencia
- Centro de Investigación en Ingeniería Molecular—CIIM, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Urb. San José s/n—Umacollo, Arequipa 04000, Peru; (D.E.V.); (B.G.)
| | - Badhin Gómez
- Centro de Investigación en Ingeniería Molecular—CIIM, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Urb. San José s/n—Umacollo, Arequipa 04000, Peru; (D.E.V.); (B.G.)
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16
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Maurer-Stroh S, Krutz NL, Kern PS, Gunalan V, Nguyen MN, Limviphuvadh V, Eisenhaber F, Gerberick GF. AllerCatPro-prediction of protein allergenicity potential from the protein sequence. Bioinformatics 2020; 35:3020-3027. [PMID: 30657872 PMCID: PMC6736023 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btz029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Motivation Due to the risk of inducing an immediate Type I (IgE-mediated) allergic response, proteins intended for use in consumer products must be investigated for their allergenic potential before introduction into the marketplace. The FAO/WHO guidelines for computational assessment of allergenic potential of proteins based on short peptide hits and linear sequence window identity thresholds misclassify many proteins as allergens. Results We developed AllerCatPro which predicts the allergenic potential of proteins based on similarity of their 3D protein structure as well as their amino acid sequence compared with a data set of known protein allergens comprising of 4180 unique allergenic protein sequences derived from the union of the major databases Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, Comprehensive Protein Allergen Resource, WHO/International Union of Immunological Societies, UniProtKB and Allergome. We extended the hexamer hit rule by removing peptides with high probability of random occurrence measured by sequence entropy as well as requiring 3 or more hexamer hits consistent with natural linear epitope patterns in known allergens. This is complemented with a Gluten-like repeat pattern detection. We also switched from a linear sequence window similarity to a B-cell epitope-like 3D surface similarity window which became possible through extensive 3D structure modeling covering the majority (74%) of allergens. In case no structure similarity is found, the decision workflow reverts to the old linear sequence window rule. The overall accuracy of AllerCatPro is 84% compared with other current methods which range from 51 to 73%. Both the FAO/WHO rules and AllerCatPro achieve highest sensitivity but AllerCatPro provides a 37-fold increase in specificity. Availability and implementation https://allercatpro.bii.a-star.edu.sg/ Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Maurer-Stroh
- Biomolecular Function Discovery Division, Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nora L Krutz
- The Procter & Gamble Services Company, Strombeek-Bever, Belgium
| | - Petra S Kern
- The Procter & Gamble Services Company, Strombeek-Bever, Belgium
| | - Vithiagaran Gunalan
- Biomolecular Function Discovery Division, Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Minh N Nguyen
- Biomolecular Function Discovery Division, Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Vachiranee Limviphuvadh
- Biomolecular Function Discovery Division, Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Frank Eisenhaber
- Biomolecular Function Discovery Division, Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Salvador E, Pires de Souza G, Cotta Malaquias L, Wang T, Leomil Coelho L. Identification of relevant regions on structural and nonstructural proteins of Zika virus for vaccine and diagnostic test development: an in silico approach. New Microbes New Infect 2019; 29:100506. [PMID: 30858979 PMCID: PMC6396434 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus belonging to the Flaviviridae family and the genus Flavivirus. Infection with ZIKV causes a mild, self-limiting febrile illness called Zika fever. However, ZIKV infection has been recently associated with microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Vaccines for the disease are a high priority of World Health Organization. Several studies are currently being conducted to develop a vaccine against ZIKV, but until now there is no licensed ZIKV vaccine. This study used a novel immunoinformatics approach to identify potential T-cell immunogenic epitopes present in the structural and nonstructural proteins of ZIKV. Fourteen T-cell candidate epitopes were identified on ZIKV structural and nonstructural proteins: pr36-50; C61-75; C103-117; E374-382; E477-491; NS2a90-104; NS2a174-188; NS2a179-193; NS2a190-204; NS2a195-209; NS2a200-214; NS3175-189; and NS4a82-96; NS4a99-113. Among these epitopes, only E374-382 is a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type I restricted epitope. All identified epitopes showed a low similarity with other important flaviviruses but had a high conservation rate among the ZIKV strains and a high population coverage rate. Therefore, these predicted T-cell epitopes are potential candidates targets for development of vaccines to prevent ZIKV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- E.A. Salvador
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Federal University of Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - G.A. Pires de Souza
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Federal University of Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - L.C. Cotta Malaquias
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Federal University of Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - T. Wang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - L.F. Leomil Coelho
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Federal University of Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Corresponding author: L. F. Leomil Coelho, Laboratório de Vacinas, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Rua Gabriel Monteiro, 700 Centro, Alfenasm Minas Gerais, 37130-001, Brazil.
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18
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Liu GY, Mei XJ, Hu MJ, Yang Y, Liu M, Li MS, Zhang ML, Cao MJ, Liu GM. Analysis of the Allergenic Epitopes of Tropomyosin from Mud Crab Using Phage Display and Site-Directed Mutagenesis. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2018; 66:9127-9137. [PMID: 30107732 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b03466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Mud crab ( Scylla serrata), which is widely consumed, can cause severe allergic symptoms. Eight linear epitopes and seven conformational epitopes of tropomyosin (TM) from S. serrata were identified using phage display. The conformational epitopes were formed based on the coiled-coil structure of TM. Most of the epitopes were located in the regions where primary structures were conserved among crustacean TM. Twelve synthetic peptides were designed according to the epitopes and trypsin-cutting sites of TM, among them, three synthetic peptides (including one linear epitope and two conformational epitopes) were recognized by all of the patient sera using inhibitory dot blotting. A triple-variant (R90A-E164A-Y267A) was constructed based on the critical amino acids of the TM epitope. The IgE-binding activity of the triple-variant was significantly reduced compared with that of native TM. The results of phage display and site-directed mutagenesis offered new information regarding conformational epitopes of TM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Yu Liu
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources , Jimei University , Xiamen , Fujian China
| | - Xue-Jiao Mei
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources , Jimei University , Xiamen , Fujian China
| | - Meng-Jun Hu
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources , Jimei University , Xiamen , Fujian China
| | - Yang Yang
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources , Jimei University , Xiamen , Fujian China
| | - Meng Liu
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources , Jimei University , Xiamen , Fujian China
| | - Meng-Si Li
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources , Jimei University , Xiamen , Fujian China
| | - Ming-Li Zhang
- Xiamen Second Hospital , Xiamen , Fujian 361021 , China
| | - Min-Jie Cao
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources , Jimei University , Xiamen , Fujian China
| | - Guang-Ming Liu
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Marine Functional Food, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources , Jimei University , Xiamen , Fujian China
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Distinguishing allergens from non-allergenic homologues using Physical-Chemical Property (PCP) motifs. Mol Immunol 2018; 99:1-8. [PMID: 29627609 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative guidelines to distinguish allergenic proteins from related, but non-allergenic ones are urgently needed for regulatory agencies, biotech companies and physicians. In a previous study, we found that allergenic proteins populate a relatively small number of protein families, as characterized by the Pfam database. However, these families also contain non-allergenic proteins, meaning that allergenic determinants must lie within more discrete regions of the sequence. Thus, new methods are needed to discriminate allergenic proteins within those families. Physical-Chemical Properties (PCP)-motifs specific for allergens within a Pfam class were determined for 17 highly populated protein domains. A novel scoring method based on PCP-motifs that characterize known allergenic proteins within these families was developed, and validated for those domains. The motif scores distinguished sequences of allergens from a large selection of 80,000 randomly selected non-allergenic sequences. The motif scores for the birch pollen allergen (Bet v 1) family, which also contains related fruit and nut allergens, correlated better than global sequence similarities with clinically observed cross-reactivities among those allergens. Further, we demonstrated that the average scores of allergen specific motifs for allergenic profilins are significantly different from the scores of non-allergenic profilins. Several of the selective motifs coincide with experimentally determined IgE epitopes of allergenic profilins. The motifs also discriminated allergenic pectate lyases, including Jun a 1 from mountain cedar pollen, from similar proteins in the human microbiome, which can be assumed to be non-allergens. The latter lacked key motifs characteristic of the known allergens, some of which correlate with known IgE binding sites.
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