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Sangprasat K, Bulaon CJI, Rattanapisit K, Srisangsung T, Jirarojwattana P, Wongwatanasin A, Phoolcharoen W. Production of monoclonal antibodies against botulinum neurotoxin in Nicotiana benthamiana. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2329446. [PMID: 38525945 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2329446] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Botulism is a fatal neurologic disease caused by the botulinum toxin (BoNT) produced by Clostridium botulinum. It is a rare but highly toxic disease with symptoms, such as cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dysphagia, respiratory failure, muscle weakness, and even death. Currently, two types of antitoxin are used: equine-derived heptavalent antitoxin and human-derived immunoglobulin (BabyBIG®). However, heptavalent treatment may result in hypersensitivity, whereas BabyBIG®, has a low yield. The present study focused on the development of three anti-BoNT monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 1B18, C25, and M2, in Nicotiana benthamiana. The plant-expressed mAbs were purified and examined for size, purity and integrity by SDS-PAGE, western blotting and size-exclusion chromatography. Analysis showed that plant-produced anti-BoNT mAbs can fully assemble in plants, can be purified in a single purification step, and mostly remain as monomeric proteins. The efficiency of anti-BoNT mAbs binding to BoNT/A and B was then tested. Plant-produced 1B18 retained its ability to recognize both mBoNT/A1 and ciBoNT/B1. At the same time, the binding specificities of two other mAbs were determined: C25 for mBoNT/A1 and M2 for ciBoNT/B1. In conclusion, our results confirm the use of plants as an alternative platform for the production of anti-BoNT mAbs. This plant-based technology will serve as a versatile system for the development botulism immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kornchanok Sangprasat
- Center of Excellence in Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Graduate Program of Program in Research for Enterprise, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Kaewta Rattanapisit
- Department of Research and Development, Baiya Phytopharm Co. Ltd, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Theerakarn Srisangsung
- Center of Excellence in Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Graduate Program of Program in Research for Enterprise, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Perawat Jirarojwattana
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Center of Excellence in Plant-Produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Przedpelski A, Tepp WH, Zuverink M, Johnson EA, Pellet S, Barbieri JT. Enhancing toxin-based vaccines against botulism. Vaccine 2018; 36:827-832. [PMID: 29307477 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.12.064] [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: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) are the most toxic proteins for humans. BoNTs are single chain proteins with an N-terminal light chain (LC) and a C-terminal heavy chain (HC). HC comprises a translocation domain (HCN) and a receptor binding domain (HCC). Currently, there are no approved vaccines against botulism. This study tests a recombinant, full-length BoNT/A1 versus LCHCN/A1 and HCC/A1 as vaccine candidates against botulism. Recombinant, full-length BoNT/A1 was detoxified by engineering 3-amino acid mutations (E224A/R363A/Y366F) (M-BoNT/A1) into the LC to eliminate catalytic activity, which reduced toxicity in a mouse model of botulism by >106-fold relative to native BoNT/A1. As a second step to improve vaccine safety, an additional mutation (W1266A) was engineered in the ganglioside binding pocket, resulting in reduced receptor binding, to produce M-BoNT/A1W. M-BoNT/A1W vaccination protected against challenge by 106 LD50 Units of native BoNT/A1, while M-BoNT/A1 or M-BoNT/A1W vaccination equally protected against challenge by native BoNT/A2, a BoNT subtype. Mice vaccinated with M-BoNT/A1W surviving BoNT challenge had dominant antibody responses to the LCHCN domain, but varied antibody responses to HCC. Sera from mice vaccinated with M-BoNT/A1W also neutralized BoNT/A1 action on cultured neuronal cells. The cell- and mouse-based assays measured different BoNT-neutralizing antibodies, where M-BoNT/A1W elicited a strong neutralizing response in both assays. Overall, M-BoNT/A1W, with defects in multiple toxin functions, elicits a potent immune response to BoNT/A challenge as a vaccine strategy against botulism and other toxin-mediated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Przedpelski
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd., Microbiology and Immunology, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - William H Tepp
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6303 Microbial Sciences Building, 1550 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Madison Zuverink
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd., Microbiology and Immunology, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
| | - Eric A Johnson
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6303 Microbial Sciences Building, 1550 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Sabine Pellet
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6303 Microbial Sciences Building, 1550 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Joseph T Barbieri
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd., Microbiology and Immunology, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States.
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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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Thanongsaksrikul J, Chaicumpa W. Botulinum neurotoxins and botulism: a novel therapeutic approach. Toxins (Basel) 2011; 3:469-88. [PMID: 22069720 PMCID: PMC3202833 DOI: 10.3390/toxins3050469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2011] [Revised: 04/22/2011] [Accepted: 04/28/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Specific treatment is not available for human botulism. Current remedial mainstay is the passive administration of polyclonal antibody to botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) derived from heterologous species (immunized animal or mouse hybridoma) together with supportive and symptomatic management. The antibody works extracellularly, probably by blocking the binding of receptor binding (R) domain to the neuronal receptors; thus inhibiting cellular entry of the holo-BoNT. The antibody cannot neutralize the intracellular toxin. Moreover, a conventional antibody with relatively large molecular size (150 kDa) is not accessible to the enzymatic groove and, thus, cannot directly inhibit the BoNT zinc metalloprotease activity. Recently, a 15-20 kDa single domain antibody (V(H)H) that binds specifically to light chain of BoNT serotype A was produced from a humanized-camel VH/V(H)H phage display library. The V(H)H has high sequence homology (>80%) to the human VH and could block the enzymatic activity of the BoNT. Molecular docking revealed not only the interface binding between the V(H)H and the toxin but also an insertion of the V(H)H CDR3 into the toxin enzymatic pocket. It is envisaged that, by molecular linking the V(H)H to a cell penetrating peptide (CPP), the CPP-V(H)H fusion protein would be able to traverse the hydrophobic cell membrane into the cytoplasm and inhibit the intracellular BoNT. This presents a novel and safe immunotherapeutic strategy for botulism by using a cell penetrating, humanized-single domain antibody that inhibits the BoNT by means of a direct blockade of the groove of the menace enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeraphong Thanongsaksrikul
- Laboratory for Research and Technology Development, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Prannok Road, Bangkok-noi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
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Popoff MR, Poulain B. Bacterial toxins and the nervous system: neurotoxins and multipotential toxins interacting with neuronal cells. Toxins (Basel) 2010; 2:683-737. [PMID: 22069606 PMCID: PMC3153206 DOI: 10.3390/toxins2040683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2010] [Revised: 03/18/2010] [Accepted: 04/07/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxins are potent molecules used by various bacteria to interact with a host organism. Some of them specifically act on neuronal cells (clostridial neurotoxins) leading to characteristics neurological affections. But many other toxins are multifunctional and recognize a wider range of cell types including neuronal cells. Various enterotoxins interact with the enteric nervous system, for example by stimulating afferent neurons or inducing neurotransmitter release from enterochromaffin cells which result either in vomiting, in amplification of the diarrhea, or in intestinal inflammation process. Other toxins can pass the blood brain barrier and directly act on specific neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel R. Popoff
- Neurotransmission et Sécrétion Neuroendocrine, CNRS UPR 2356 IFR 37 - Neurosciences, Centre de Neurochimie, 5, rue Blaise Pascal, F-67084 STRASBOURG cedex, France;
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed;
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Pauly D, Kirchner S, Stoermann B, Schreiber T, Kaulfuss S, Schade R, Zbinden R, Avondet MA, Dorner MB, Dorner BG. Simultaneous quantification of five bacterial and plant toxins from complex matrices using a multiplexed fluorescent magnetic suspension assay. Analyst 2009; 134:2028-39. [PMID: 19768210 DOI: 10.1039/b911525k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Proteotoxins such as ricin, abrin, botulinum neurotoxins type A and B (BoNT/A, BoNT/B) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) are regarded as potential biological warfare agents which could be used for bioterrorism attacks on the food chain. In this study we used a novel immunisation strategy to generate high-affinity monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against native ricin, BoNT/A, and BoNT/B. The antibodies were used along with antibodies against SEB and abrin to establish a highly sensitive magnetic and fluorescent multiplex bead array with excellent sensitivities between 2 ng/L and 546 ng/L from a minimal sample volume of 50 microL. The assay was validated using 20 different related analytes and the assay precision was determined. Advancing the existing bead array technology, the novel magnetic and fluorescent microbeads proved amenable to enrichment procedures, by further increasing sensitivity to 0.3-85 ng/L, starting from a sample volume of 500 microL. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied for the simultaneous identification of the target toxins spiked into complex food matrices like milk, baby food and yoghurt. On the basis of our results, the assay appears to be a good tool for large-scale screening of samples from the food supply chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Pauly
- Center for Biological Safety, Microbial Toxins (ZBS3), Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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7
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Kalb SR, Lou J, Garcia-Rodriguez C, Geren IN, Smith TJ, Moura H, Marks JD, Smith LA, Pirkle JL, Barr JR. Extraction and inhibition of enzymatic activity of botulinum neurotoxins/A1, /A2, and /A3 by a panel of monoclonal anti-BoNT/A antibodies. PLoS One 2009; 4:e5355. [PMID: 19399171 PMCID: PMC2670495 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2008] [Accepted: 03/25/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are extremely potent toxins that are capable of causing death or respiratory failure leading to long-term intensive care. Treatment includes serotype-specific antitoxins, which must be administered early in the course of the intoxication. Rapidly determining human exposure to BoNT is an important public health goal. In previous work, our laboratory focused on developing Endopep-MS, a mass spectrometry-based endopeptidase method for detecting and differentiating BoNT/A–G serotypes in buffer and BoNT/A, /B, /E, and /F in clinical samples. We have previously reported the effectiveness of antibody-capture to purify and concentrate BoNTs from complex matrices, such as clinical samples. Because some antibodies inhibit or neutralize the activity of BoNT, the choice of antibody with which to extract the toxin is critical. In this work, we evaluated a panel of 16 anti-BoNT/A monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for their ability to inhibit the in vitro activity of BoNT/A1, /A2, and /A3 complex as well as the recombinant LC of A1. We also evaluated the same antibody panel for the ability to extract BoNT/A1, /A2, and /A3. Among the mAbs, there were significant differences in extraction efficiency, ability to extract BoNT/A subtypes, and inhibitory effect on BoNT catalytic activity. The mAbs binding the C-terminal portion of the BoNT/A heavy chain had optimal properties for use in the Endopep-MS assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne R. Kalb
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jianlong Lou
- Department of Anesthesia and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Consuelo Garcia-Rodriguez
- Department of Anesthesia and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Isin N. Geren
- Department of Anesthesia and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Theresa J. Smith
- Integrated Toxicology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hercules Moura
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - James D. Marks
- Department of Anesthesia and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Leonard A. Smith
- Integrated Toxicology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - James L. Pirkle
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - John R. Barr
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Shi J, Bao S, Yin J, Cai K, Hou X, Xiao L, Tu W, Wang Q, Wang H. Dominant antigenic peptides located at the heavy chain terminal of botulinum neurotoxin B contain receptor-binding sites for synaptotagmin II. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 374:331-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.07.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2008] [Accepted: 07/08/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Zarebski LM, Vaughan K, Sidney J, Peters B, Grey H, Janda KD, Casadevall A, Sette A. Analysis of epitope information related to Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium botulinum. Expert Rev Vaccines 2008; 7:55-74. [PMID: 18251694 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.7.1.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We have reviewed the information about epitopes of immunological interest from Clostridium botulinum and Bacillus anthracis, by mining the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource. For both pathogens, the vast majority of epitopes reported to date are derived from a single protein: the protective antigen of B. anthracis and the neurotoxin type A of C. botulinum. A detailed analysis of the data was performed to characterize the function, localization and conservancy of epitopes identified as neutralizing and/or protective. In order to broaden the scope of this analysis, we have also included data describing immune responses against defined fragments (over 50 amino acids long) of the relevant antigens. The scarce information on T-cell determinants and on epitopes from other antigens besides the toxins, highlights a gap in our knowledge and identifies areas for future research. Despite this, several distinct structures at the epitope and fragment level are described herein, which could be potential additions to future vaccines or targets of novel immunotherapeutics and diagnostic reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Zarebski
- Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 9203,7 USA.
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Lee MS, Lee JC, Choi CY, Chung J. Production and characterization of monoclonal antibody to botulinum neurotoxin type B light chain by phage display. Hybridoma (Larchmt) 2008; 27:18-24. [PMID: 18294072 DOI: 10.1089/hyb.2007.0532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A monoclonal antibody to the light chain of botulinum neurotoxin type B (BoNT/B) was generated and its protective activity was evaluated in vivo. A chimeric rabbit/human Fab library was generated using bone marrow and spleen cDNAs of rabbits immunized with the BoNT/B light chain, and three monoclonal antibodies specific to the catalytic domain of BoNT/B were isolated. One of these clones, BCXRH1, was specific to a conformation-dependent epitope, and partially neutralized the BoNT/B complex in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung-Shin Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
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Sesardic D, Jones RGA, Leung T, Alsop T, Tierney R. Detection of antibodies against botulinum toxins. Mov Disord 2004; 19 Suppl 8:S85-91. [PMID: 15027059 DOI: 10.1002/mds.20021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
After immunisation with botulinum vaccine, antibodies to multiple epitopes are produced. Only some of these will have the capacity to neutralise the toxin activity. In fact, the ability of toxoid vaccine to induce toxin neutralising antibodies has provided the basis for the use of therapeutic antitoxins and immunoglobulins for the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases caused by bacterial toxins. Increasing indications for the chronic use of botulinum toxin for therapy have inevitably resulted in concern for patients becoming unresponsive because of the presence of circulating toxin-specific antibodies. Highly sensitive and relevant assays to detect only clinically relevant toxin neutralising antibodies are essential. Although immunoassays often provide the sensitivity, their relevance and specificity is often questioned. The mouse protection LD(50) bioassay is considered most relevant but can often only detect 10 mIU/ml of antitoxin. This sensitivity, although sufficient for confirming protective immunity, is inadequate for patients undergoing toxin therapy. An intramuscular paralysis assay improves the sensitivity to ca. 1 mIU/ml, and a mouse ex vivo diaphragm assay, with sensitivity of < 0.5 mIU/ml, is the most sensitive functional assay to date for this purpose. Alternative approaches for the detection of antibodies to botulinum toxin have included in vitro endopeptidase activity neutralisation. Unlike any other functional assay, this approach is not reliant on serotype-specific antibodies for specificity. Most recent promising developments are focused on cellular assays utilising primary rat embryonic cord cells or more conveniently in vitro differentiated established cell lines such as human neuroblastoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Sesardic
- Division of Bacteriology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
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12
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Casadevall A. Passive antibody administration (immediate immunity) as a specific defense against biological weapons. Emerg Infect Dis 2002; 8:833-41. [PMID: 12141970 PMCID: PMC3369592 DOI: 10.3201/eid0808.010516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential threat of biological warfare with a specific agent is proportional to the susceptibility of the population to that agent. Preventing disease after exposure to a biological agent is partially a function of the immunity of the exposed individual. The only available countermeasure that can provide immediate immunity against a biological agent is passive antibody. Unlike vaccines, which require time to induce protective immunity and depend on the host's ability to mount an immune response, passive antibody can theoretically confer protection regardless of the immune status of the host. Passive antibody therapy has substantial advantages over antimicrobial agents and other measures for postexposure prophylaxis, including low toxicity and high specific activity. Specific antibodies are active against the major agents of bioterrorism, including anthrax, smallpox, botulinum toxin, tularemia, and plague. This article proposes a biological defense initiative based on developing, producing, and stockpiling specific antibody reagents that can be used to protect the population against biological warfare threats.
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Smyth MG, Sumner IG, Lax AJ. Reduced pH causes structural changes in the potent mitogenic toxin of Pasteurella multocida. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1999; 180:15-20. [PMID: 10547439 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1999.tb08772.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pasteurella multocida toxin is a potent mitogen that is believed to act intracellularly. On transverse urea gradient gels at pH 8.0 the toxin displayed one major unfolding transition at 4 M urea. However, at pH 6.1 the unfolding transition took place at 3.5 M urea. Circular dichroism spectra also indicated that a structural change took place at acidic pH. In addition it was found that the toxin that had been denatured in 8 M urea refolded in solution with a high recovery of biological activity. These findings are discussed in terms of the likely domain structure of the P. multocida toxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Smyth
- Institute of Food Research, Whiteknights Road, Reading, Berkshire, UK
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14
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Abstract
The clostridial neurotoxins (CNTs), comprised of tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) and the seven serotypes of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT A-G), specifically bind to neuronal cells and disrupt neurotransmitter release by cleaving proteins involved in synaptic vesicle membrane fusion. In this study, multiple CNT sequences were analyzed within the context of the 1277 residue BoNT/A crystal structure to gain insight into the events of binding, pore formation, translocation, and catalysis that are required for toxicity. A comparison of the TeNT-binding domain structure to that of BoNT/A reveals striking differences in their surface properties. Further, the solvent accessibility of a key tryptophan in the C terminus of the BoNT/A-binding domain refines the location of the ganglioside-binding site. Data collected from a single frozen crystal of BoNT/A are included in this study, revealing slight differences in the binding domain orientation as well as density for a previously unobserved translocation domain loop. This loop and the conservation of charged residues with structural proximity to putative pore-forming sequences lend insight into the CNT mechanism of pore formation and translocation. The sequence analysis of the catalytic domain revealed an area near the active-site likely to account for specificity differences between the CNTs. It revealed also a tertiary structure, highly conserved in primary sequence, which seems critical to catalysis but is 30 A from the active-site zinc ion. This observation, along with an analysis of the 54 residue "belt" from the translocation domain are discussed with respect to the mechanism of catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Lacy
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA
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15
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Brown DR, Lloyd JP, Schmidt JJ. Identification and characterization of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody against botulinum neurotoxin serotype F, following vaccination with active toxin. Hybridoma (Larchmt) 1997; 16:447-56. [PMID: 9388028 DOI: 10.1089/hyb.1997.16.447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Clostridium botulinum may produce any of seven known serotypes of neurotoxin (BoNT/A-/G), which are the most toxic bacterial proteins known. Efforts to develop a second-generation vaccine to these toxins would benefit from the isolation of hybridomas producing neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). We hypothesized that previous efforts to isolate neutralizing MAbs against various BoNTs failed due to use of toxoided, chemically altered antigens. We employed a novel vaccination regimen employing native, active, single-chain BoNT/E (scBoNT/E). A number of the BoNT/E immunized mice were further vaccinated with lethal doses of fully active BoNT/F. MAb 7F8 consistently neutralized BoNT/F in three different assays: in vivo neutralization, passive neutralization, and neutralization of regional paralysis. There was no detectable recognition and essentially no neutralization of scBoNT/E. The epitope recognized by this MAb was denatured when treated with formalin, urea, guanidine chloride, or sodium dodecyl sulfate. Preliminary epitope mapping studies indicate that the MAb bound to a conformational epitope.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Brown
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702-5011, USA
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16
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Oshima M, Hayakari M, Middlebrook JL, Atassi MZ. Immune recognition of botulinum neurotoxin type A: regions recognized by T cells and antibodies against the protective H(C) fragment (residues 855-1296) of the toxin. Mol Immunol 1997; 34:1031-40. [PMID: 9488054 DOI: 10.1016/s0161-5890(97)00107-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Botulism toxicity is caused by botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), a group of protein neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. Recent studies have shown that immunization with a C-terminal fragment [H(C), residues 855-1296] of BoNT type A (BoNT/A) affords excellent protection against BoNT/A toxicity. The present work was carried out in order to map the molecular and cellular immunological recognition of H(C). We have previously described the synthesis of 31 overlapping peptides encompassing the entire H(C)-fragment of BoNT/A. These peptides were employed in this study to localize the continuous regions recognized by T cells and by antibodies (Abs) generated in two mouse strains against H(C). T cells from SJL that had been primed with H(C) gave a strong proliferative response to challenge in vitro with each of the six peptides spanning residues 897-985 and a lower response to peptide 1051- 1069. While H(C)-primed T cells of BALB/c recognized three regions residing within residues 939-957, 1009-1027 and 1135-1153 (strong). Recognition regions by Abs in SJL or BALB/c anti-H(C) antisera essentially overlapped. However, the level of Abs bound to each region differed between the two strains. These common or similar recognition regions by the two strains were: 855-915 (SJL) or 855-901 (BALB/c); 939-957; 967-1013 (BALB/c) or 981-1013 (SJL); 1051-1069; 1079-1111 (BALB/c) or 1093-1125 (SJL); 1177-1195; and 1275-1296. In addition, BALB/c recognized region 1135-1153. Some of these regions show considerable sequence similarity in BoNT types B and E and, therefore, H(C) of these two BoNTs might offer protection against the correlate clostridial toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Oshima
- Department of Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Atassi MZ, Dolimbek BZ, Hayakari M, Middlebrook JL, Whitney B, Oshima M. Mapping of the antibody-binding regions on botulinum neurotoxin H-chain domain 855-1296 with antitoxin antibodies from three host species. JOURNAL OF PROTEIN CHEMISTRY 1996; 15:691-700. [PMID: 8968960 DOI: 10.1007/bf01886751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Botulism due to food poisoning is caused mainly by protein toxins, botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), produced by Clostridium botluinum in seven known immunological serotypes. These are the most potent toxins and poisons known. BoNT effects blockade of neuromuscular transmission by preventing neurotransmitter release. Human botulism is most frequently caused by types A, B, and E. Recent studies have shown that immunization with a 43-kDa C-terminal fragment (Hc, residues 860-1296) of BoNT/A affords excellent protection against BoNT/A poisoning. We raised antibodies (Abs) against BoNT/A in horse, and against pentavalent toxoid (BoNTs A, B, C, D, E) in human volunteers and outbred mice. Thirty-one 19-residue peptides that started at residue 855, overlapped consecutively by 5 residues, and encompassed the entire length of the Hc of BoNT/A were synthesized and used for mapping the Ab-binding regions recognized by the anti-BoNT/A antisera. Horse Abs against BoBT/A were bound by peptides 855-873, 939-957, 1079-1097/1093-1111 overlap, 1191-1209/1205-1223 overlap, 1261-1279 and 1275-1296. In addition, peptides 883-901, 911-929, 995-1013, 1023-1041/1037-1055 overlap, 1121-1139, and 1149-1167 gave low, but significant and reproducible, binding. With human antisera, high amounts of Abs were bound by peptides 869-887, 925-943, 981-999, 995-1013, 1051-1069, and 1177-1195. In addition, lower amounts of Abs were bound by peptides 911-929, 939-957, 967-985, and the overlaps 1121-1139/1135-1153 and 1247-1265/1261-1279/1275-1296. With outbred mouse antisera, high amounts of Abs were bound by peptides 869-887, 1051-1069, and 1177-1195, while peptides 939-957, 995-1013, 1093-1111, and 1275-1296 bound lower amounts of Abs. The results indicate that horse antiserum against BoNT/A or human and mouse (outbred) antisera against the toxoid recognized similar regions on BoNT/A, but exhibited some boundary frame shifts and differences in immunodominance of these regions among the antisera. Selected synthetic epitopes will be used as immunogens to stimulate active or passive (by Ab transfer) immunity against toxin poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Z Atassi
- Verma and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- R Jahn
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut 06510
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Niemann H, Blasi J, Jahn R. Clostridial neurotoxins: new tools for dissecting exocytosis. Trends Cell Biol 1994; 4:179-85. [PMID: 14731646 DOI: 10.1016/0962-8924(94)90203-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 261] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tetanus toxin and botulinal toxins are potent inhibitors of neuronal exocytosis. Within the past five years the protein sequences of all eight neurotoxins have been determined, their mode of action as metalloproteases has been established, and their intraneuronal targets have been identified. The toxins act by selectively proteolysing the synaptic vesicle protein synaptobrevin (VAMP) or the presynaptic membrane proteins syntaxin (HPC-1) and SNAP-25. These three proteins form the core of a complex that mediates fusion of carrier vesicles to target membranes. Tetanus and botulinal neurotoxins could serve in the future as tools to study membrane trafficking events, or even higher brain functions such as behaviour and learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Niemann
- Department of Microbiology, Federal Research Center for Viral Diseases of Animals, Tuebingen, Germany
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Link E, Blasi J, Chapman ER, Edelmann L, Baumeister A, Binz T, Yamasaki S, Niemann H, Jahn R. Tetanus and botulinal neurotoxins. Tools to understand exocytosis in neurons. ADVANCES IN SECOND MESSENGER AND PHOSPHOPROTEIN RESEARCH 1994; 29:47-58. [PMID: 7848727 DOI: 10.1016/s1040-7952(06)80006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- E Link
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510
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