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Gan SKE, Phua SX, Yeo JY. Sagacious epitope selection for vaccines, and both antibody-based therapeutics and diagnostics: tips from virology and oncology. Antib Ther 2022; 5:63-72. [PMID: 35372784 PMCID: PMC8972324 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbac005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The target of an antibody plays a significant role in the success of antibody-based therapeutics and diagnostics, and vaccine development. This importance is focused on the target binding site—epitope, where epitope selection as a part of design thinking beyond traditional antigen selection using whole cell or whole protein immunization can positively impact success. With purified recombinant protein production and peptide synthesis to display limited/selected epitopes, intrinsic factors that can affect the functioning of resulting antibodies can be more easily selected for. Many of these factors stem from the location of the epitope that can impact accessibility of the antibody to the epitope at a cellular or molecular level, direct inhibition of target antigen activity, conservation of function despite escape mutations, and even non-competitive inhibition sites. By incorporating novel computational methods for predicting antigen changes to model-informed drug discovery and development, superior vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics or diagnostics can be easily designed to mitigate failures. With detailed examples, this review highlights the new opportunities, factors and methods of predicting antigenic changes for consideration in sagacious epitope selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Ken-En Gan
- Antibody & Product Development Lab, EDDC-BII, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
- APD SKEG Pte Ltd, Singapore 439444, Singapore
| | - Ser-Xian Phua
- Antibody & Product Development Lab, EDDC-BII, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Joshua Yi Yeo
- Antibody & Product Development Lab, EDDC-BII, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
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Vakilian M. A review on the effect of prolyl isomerization on immune response aberration and hypersensitivity reactions: A unifying hypothesis. Clin Immunol 2021; 234:108896. [PMID: 34848356 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2021.108896] [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: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the causes and mechanisms of ectopic immune responses, including different types of hypersensitivity, superantigens, and cytokine storms. Two of the most questionable phenomena observed in immunology are why the intensity and extent of immune responses to different antigens are different, and why some self-antigens are attacked as foreign. The secondary structure of the peptides involved in the immune system, such as the epitope-paratope interfaces plays a pivotal role in the resulting immune responses. Prolyl cis/trans isomerization plays a fundamental role in the form of the secondary structure and the folding of proteins. This review covers some of the emerging evidence indicating the impact of prolyl isomerization on protein conformation, aberration of immune responses, and the development of hypersensitivity reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Vakilian
- Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology, University of Malaga (UMA), The Institute of Biomedical Research in Malaga (IBIMA), Málaga, Spain.
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Mahmood MS, Bin-T-Abid D, Irshad S, Batool H. Analysis of Putative Epitope Candidates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Against Pakistani Human Leukocyte Antigen Background: An Immunoinformatic Study for the Development of Future Vaccine. Int J Pept Res Ther 2020; 27:597-614. [PMID: 32922244 PMCID: PMC7472948 DOI: 10.1007/s10989-020-10111-w] [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] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is a global health issue across the world. Pakistan ranks fifth among the countries, which are facing, a significantly great number of mortalities and morbidities due to TB. Unfortunately, all previously reported treatments are not successful for the eradication of TB. Here in this study, we report an emerging treatment option for this disease. We have applied immunoinformatics to predict highly conserved B and T-cell epitopes from Mtb, showing significant binding affinities to the frequent HLA alleles in the Pakistani population. A total of ten highly referenced and experimentally validated epitopes were selected from the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), followed by their conservancy analysis using weblogos. The consensus sequences and variants derived from these sequences were examined, for their binding affinities, with prevalent HLA alleles of Pakistan. Moreover, the antigenic and allergenic natures of these peptides were also evaluated via Vaxijen and AllerTOP, respectively. Consequently, all potentially allergenic and non-antigenic, peptide fragments, were excluded from the analysis. Among all putative epitopes, three CD8 + T-cell epitopes were selected, as ideal vaccine candidates and, population coverage analysis revealed that the combination of these three peptides was covering, 67.28% Pakistani Asian and 57.15% mixed Pakistani populations. Likewise, eleven linear and six conformational or discontinuous B-cell epitopes were also marked as potential vaccine candidates based on their prediction score, non-allergenic nature, and antigenic properties. These epitopes, however, need the final validation via wet-lab studies. After their approval, these epitopes would be effective candidates for the future designing of epitope-based vaccines against Mtb infections in Pakistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malik Siddique Mahmood
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, P. O box No. 54590, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Duaa Bin-T-Abid
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, P. O box No. 54590, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Saba Irshad
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, P. O box No. 54590, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hina Batool
- Department of Life Science, School of Science, University of Management Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
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He B, Dzisoo AM, Derda R, Huang J. Development and Application of Computational Methods in Phage Display Technology. Curr Med Chem 2020; 26:7672-7693. [PMID: 29956612 DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180629123117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phage display is a powerful and versatile technology for the identification of peptide ligands binding to multiple targets, which has been successfully employed in various fields, such as diagnostics and therapeutics, drug-delivery and material science. The integration of next generation sequencing technology with phage display makes this methodology more productive. With the widespread use of this technique and the fast accumulation of phage display data, databases for these data and computational methods have become an indispensable part in this community. This review aims to summarize and discuss recent progress in the development and application of computational methods in the field of phage display. METHODS We undertook a comprehensive search of bioinformatics resources and computational methods for phage display data via Google Scholar and PubMed. The methods and tools were further divided into different categories according to their uses. RESULTS We described seven special or relevant databases for phage display data, which provided an evidence-based source for phage display researchers to clean their biopanning results. These databases can identify and report possible target-unrelated peptides (TUPs), thereby excluding false-positive data from peptides obtained from phage display screening experiments. More than 20 computational methods for analyzing biopanning data were also reviewed. These methods were classified into computational methods for reporting TUPs, for predicting epitopes and for analyzing next generation phage display data. CONCLUSION The current bioinformatics archives, methods and tools reviewed here have benefitted the biopanning community. To develop better or new computational tools, some promising directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bifang He
- Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.,School of Medicine, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Anthony Mackitz Dzisoo
- Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Ratmir Derda
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2G2, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jian Huang
- Center for Informational Biology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
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Roskar I, Molek P, Vodnik M, Stempelj M, Strukelj B, Lunder M. Peptide modulators of alpha-glucosidase. J Diabetes Investig 2015; 6:625-31. [PMID: 26543535 PMCID: PMC4627538 DOI: 10.1111/jdi.12358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS/INTRODUCTION Acute glucose fluctuations during the postprandial period pose great risk for cardiovascular complications and thus represent an important therapeutic approach in type 2 diabetes. In the present study, screening of peptide libraries was used to select peptides with an affinity towards mammalian intestinal alpha-glucosidase as potential leads in antidiabetic agent development. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three phage-displayed peptide libraries were used in independent selections with different elution strategies to isolate target-binding peptides. Selected peptides displayed on phage were tested to compete for an enzyme-binding site with known competitive inhibitors, acarbose and voglibose. The four best performing peptides were synthesized. Their binding to the mammalian alpha-glucosidase and their effect on enzyme activity were evaluated. RESULTS Two linear and two cyclic heptapeptides with high affinity towards intestinal alpha-glucosidase were selected. Phage-displayed as well as synthetic peptides bind into or to the vicinity of the active site on the enzyme. Both cyclic peptides inhibited enzyme activity, whereas both linear peptides increased enzyme activity. CONCLUSIONS Although natural substrates of glycosidase are polysaccharides, in the present study we successfully isolated novel peptide modulators of alpha-glucosidase. Modulatory activity of selected peptides could be further optimized through peptidomimetic design. They represent promising leads for development of efficient alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Roskar
- Entrapharm d.o.o., University of Ljubljana Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Peter Molek
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Vodnik
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mateja Stempelj
- Entrapharm d.o.o., University of Ljubljana Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Borut Strukelj
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mojca Lunder
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Sun P, Ju H, Liu Z, Ning Q, Zhang J, Zhao X, Huang Y, Ma Z, Li Y. Bioinformatics resources and tools for conformational B-cell epitope prediction. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2013; 2013:943636. [PMID: 23970944 PMCID: PMC3736542 DOI: 10.1155/2013/943636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Revised: 05/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Identification of epitopes which invoke strong humoral responses is an essential issue in the field of immunology. Localizing epitopes by experimental methods is expensive in terms of time, cost, and effort; therefore, computational methods feature for its low cost and high speed was employed to predict B-cell epitopes. In this paper, we review the recent advance of bioinformatics resources and tools in conformational B-cell epitope prediction, including databases, algorithms, web servers, and their applications in solving problems in related areas. To stimulate the development of better tools, some promising directions are also extensively discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingping Sun
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Druggable Gene and Protein Screening, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Haixu Ju
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Jilin Universities, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Zhenbang Liu
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Jilin Universities, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Qiao Ning
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Jilin Universities, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhao
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Jilin Universities, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Yanxin Huang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Druggable Gene and Protein Screening, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Zhiqiang Ma
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing of Jilin Universities, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
| | - Yuxin Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Druggable Gene and Protein Screening, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
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Kubrycht J, Sigler K, Souček P. Virtual interactomics of proteins from biochemical standpoint. Mol Biol Int 2012; 2012:976385. [PMID: 22928109 PMCID: PMC3423939 DOI: 10.1155/2012/976385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2012] [Revised: 05/18/2012] [Accepted: 05/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Virtual interactomics represents a rapidly developing scientific area on the boundary line of bioinformatics and interactomics. Protein-related virtual interactomics then comprises instrumental tools for prediction, simulation, and networking of the majority of interactions important for structural and individual reproduction, differentiation, recognition, signaling, regulation, and metabolic pathways of cells and organisms. Here, we describe the main areas of virtual protein interactomics, that is, structurally based comparative analysis and prediction of functionally important interacting sites, mimotope-assisted and combined epitope prediction, molecular (protein) docking studies, and investigation of protein interaction networks. Detailed information about some interesting methodological approaches and online accessible programs or databases is displayed in our tables. Considerable part of the text deals with the searches for common conserved or functionally convergent protein regions and subgraphs of conserved interaction networks, new outstanding trends and clinically interesting results. In agreement with the presented data and relationships, virtual interactomic tools improve our scientific knowledge, help us to formulate working hypotheses, and they frequently also mediate variously important in silico simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Kubrycht
- Department of Physiology, Second Medical School, Charles University, 150 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Sigler
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Souček
- Toxicogenomics Unit, National Institute of Public Health, 100 42 Prague, Czech Republic
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Van Regenmortel MHV. Basic research in HIV vaccinology is hampered by reductionist thinking. Front Immunol 2012; 3:194. [PMID: 22787464 PMCID: PMC3391733 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2012] [Accepted: 06/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This review describes the structure-based reverse vaccinology approach aimed at developing vaccine immunogens capable of inducing antibodies that broadly neutralize HIV-1. Some basic principles of protein immunochemistry are reviewed and the implications of the extensive polyspecificity of antibodies for vaccine development are underlined. Although it is natural for investigators to want to know the cause of an effective immunological intervention, the classic notion of causality is shown to have little explanatory value for a system as complex as the immune system, where any observed effect always results from many interactions between a large number of components. Causal explanations are reductive because a single factor is singled out for attention and given undue explanatory weight on its own. Other examples of the negative impact of reductionist thinking on HIV vaccine development are discussed. These include (1) the failure to distinguish between the chemical nature of antigenicity and the biological nature of immunogenicity, (2) the belief that when an HIV-1 epitope is reconstructed by rational design to better fit a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (nMab), this will produce an immunogen able to elicit Abs with the same neutralizing capacity as the Ab used as template for designing the antigen, and (3) the belief that protection against infection can be analyzed at the level of individual molecular interactions although it has meaning only at the level of an entire organism. The numerous unsuccessful strategies that have been used to design HIV-1 vaccine immunogens are described and it is suggested that the convergence of so many negative experimental results justifies the conclusion that reverse vaccinology is unlikely to lead to the development of a preventive HIV-1 vaccine. Immune correlates of protection in vaccines have not yet been identified because this will become feasible only retrospectively once an effective vaccine exists. The finding that extensive antibody affinity maturation is needed to obtain mature anti-HIV-1 Abs endowed with a broad neutralizing capacity explains why antigens designed to fit matured Mabs are not effective vaccine immunogens since these are administered to naive recipients who possess only B-cell receptors corresponding to the germline version of the matured Abs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc H. V. Van Regenmortel
- Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Study, Wallenberg Research Center at Stellenbosch University,Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Characterization of Autoantibodies against the E1α Subunit of Branched-Chain 2-Oxoacid Dehydrogenase in Patients with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. Int J Hepatol 2012; 2012:369740. [PMID: 22778969 PMCID: PMC3388300 DOI: 10.1155/2012/369740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2011] [Revised: 02/16/2012] [Accepted: 02/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is characterized by antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) that react with the lipoyl-containing E2 subunits of 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes such as BCOADC and PDC. The lipoyl domains of E2 contain the major epitopes essential for immunopathology. However, the non-lipoyl-containing E1 subunits are also frequently targeted. Since anti-E1 antibodies always appear in combination with anti-E2 antibodies, the mechanisms underlying the autoimmunity against E1 may be linked to, but distinct from, those against E2. Here, we demonstrate that intermolecular and intramolecular determinant spreading underlies the autoimmunity against E1. We performed characterizations and epitope mapping for anti-BCOADC-E1α antibodies from both the intermolecular and intramolecular points of view. The antibody reactivities form a cluster against the BCOADC complex that is distinct from that against the PDC complex, and the anti-BCOADC-E1α antibodies arise as part of the cluster against the BCOADC complex. Multiple epitopes are present on the surface of the BCOADC-E1α molecule, and the major epitope overlaps with the active center. Sera with anti-BCOADC-E1α antibodies strongly inhibited the enzyme activity. These findings suggest that the E1α subunit as part of the native BCOADC complex is an immunogen, and that determinant spreading is involved in the pathogenesis of AMA production.
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Huang J, Ru B, Dai P. Bioinformatics resources and tools for phage display. Molecules 2011; 16:694-709. [PMID: 21245805 PMCID: PMC6259106 DOI: 10.3390/molecules16010694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2010] [Revised: 01/01/2011] [Accepted: 01/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Databases and computational tools for mimotopes have been an important part of phage display study. Five special databases and eighteen algorithms, programs and web servers and their applications are reviewed in this paper. Although these bioinformatics resources have been widely used to exclude target-unrelated peptides, characterize small molecules-protein interactions and map protein-protein interactions, a lot of problems are still waiting to be solved. With the improvement of these tools, they are expected to serve the phage display community better.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Huang
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China.
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