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Yu T, Zheng F, He W, Muyldermans S, Wen Y. Single domain antibody: Development and application in biotechnology and biopharma. Immunol Rev 2024. [PMID: 39166870 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs) are a unique type of antibodies devoid of light chains, and comprised of two heavy chains-only that recognize their cognate antigen by virtue of a single variable domain also referred to as VHH, single domain antibody (sdAb), or nanobody (Nb). These functional HCAbs, serendipitous discovered about three decades ago, are exclusively found in camelids, comprising dromedaries, camels, llamas, and vicugnas. Nanobodies have become an essential tool in biomedical research and medicine, both in diagnostics and therapeutics due to their beneficial properties: small size, high stability, strong antigen-binding affinity, low immunogenicity, low production cost, and straightforward engineering into more potent affinity reagents. The occurrence of HCAbs in camelids remains intriguing. It is believed to be an evolutionary adaptation, equipping camelids with a robust adaptive immune defense suitable to respond to the pressure from a pathogenic invasion necessitating a more profound antigen recognition and neutralization. This evolutionary innovation led to a simplified HCAb structure, possibly supported by genetic mutations and drift, allowing adaptive mutation and diversification in the heavy chain variable gene and constant gene regions. Beyond understanding their origins, the application of nanobodies has significantly advanced over the past 30 years. Alongside expanding laboratory research, there has been a rapid increase in patent application for nanobodies. The introduction of commercial nanobody drugs such as Cablivi, Nanozora, Envafolimab, and Carvykti has boosted confidence among in their potential. This review explores the evolutionary history of HCAbs, their ontogeny, and applications in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, focusing on approved and ongoing medical research pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Yu
- Center for Microbiome Research of Med-X Institute, Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Sepsis in Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fang Zheng
- The Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Disease of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenbo He
- Center for Microbiome Research of Med-X Institute, Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Sepsis in Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Serge Muyldermans
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yurong Wen
- Center for Microbiome Research of Med-X Institute, Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Sepsis in Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
- The Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Disease of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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Leighton PA, Ching K, Reynolds K, Vuong CN, Zeng B, Zhang Y, Gupta A, Morales J, Rivera GS, Srivastava DB, Cotter R, Pedersen D, Collarini E, Izquierdo S, van de Lavoir MC, Harriman W. Chickens with a Truncated Light Chain Transgene Express Single-Domain H Chain-Only Antibodies. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:1744-1753. [PMID: 38629917 PMCID: PMC11102025 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
H chain-only Igs are naturally produced in camelids and sharks. Because these Abs lack the L chain, the Ag-binding domain is half the size of a traditional Ab, allowing this type of Ig to bind to targets in novel ways. Consequently, the H chain-only single-domain Ab (sdAb) structure has the potential to increase the repertoire and functional range of an active humoral immune system. The majority of vertebrates use the standard heterodimeric (both H and L chains) structure and do not produce sdAb format Igs. To investigate if other animals are able to support sdAb development and function, transgenic chickens (Gallus gallus) were designed to produce H chain-only Abs by omitting the L chain V region and maintaining only the LC region to serve as a chaperone for Ab secretion from the cell. These birds produced 30-50% normal B cell populations within PBMCs and readily expressed chicken sequence sdAbs. Interestingly, the H chains contained a spontaneous CH1 deletion. Although no isotype switching to IgY or IgA occurred, the IgM repertoire was diverse, and immunization with a variety of protein immunogens rapidly produced high and specific serum titers. mAbs of high affinity were efficiently recovered by single B cell screening. In in vitro functional assays, the sdAbs produced by birds immunized against SARS-CoV-2 were also able to strongly neutralize and prevent viral replication. These data suggest that the truncated L chain design successfully supported sdAb development and expression in chickens.
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Joubbi S, Micheli A, Milazzo P, Maccari G, Ciano G, Cardamone D, Medini D. Antibody design using deep learning: from sequence and structure design to affinity maturation. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae307. [PMID: 38960409 PMCID: PMC11221890 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae307] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Deep learning has achieved impressive results in various fields such as computer vision and natural language processing, making it a powerful tool in biology. Its applications now encompass cellular image classification, genomic studies and drug discovery. While drug development traditionally focused deep learning applications on small molecules, recent innovations have incorporated it in the discovery and development of biological molecules, particularly antibodies. Researchers have devised novel techniques to streamline antibody development, combining in vitro and in silico methods. In particular, computational power expedites lead candidate generation, scaling and potential antibody development against complex antigens. This survey highlights significant advancements in protein design and optimization, specifically focusing on antibodies. This includes various aspects such as design, folding, antibody-antigen interactions docking and affinity maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Joubbi
- Department of Computer Science, University of Pisa, Largo B. Pontecorvo, 3, 56127, Pisa, Italy
- Data Science for Health (DaScH) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Via Fiorentina, 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessio Micheli
- Department of Computer Science, University of Pisa, Largo B. Pontecorvo, 3, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Milazzo
- Department of Computer Science, University of Pisa, Largo B. Pontecorvo, 3, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maccari
- Data Science for Health (DaScH) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Via Fiorentina, 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ciano
- Data Science for Health (DaScH) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Via Fiorentina, 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Dario Cardamone
- Data Science for Health (DaScH) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Via Fiorentina, 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Duccio Medini
- Data Science for Health (DaScH) Lab, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, Via Fiorentina, 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
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Manzanares-Guzmán A, Lugo-Fabres PH, Camacho-Villegas TA. vNARs as Neutralizing Intracellular Therapeutic Agents: Glioblastoma as a Target. Antibodies (Basel) 2024; 13:25. [PMID: 38534215 DOI: 10.3390/antib13010025] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most prevalent and fatal form of primary brain tumors. New targeted therapeutic strategies for this type of tumor are imperative given the dire prognosis for glioblastoma patients and the poor results of current multimodal therapy. Previously reported drawbacks of antibody-based therapeutics include the inability to translocate across the blood-brain barrier and reach intracellular targets due to their molecular weight. These disadvantages translate into poor target neutralization and cancer maintenance. Unlike conventional antibodies, vNARs can permeate tissues and recognize conformational or cryptic epitopes due to their stability, CDR3 amino acid sequence, and smaller molecular weight. Thus, vNARs represent a potential antibody format to use as intrabodies or soluble immunocarriers. This review comprehensively summarizes key intracellular pathways in glioblastoma cells that induce proliferation, progression, and cancer survival to determine a new potential targeted glioblastoma therapy based on previously reported vNARs. The results seek to support the next application of vNARs as single-domain antibody drug-conjugated therapies, which could overcome the disadvantages of conventional monoclonal antibodies and provide an innovative approach for glioblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Manzanares-Guzmán
- Unidad de Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
| | - Pavel H Lugo-Fabres
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Unidad de Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
| | - Tanya A Camacho-Villegas
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Unidad de Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
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Hadsund JT, Satława T, Janusz B, Shan L, Zhou L, Röttger R, Krawczyk K. nanoBERT: a deep learning model for gene agnostic navigation of the nanobody mutational space. BIOINFORMATICS ADVANCES 2024; 4:vbae033. [PMID: 38560554 PMCID: PMC10978573 DOI: 10.1093/bioadv/vbae033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Motivation Nanobodies are a subclass of immunoglobulins, whose binding site consists of only one peptide chain, bestowing favorable biophysical properties. Recently, the first nanobody therapy was approved, paving the way for further clinical applications of this antibody format. Further development of nanobody-based therapeutics could be streamlined by computational methods. One of such methods is infilling-positional prediction of biologically feasible mutations in nanobodies. Being able to identify possible positional substitutions based on sequence context, facilitates functional design of such molecules. Results Here we present nanoBERT, a nanobody-specific transformer to predict amino acids in a given position in a query sequence. We demonstrate the need to develop such machine-learning based protocol as opposed to gene-specific positional statistics since appropriate genetic reference is not available. We benchmark nanoBERT with respect to human-based language models and ESM-2, demonstrating the benefit for domain-specific language models. We also demonstrate the benefit of employing nanobody-specific predictions for fine-tuning on experimentally measured thermostability dataset. We hope that nanoBERT will help engineers in a range of predictive tasks for designing therapeutic nanobodies. Availability and implementation https://huggingface.co/NaturalAntibody/.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lu Shan
- Alector Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, 94080, United States
| | - Li Zhou
- Alector Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, 94080, United States
| | - Richard Röttger
- Department Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern, Odense, 5230, Denmark
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Matthys A, Saelens X. Promises and challenges of single-domain antibodies to control influenza. Antiviral Res 2024; 222:105807. [PMID: 38219914 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105807] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The World Health Organization advices the use of a quadrivalent vaccine as prophylaxis against influenza, to prevent severe influenza-associated disease and -mortality, and to keep up with influenza antigenic diversity. Different small molecule antivirals to treat influenza have become available. However, emergence of drug resistant influenza viruses has been observed upon use of these antivirals. An appealing alternative approach to prevent or treat influenza is the use of antibody-based antivirals, such as conventional monoclonal antibodies and single-domain antibodies (sdAbs). The surface of the influenza A and B virion is decorated with hemagglutinin molecules, which act as receptor-binding and membrane fusion proteins and represent the main target of neutralizing antibodies. SdAbs that target influenza A and B hemagglutinin have been described. In addition, sdAbs directed against the influenza A virus neuraminidase have been reported, whereas no sdAbs targeting influenza B neuraminidase have been described to date. SdAbs directed against influenza A matrix protein 2 or its ectodomain have been reported, while no sdAbs have been described targeting the influenza B matrix protein 2. Known for their high specificity, ease of production and formatting, sdAb-based antivirals could be a major leap forward in influenza control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Matthys
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Xavier Saelens
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Conca W, Saleh SM, Al-Rabiah R, Parhar RS, Abd-Elnaeim M, Al-Hindas H, Tinson A, Kroell KB, Liedl KR, Collison K, Kishore U, Al-Mohanna F. The immunoglobulin A isotype of the Arabian camel ( Camelus dromedarius) preserves the dualistic structure of unconventional single-domain and canonical heavy chains. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1289769. [PMID: 38162642 PMCID: PMC10756906 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1289769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The evolution of adaptive immunity in Camelidae resulted in the concurrent expression of classic heterotetrameric and unconventional homodimeric heavy chain-only IgG antibodies. Heavy chain-only IgG bears a single variable domain and lacks the constant heavy (CH) γ1 domain required for pairing with the light chain. It has not been reported whether this distinctive feature of IgG is also observed in the IgA isotype. Methods Gene-specific primers were used to generate an IgA heavy chain cDNA library derived from RNA extracted from the dromedary's third eyelid where isolated lymphoid follicles and plasma cells abound at inductive and effector sites, respectively. Results Majority of the cDNA clones revealed hallmarks of heavy chain-only antibodies, i.e. camelid-specific amino acid substitutions in framework region 1 and 2, broad length distribution of complementarity determining region 3, and the absence of the CHα1 domain. In a few clones, however, the cDNA of the canonical IgA heavy chain was amplified which included the CHα1 domain, analogous to CHγ1 domain in IgG1 subclass. Moreover, we noticed a short, proline-rich hinge, and, at the N-terminal end of the CHα3 domain, a unique, camelid-specific pentapeptide of undetermined function, designated as the inter-α region. Immunoblots using rabbit anti-camel IgA antibodies raised against CHα2 and CHα3 domains as well as the inter-α region revealed the expression of a ~52 kDa and a ~60 kDa IgA species, corresponding to unconventional and canonical IgA heavy chain, respectively, in the third eyelid, trachea, small and large intestine. In contrast, the leporine anti-CHα1 antibody detected canonical, but not unconventional IgA heavy chain, in all the examined tissues, milk, and serum, in addition to another hitherto unexplored species of ~45 kDa in milk and serum. Immunohistology using anti-CHα domain antibodies confirmed the expression of both variants of IgA heavy chains in plasma cells in the third eyelid's lacrimal gland, conjunctiva, tracheal and intestinal mucosa. Conclusion We found that in the dromedary, the IgA isotype has expanded the immunoglobulin repertoire by co-expressing unconventional and canonical IgA heavy chains, comparable to the IgG class, thus underscoring the crucial role of heavy chain-only antibodies not only in circulation but also at the mucosal frontiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Conca
- Department of Executive Health Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Soad M. Saleh
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rana Al-Rabiah
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ranjit Singh Parhar
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Abd-Elnaeim
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Hussein Al-Hindas
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexander Tinson
- Management of Scientific Centers and Presidential Camels, Department of President’s Affairs, Hilli ET and Cloning Centre, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Klaus Roman Liedl
- Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kate Collison
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Uday Kishore
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Futwan Al-Mohanna
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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ESKİER NE, ESKİER D, FİRUZAN E, UZUNLAR SKALYONCU. Physicochemical differences between camelid single-domain antibodies and mammalian antibodies. Turk J Biol 2023; 47:423-436. [PMID: 38681780 PMCID: PMC11045209 DOI: 10.55730/1300-0152.2676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/aim In recent years, single-domain antibodies, also known as nanobodies, have emerged as an alternative to full immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs), due to their various advantages, including increased solubility, faster clearance, and cheaper production. Nanobodies are generally derived from the variable domain of the camelid heavy-chain-only immunoglobulin Gs (hcIgGs). Due to the high sequence homology between variable heavy chains of camelids (VHHs) and humans (VHs), hcIgGs are ideal candidates for nanobody development. However, further examination is needed to understand the structural differences between VHs and VHHs. This analysis is essential for nanobody engineering to mitigate potential immunogenicity, while preserving stability, functionality, and antigen specificity. Materials and methods We obtained the VH and VHH sequences of various camelid and non-camelid mammalian antibodies from public databases and used multiple sequence alignment based on the Chothia numbering scheme. Aligned sequences were subjected to diverse analyses encompassing paratope length, binding prediction, motif, disulfide bridge, salt bridge profiling, and physicochemical characteristic distribution. Logistic Regression coupled with the Boruta - Random Forest algorithm facilitated the comprehensive examination of physicochemical properties. Results Our findings revealed longer, less variable paratope sequences in VHHs, along with specific antigen binding residues with increased binding potential compared to VHs. Although the VHs showed more heterogeneous noncanonical disulfide bond patterns, the VHHs had a higher number of noncanonical disulfide bridges. Intriguingly, a typical salt bridge between the 94th and 101st positions in the VHs had a very low encounter rate in the VHHs. Surprisingly, we also identified notable differences in the physicochemical patterns of mostly conserved frameworks (FWs), especially the FW2 and FW3 regions, between VHs and VHHs. Conclusion Our findings point to possible key sites in VHHs as candidate residues for nanobody engineering efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazlı Eda ESKİER
- İzmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir,
Turkiye
- İzmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, İzmir,
Turkiye
| | - Doğa ESKİER
- İzmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir,
Turkiye
- İzmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, İzmir,
Turkiye
| | - Esin FİRUZAN
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Sciences, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir,
Turkiye
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Smyth P, Ferguson L, Burrows JF, Burden RE, Tracey SR, Herron ÚM, Kovaleva M, Williams R, Porter AJ, Longley DB, Barelle CJ, Scott CJ. Evaluation of variable new antigen receptors (vNARs) as a novel cathepsin S (CTSS) targeting strategy. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1296567. [PMID: 38116078 PMCID: PMC10728302 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1296567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activity of the cysteine protease Cathepsin S (CTSS) has been implicated across a wide range of pathologies. Notably in cancer, CTSS has been shown to promote tumour progression, primarily through facilitating invasion and migration of tumour cells and augmenting angiogenesis. Whilst an attractive therapeutic target, more efficacious CTSS inhibitors are required. Here, we investigated the potential application of Variable New Antigen Receptors (vNARs) as a novel inhibitory strategy. A panel of potential vNAR binders were identified following a phage display panning process against human recombinant proCTSS. These were subsequently expressed, purified and binding affinity confirmed by ELISA and SPR based approaches. Selected lead clones were taken forward and were shown to inhibit CTSS activity in recombinant enzyme activity assays. Further assessment demonstrated that our lead clones functioned by a novel inhibitory mechanism, by preventing the activation of proCTSS to the mature enzyme. Moreover, using an intrabody approach, we exhibited the ability to express these clones intracellularly and inhibit CTSS activity whilst lead clones were also noted to impede cell invasion in a tumour cell invasion assay. Collectively, these findings illustrate a novel mechanistic approach for inhibiting CTSS activity, with anti-CTSS vNAR clones possessing therapeutic potential in combating deleterious CTSS activity. Furthermore, this study exemplifies the potential of vNARs in targeting intracellular proteins, opening a range of previously "undruggable" targets for biologic-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Smyth
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - J. F. Burrows
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - R. E. Burden
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - S. R. Tracey
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Ú. M. Herron
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - R. Williams
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - A. J. Porter
- Elasmogen Ltd., Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- Scottish Biologics Facility, Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - D. B. Longley
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - C. J. Scott
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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10
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Tracey SR, Smyth P, Herron UM, Burrows JF, Porter AJ, Barelle CJ, Scott CJ. Development of a cationic polyethyleneimine-poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle system for enhanced intracellular delivery of biologics. RSC Adv 2023; 13:33721-33735. [PMID: 38020041 PMCID: PMC10654694 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra06050k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular delivery of proteins, peptides and biologics is an emerging field which has the potential to provide novel opportunities to target intracellular proteins, previously deemed 'undruggable'. However, the delivery of proteins intracellularly remains a challenge. Here, we present a cationic nanoparticle delivery system for enhanced cellular delivery of proteins through use of a polyethyleneimine and poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer blend. Cationic nanoparticles were shown to provide increased cellular uptake compared to anionic and neutral nanoparticles, successfully delivering Variable New Antigen Receptors (vNARs), entrapped within the nanoparticle core, to the cell interior. vNARs were identified as ideal candidates for nanoparticle entrapment due to their remarkable stability. The optimised 10% PEI-PLGA nanoparticle formulation displayed low toxicity, was uniform in size and possessed appropriate cationic charge to limit cellular toxicity, whilst being capable of escaping the endo/lysosomal system and delivering their cargo to the cytosol. This work demonstrates the ability of cationic nanoparticles to facilitate intracellular delivery of vNARs, novel biologic agents with potential utility towards intracellular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon R Tracey
- Queen's University Belfast, The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research 97 Lisburn Road Belfast Northern Ireland BT9 7AE UK
| | - Peter Smyth
- Queen's University Belfast, The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research 97 Lisburn Road Belfast Northern Ireland BT9 7AE UK
| | - Una M Herron
- Queen's University Belfast, The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research 97 Lisburn Road Belfast Northern Ireland BT9 7AE UK
| | - James F Burrows
- Queen's University Belfast, School of Pharmacy Belfast BT9 7BL UK
| | | | | | - Christopher J Scott
- Queen's University Belfast, The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research 97 Lisburn Road Belfast Northern Ireland BT9 7AE UK
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11
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Frecot DI, Froehlich T, Rothbauer U. 30 years of nanobodies - an ongoing success story of small binders in biological research. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs261395. [PMID: 37937477 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A milestone in the field of recombinant binding molecules was achieved 30 years ago with the discovery of single-domain antibodies from which antigen-binding variable domains, better known as nanobodies (Nbs), can be derived. Being only one tenth the size of conventional antibodies, Nbs feature high affinity and specificity, while being highly stable and soluble. In addition, they display accessibility to cryptic sites, low off-target accumulation and deep tissue penetration. Efficient selection methods, such as (semi-)synthetic/naïve or immunized cDNA libraries and display technologies, have facilitated the isolation of Nbs against diverse targets, and their single-gene format enables easy functionalization and high-yield production. This Review highlights recent advances in Nb applications in various areas of biological research, including structural biology, proteomics and high-resolution and in vivo imaging. In addition, we provide insights into intracellular applications of Nbs, such as live-cell imaging, biosensors and targeted protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desiree I Frecot
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstrasse 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Theresa Froehlich
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Rothbauer
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
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Fernández-Quintero ML, Pomarici ND, Fischer ALM, Hoerschinger VJ, Kroell KB, Riccabona JR, Kamenik AS, Loeffler JR, Ferguson JA, Perrett HR, Liedl KR, Han J, Ward AB. Structure and Dynamics Guiding Design of Antibody Therapeutics and Vaccines. Antibodies (Basel) 2023; 12:67. [PMID: 37873864 PMCID: PMC10594513 DOI: 10.3390/antib12040067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibodies and other new antibody-like formats have emerged as one of the most rapidly growing classes of biotherapeutic proteins. Understanding the structural features that drive antibody function and, consequently, their molecular recognition is critical for engineering antibodies. Here, we present the structural architecture of conventional IgG antibodies alongside other formats. We emphasize the importance of considering antibodies as conformational ensembles in solution instead of focusing on single-static structures because their functions and properties are strongly governed by their dynamic nature. Thus, in this review, we provide an overview of the unique structural and dynamic characteristics of antibodies with respect to their antigen recognition, biophysical properties, and effector functions. We highlight the numerous technical advances in antibody structure prediction and design, enabled by the vast number of experimentally determined high-quality structures recorded with cryo-EM, NMR, and X-ray crystallography. Lastly, we assess antibody and vaccine design strategies in the context of structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica L. Fernández-Quintero
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nancy D. Pomarici
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna-Lena M. Fischer
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Valentin J. Hoerschinger
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Katharina B. Kroell
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jakob R. Riccabona
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna S. Kamenik
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes R. Loeffler
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - James A. Ferguson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Hailee R. Perrett
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Klaus R. Liedl
- Institute of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Julianna Han
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrew B. Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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13
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Flajnik MF, Stanfield R, Pokidysheva EN, Boudko SP, Wilson I, Ohta Y. An Ancient MHC-Linked Gene Encodes a Nonrearranging Shark Antibody, UrIg, Convergent with IgG. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 211:1042-1051. [PMID: 37540118 PMCID: PMC10530332 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Gnathostome adaptive immunity is defined by the Ag receptors, Igs and TCRs, and the MHC. Cartilaginous fish are the oldest vertebrates with these adaptive hallmarks. We and others have unearthed nonrearranging Ag receptor-like genes in several vertebrates, some of which are encoded in the MHC or in MHC paralogous regions. One of these genes, named UrIg, was detected in the class III region of the shark MHC that encodes a protein with typical V and C domains such as those found in conventional Igs and TCRs. As no transmembrane region was detected in gene models or cDNAs, the protein does not appear to act as a receptor. Unlike some other shark Ig genes, the UrIg V region shows no evidence of RAG-mediated rearrangement, and thus it is likely related to other V genes that predated the invasion of the RAG transposon. The UrIg gene is present in all elasmobranchs and evolves conservatively, unlike Igs and TCRs. Also, unlike Ig/TCR, the gene is not expressed in secondary lymphoid tissues, but mainly in the liver. Recombinant forms of the molecule form disulfide-linked homodimers, which is the form also detected in many shark tissues by Western blotting. mAbs specific for UrIg identify the protein in the extracellular matrix of several shark tissues by immunohistochemistry. We propose that UrIg is related to the V gene invaded by the RAG transposon, consistent with the speculation of emergence of Ig/TCR within the MHC or proto-MHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin F Flajnik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
| | - Robyn Stanfield
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Elena N Pokidysheva
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Center for Matrix Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Sergei P Boudko
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Center for Matrix Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Ian Wilson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Yuko Ohta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
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14
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Seidler CA, Kokot J, Fernández-Quintero ML, Liedl KR. Structural Characterization of Nanobodies during Germline Maturation. Biomolecules 2023; 13:380. [PMID: 36830754 PMCID: PMC9953242 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Camelid heavy-chain antibody variable domains (VHH), nanobodies, are the smallest-known functional antibody fragments with high therapeutic potential. In this study, we investigate a VHH binding to hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL). We structurally and dynamically characterized the conformational diversity of four VHH variants to elucidate the antigen-binding process. For two of these antibodies, not only are the dissociation constants known, but also the experimentally determined crystal structures of the VHH in complex with HEL are available. We performed well-tempered metadynamics simulations in combination with molecular dynamics simulations to capture a broad conformational space and to reconstruct the thermodynamics and kinetics of conformational transitions in the antigen-binding site, the paratope. By kinetically characterizing the loop movements of the paratope, we found that, with an increase in affinity, the state populations shift towards the binding competent conformation. The contacts contributing to antigen binding, and those who contribute to the overall stability, show a clear trend towards less variable but more intense contacts. Additionally, these investigated nanobodies clearly follow the conformational selection paradigm, as the binding competent conformation pre-exists within the structural ensembles without the presence of the antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Monica L. Fernández-Quintero
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Klaus R. Liedl
- Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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15
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Dengue virus infection - a review of pathogenesis, vaccines, diagnosis and therapy. Virus Res 2023; 324:199018. [PMID: 36493993 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.199018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The transmission of dengue virus (DENV) from an infected Aedes mosquito to a human, causes illness ranging from mild dengue fever to fatal dengue shock syndrome. The similar conserved structure and sequence among distinct DENV serotypes or different flaviviruses has resulted in the occurrence of cross reaction followed by antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). Thus far, the vaccine which can provide effective protection against infection by different DENV serotypes remains the biggest hurdle to overcome. Therefore, deep investigation is crucial for the potent and effective therapeutic drugs development. In addition, the cross-reactivity of flaviviruses that leads to false diagnosis in clinical settings could result to delay proper intervention management. Thus, the accurate diagnostic with high specificity and sensitivity is highly required to provide prompt diagnosis in respect to render early treatment for DENV infected individuals. In this review, the recent development of neutralizing antibodies, antiviral agents, and vaccine candidates in therapeutic platform for DENV infection will be discussed. Moreover, the discovery of antigenic cryptic epitopes, principle of molecular mimicry, and application of single-chain or single-domain antibodies towards DENV will also be presented.
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16
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Kolmar H, Grzeschik J, Könning D, Krah S, Zielonka S. Construction of Semisynthetic Shark vNAR Yeast Surface Display Antibody Libraries. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2702:227-243. [PMID: 37679622 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3381-6_11] [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] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The adaptive immune system of sharks comprises a unique heavy chain-only antibody isotype, termed immunoglobulin new antigen receptor (IgNAR), in which antigen binding is mediated by a single variable domain, referred to as vNAR. In recent years, efforts were made to harness these domains for biomedical and biotechnological applications particularly due to their high affinity and specificity combined with a small size and high stability. Herein, we describe protocols for the construction of semisynthetic, CDR3-randomized vNAR libraries for the isolation of target-specific paratopes by yeast surface display. Additionally, we provide guidance for affinity maturation of a panel of antigen-enriched vNAR domains through CDR1 diversification of the FACS-selected, antigen-enriched population and sublibrary establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Julius Grzeschik
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Doreen Könning
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates and Targeted NBE Therapeutics, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Simon Krah
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zielonka
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
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17
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Liu C, Lin H, Cao L, Wang K, Sui J. Research progress on unique paratope structure, antigen binding modes, and systematic mutagenesis strategies of single-domain antibodies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1059771. [PMID: 36479130 PMCID: PMC9720397 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1059771] [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: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) showed the incredible advantages of small molecular weight, excellent affinity, specificity, and stability compared with traditional IgG antibodies, so their potential in binding hidden antigen epitopes and hazard detection in food, agricultural and veterinary fields were gradually explored. Moreover, its low immunogenicity, easy-to-carry target drugs, and penetration of the blood-brain barrier have made sdAbs remarkable achievements in medical treatment, toxin neutralization, and medical imaging. With the continuous development and maturity of modern molecular biology, protein analysis software and database with different algorithms, and next-generation sequencing technology, the unique paratope structure and different antigen binding modes of sdAbs compared with traditional IgG antibodies have aroused the broad interests of researchers with the increased related studies. However, the corresponding related summaries are lacking and needed. Different antigens, especially hapten antigens, show distinct binding modes with sdAbs. So, in this paper, the unique paratope structure of sdAbs, different antigen binding cases, and the current maturation strategy of sdAbs were classified and summarized. We hope this review lays a theoretical foundation to elucidate the antigen-binding mechanism of sdAbs and broaden the further application of sdAbs.
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18
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Hambach J, Mann AM, Bannas P, Koch-Nolte F. Targeting multiple myeloma with nanobody-based heavy chain antibodies, bispecific killer cell engagers, chimeric antigen receptors, and nanobody-displaying AAV vectors. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1005800. [PMID: 36405759 PMCID: PMC9668101 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1005800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanobodies are well suited for constructing biologics due to their high solubility. We generated nanobodies directed against CD38, a tumor marker that is overexpressed by multiple myeloma and other hematological malignancies. We then used these CD38-specific nanobodies to construct heavy chain antibodies, bispecific killer cell engagers (BiKEs), chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells, and nanobody-displaying AAV vectors. Here we review the utility of these nanobody-based constructs to specifically and effectively target CD38-expressing myeloma cells. The promising results of our preclinical studies warrant further clinical studies to evaluate the potential of these CD38-specific nanobody-based constructs for treatment of multiple myeloma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Hambach
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna Marei Mann
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter Bannas
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany,*Correspondence: Friedrich Koch-Nolte,
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19
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Wingler LM, Feld AP. Nanobodies as Probes and Modulators of Cardiovascular G Protein-Coupled Receptors. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2022; 80:342-353. [PMID: 34840268 DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000001185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Understanding the activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is of paramount importance to the field of cardiovascular medicine due to the critical physiological roles of these receptors and their prominence as drug targets. Although many cardiovascular GPCRs have been extensively studied as model receptors for decades, new complexities in their regulation continue to emerge. As a result, there is an ongoing need to develop novel approaches to monitor and to modulate GPCR activation. In less than a decade, nanobodies, or recombinant single-domain antibody fragments from camelids, have become indispensable tools for interrogating GPCRs both in purified systems and in living cells. Nanobodies have gained traction rapidly due to their biochemical tractability and their ability to recognize defined states of native proteins. Here, we review how nanobodies have been adopted to elucidate the structure, pharmacology, and signaling of cardiovascular GPCRs, resolving long-standing mysteries and revealing unexpected mechanisms. We also discuss how advancing technologies to discover nanobodies with tailored specificities may expand the impact of these tools for both basic science and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Wingler
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC
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20
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Capuz A, Karnoub MA, Osien S, Rose M, Mériaux C, Fournier I, Devos D, Vanden Abeele F, Rodet F, Cizkova D, Salzet M. The Antibody Dependant Neurite Outgrowth Modulation Response Involvement in Spinal Cord Injury. Front Immunol 2022; 13:882830. [PMID: 35784350 PMCID: PMC9245426 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.882830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a major medical challenge. At present, there is still no cure to treat it efficiently and enable functional recovery below the injury site. Previously, we demonstrated that inflammation determines the fate of the physiopathology. To decipher the molecular mechanisms involved in this process, we performed a meta-analysis of our spatio-temporal proteomic studies in the time course of SCI. This highlighted the presence of IgG isotypes in both spinal cord explants and their secretomes. These IgGs were detected in the spinal cord even if no SCI occurred. However, during the time course following SCI, abundance of IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses (a, b, c) varied according to the spatial repartition. IgG1 was clearly mostly abundant at 12 h, and a switch to IgG2a was observed after 24 h. This IgG stayed predominant 3, 7, and 10 days after SCI. A protein related to IgM as well as a variable heavy chain were only detected 12 h after lesion. Interestingly, treatment with RhoA inhibitor influenced the abundance of the various IgG isotypes and a preferential switch to IgG2c was observed. By data reuse of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons RNAseq datasets and RT-PCR experiments performed on cDNA from DRG sensory neurons ND7/23 and N27 dopaminergic neural cell lines, we confirmed expression of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains (constant and variable) encoding genes in neurons. We then identified CD16 and CD32b as their specific receptors in sensory neuron cell line ND7/23 and their activation regulated neurites outgrowth. These results suggest that during SCI, neuronal IgG isotypes are released to modulate neurites outgrowth. Therefore, we propose a new view of the SCI response involving an antibody dependent neurite outgrowth modulation (ADNM) which could be a precursor to the neuroinflammatory response in pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Capuz
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
| | - Mélodie-Anne Karnoub
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
| | - Sylvain Osien
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
| | - Mélanie Rose
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
| | - Céline Mériaux
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
| | - Isabelle Fournier
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - David Devos
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1172, CHU-Lille, Lille Neuroscience Cognition Research Centre, Lille, France
| | - Fabien Vanden Abeele
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Cell Physiology, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Franck Rodet
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
| | - Dasa Cizkova
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Centre for Experimental and Clinical Regenerative Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Kosice, Slovakia
- *Correspondence: Michel Salzet, ; Dasa Cizkova,
| | - Michel Salzet
- Université de Lille, Inserm U1192, Laboratoire Protéomique, Réponse Inflammatoire et Spectrométrie de Masse (PRISM), Lille, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Michel Salzet, ; Dasa Cizkova,
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21
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Khalaf HE, Al-Bouqaee H, Hwijeh M, Abbady AQ. Characterization of rabbit polyclonal antibody against camel recombinant nanobodies. Open Life Sci 2022; 17:659-675. [PMID: 35800073 PMCID: PMC9202535 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Nanobodies (Nbs) are recombinant single-domain fragments derived from camelids’ heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs). Nanobodies are increasingly used in numerous biotechnological and medical applications because of their high stability, solubility, and yield. However, one major obstacle prohibiting Nb expansion is the affordability of specific detector antibodies for their final revelation. In this work, the production of a specific anti-Nb antibody as a general detector for camel antibodies, conventional cIgG, and HCAb, and their derived Nbs was sought. Thus, a T7 promoter plasmid was constructed and used to highly express six different Nbs that were used in a successful rabbit immunization. Affinity-purified rabbit anti-Nb rIgG was able to detect immobilized or antigen-bound Nbs via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and its performance was comparable to that of a commercial anti-6× His antibody. Its capacities in dosing impure Nbs, detecting Nbs displayed on M13 phages, and revealing denatured Nbs in immune blotting were all proven. As expected, and because of shared epitopes, rabbit anti-Nb cross-reacted with cIgG, HCAbs, and 6× His-tagged proteins, and the percentage of each fraction within anti-Nb rIgG was determined. Anti-Nb is a promising tool for the checkpoints throughout the recombinant Nb technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houssam-Eddin Khalaf
- Division of Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) , P. O. Box 6091 , Damascus , Syria
| | - Hassan Al-Bouqaee
- Division of Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) , P. O. Box 6091 , Damascus , Syria
| | - Manal Hwijeh
- Division of Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) , P. O. Box 6091 , Damascus , Syria
| | - Abdul Qader Abbady
- Division of Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) , P. O. Box 6091 , Damascus , Syria
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22
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Eguchi RR, Choe CA, Huang PS. Ig-VAE: Generative modeling of protein structure by direct 3D coordinate generation. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010271. [PMID: 35759518 PMCID: PMC9269947 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
While deep learning models have seen increasing applications in protein science, few have been implemented for protein backbone generation—an important task in structure-based problems such as active site and interface design. We present a new approach to building class-specific backbones, using a variational auto-encoder to directly generate the 3D coordinates of immunoglobulins. Our model is torsion- and distance-aware, learns a high-resolution embedding of the dataset, and generates novel, high-quality structures compatible with existing design tools. We show that the Ig-VAE can be used with Rosetta to create a computational model of a SARS-CoV2-RBD binder via latent space sampling. We further demonstrate that the model’s generative prior is a powerful tool for guiding computational protein design, motivating a new paradigm under which backbone design is solved as constrained optimization problem in the latent space of a generative model. Many essential biochemical processes are governed by protein-protein interactions (PPIs), and our ability to make binding proteins that modulate PPIs is crucial to the creation of therapeutics and the study of cell-signaling. One critical aspect of PPI design is to capture protein conformational flexibility. Deep generative models are a class of mathematical models that are able to synthesize novel data from a finite set of training examples. Here, we make advances in computational protein design methodology by developing a deep generative model that creates protein backbones adopting the immunoglobulin fold, which is found in natural binding proteins such as antibodies. While generative models have been powerful in tasks such as image generation, using them to create proteins has remained a challenge. We solve this problem with a new model that allows for the direct generation of novel 3D molecules and show that they are of high chemical accuracy. Generated structures work well with existing protein design methods such as Rosetta, providing access to a large collection of novel immunoglobulin structures. Finally, we present a new protein design framework, called “generative design,” that shows how deep generative models such as ours can be applied to virtually any protein design problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael R. Eguchi
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Christian A. Choe
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Po-Ssu Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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23
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Haueis L, Stech M, Kubick S. A Cell-free Expression Pipeline for the Generation and Functional Characterization of Nanobodies. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:896763. [PMID: 35573250 PMCID: PMC9096027 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.896763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems are well-established platforms for the rapid synthesis, screening, engineering and modification of all kinds of recombinant proteins ranging from membrane proteins to soluble proteins, enzymes and even toxins. Also within the antibody field the cell-free technology has gained considerable attention with respect to the clinical research pipeline including antibody discovery and production. Besides the classical full-length monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), so-called "nanobodies" (Nbs) have come into focus. A Nb is the smallest naturally-derived functional antibody fragment known and represents the variable domain (VHH, ∼15 kDa) of a camelid heavy-chain-only antibody (HCAb). Based on their nanoscale and their special structure, Nbs display striking advantages concerning their production, but also their characteristics as binders, such as high stability, diversity, improved tissue penetration and reaching of cavity-like epitopes. The classical way to produce Nbs depends on the use of living cells as production host. Though cell-based production is well-established, it is still time-consuming, laborious and hardly amenable for high-throughput applications. Here, we present for the first time to our knowledge the synthesis of functional Nbs in a standardized mammalian cell-free system based on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lysates. Cell-free reactions were shown to be time-efficient and easy-to-handle allowing for the "on demand" synthesis of Nbs. Taken together, we complement available methods and demonstrate a promising new system for Nb selection and validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Haueis
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marlitt Stech
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Joint Faculty of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, The Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and the University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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24
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Camelid Single-Domain Antibodies: Promises and Challenges as Lifesaving Treatments. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23095009. [PMID: 35563400 PMCID: PMC9100996 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of camelid heavy-chain antibodies in 1993, there has been tremendous excitement for these antibody domains (VHHs/sdAbs/nanobodies) as research tools, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Commercially, several patents were granted to pioneering research groups in Belgium and the Netherlands between 1996–2001. Ablynx was established in 2001 with the aim of exploring the therapeutic applications and development of nanobody drugs. Extensive efforts over two decades at Ablynx led to the first approved nanobody drug, caplacizumab (Cablivi) by the EMA and FDA (2018–2019) for the treatment of rare blood clotting disorders in adults with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TPP). The relatively long development time between camelid sdAb discovery and their entry into the market reflects the novelty of the approach, together with intellectual property restrictions and freedom-to-operate issues. The approval of the first sdAb drug, together with the expiration of key patents, may open a new horizon for the emergence of camelid sdAbs as mainstream biotherapeutics in the years to come. It remains to be seen if nanobody-based drugs will be cheaper than traditional antibodies. In this review, I provide critical perspectives on camelid sdAbs and present the promises and challenges to their widespread adoption as diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
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25
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De Vooght L, De Ridder K, Hussain S, Stijlemans B, De Baetselier P, Caljon G, Van Den Abbeele J. Targeting the tsetse-trypanosome interplay using genetically engineered Sodalis glossinidius. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010376. [PMID: 35271685 PMCID: PMC8939806 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sodalis glossinidius, a secondary bacterial symbiont of the tsetse fly, is currently considered as a potential delivery system for anti-trypanosomal components interfering with African trypanosome transmission (i.e. paratransgenesis). Nanobodies (Nbs) have been proposed as potential candidates to target the parasite during development in the tsetse fly. In this study, we have generated an immune Nb-library and developed a panning strategy to select Nbs against the Trypanosoma brucei brucei procyclic developmental stage present in the tsetse fly midgut. Selected Nbs were expressed, purified, assessed for binding and tested for their impact on the survival and growth of in vitro cultured procyclic T. b. brucei parasites. Next, we engineered S. glossinidius to express the selected Nbs and validated their ability to block T. brucei development in the tsetse fly midgut. Genetically engineered S. glossinidius expressing Nb_88 significantly compromised parasite development in the tsetse fly midgut both at the level of infection rate and parasite load. Interestingly, expression of Nb_19 by S. glossinidius resulted in a significantly enhanced midgut establishment. These data are the first to show in situ delivery by S. glossinidius of effector molecules that can target the trypanosome-tsetse fly crosstalk, interfering with parasite development in the fly. These proof-of-principle data represent a major step forward in the development of a control strategy based on paratransgenic tsetse flies. Finally, S. glossinidius-based Nb delivery can also be applied as a powerful laboratory tool to unravel the molecular determinants of the parasite-vector association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda De Vooght
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Trypanosoma Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- * E-mail: (LDV); (JVDA)
| | - Karin De Ridder
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Trypanosoma Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Shahid Hussain
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Benoît Stijlemans
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB Inflammation Research Center, Gent, Belgium
| | - Patrick De Baetselier
- Unit of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jan Van Den Abbeele
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Trypanosoma Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail: (LDV); (JVDA)
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26
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Obeng EM, Dzuvor CKO, Danquah MK. Anti-SARS-CoV-1 and -2 nanobody engineering towards avidity-inspired therapeutics. NANO TODAY 2022; 42:101350. [PMID: 34840592 PMCID: PMC8608585 DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2021.101350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
In the past two decades, the emergence of coronavirus diseases has been dire distress on both continental and global fronts and has resulted in the search for potent treatment strategies. One crucial challenge in this search is the recurrent mutations in the causative virus spike protein, which lead to viral escape issues. Among the current promising therapeutic discoveries is the use of nanobodies and nanobody-like molecules. While these nanobodies have demonstrated high-affinity interaction with the virus, the unpredictable spike mutations have warranted the need for avidity-inspired therapeutics of potent inhibitors such as nanobodies. This article discusses novel approaches for the design of anti-SARS-CoV-1 and -2 nanobodies to facilitate advanced innovations in treatment technologies. It further discusses molecular interactions and suggests multivalent protein nanotechnology and chemistry approaches to translate mere molecular affinity into avidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene M Obeng
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Christian K O Dzuvor
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Michael K Danquah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga 615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, United States
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27
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Khalid Z, Chen Y, Yu D, Abbas M, Huan M, Naz Z, Mengist HM, Cao MJ, Jin T. IgNAR antibody: Structural features, diversity and applications. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 121:467-477. [PMID: 35077867 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In response to the invasion of exogenous microorganisms, one of the defence strategies of the immune system is to produce antibodies. Cartilaginous fish is among those who evolved the earliest humoral immune system that utilizes immunoglobulin-type antibodies. The cartilaginous fish antibodies fall into three categories: IgW, IgM, and IgNAR. The shark Immunoglobulin Novel Antigen Receptor (IgNAR) constitutes disulfide-bonded dimers of two protein chains, similar to the heavy chain of mammalian IgGs. Shark IgNAR is the primary antibody of a shark's adaptive immune system with a serum concentration of 0.1-1.0 mg/mL. Its structure comprises of one variable (V) domain (VNAR) and five constant (C1 -C5) domains in the secretory form. VNARs are classified into several subclasses based on specific properties such as the quantity and position of additional non-canonical cysteine (Cys) residues in the VNAR. The VDJ recombination in IgNAR comprises various fragments; one variable component, three diverse sections, one joining portion, and a solitary arrangement of constant fragments framed in each IgNAR gene cluster. The re-arrangement happens just inside this gene cluster bringing about a VD1D2D3J segment. Therefore, four re-arrangement procedures create the entire VNAR space. IgNAR antibody can serve as an excellent diagnostic, therapeutic, and research tool because it has a smaller size, high specificity for antigen-binding, and perfect stability. The domain characterization, structural features, types, diversity and therapeutic applications of IgNAR molecules are highlighted in this review. It would be helpful for further research on IgNAR antibodies acting as an essential constituent of the adaptive immune system and a potential therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zunera Khalid
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China
| | - Yulei Chen
- College of Ocean 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
| | - Du Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Misbah Abbas
- CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Ma Huan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China
| | - Zara Naz
- CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Hylemariam Mihiretie Mengist
- CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Min-Jie Cao
- College of Ocean 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.
| | - Tengchuan Jin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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28
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Asaadi Y, Jouneghani FF, Janani S, Rahbarizadeh F. A comprehensive comparison between camelid nanobodies and single chain variable fragments. Biomark Res 2021; 9:87. [PMID: 34863296 PMCID: PMC8642758 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00332-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
By the emergence of recombinant DNA technology, many antibody fragments have been developed devoid of undesired properties of natural immunoglobulins. Among them, camelid heavy-chain variable domains (VHHs) and single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) are the most favored ones. While scFv is used widely in various applications, camelid antibodies (VHHs) can serve as an alternative because of their superior chemical and physical properties such as higher solubility, stability, smaller size, and lower production cost. Here, these two counterparts are compared in structure and properties to identify which one is more suitable for each of their various therapeutic, diagnosis, and research applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Asaadi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Fazlollahi Jouneghani
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Janani
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rahbarizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
- Research and Development Center of Biotechnology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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29
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Soleimanizadeh A, Dinter H, Schindowski K. Central Nervous System Delivery of Antibodies and Their Single-Domain Antibodies and Variable Fragment Derivatives with Focus on Intranasal Nose to Brain Administration. Antibodies (Basel) 2021; 10:antib10040047. [PMID: 34939999 PMCID: PMC8699001 DOI: 10.3390/antib10040047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
IgG antibodies are some of the most important biopharmaceutical molecules with a high market volume. In spite of the fact that clinical therapies with antibodies are broadly utilized in oncology, immunology and hematology, their delivery strategies and biodistribution need improvement, their limitations being due to their size and poor ability to penetrate into tissues. In view of their small size, there is a rising interest in derivatives, such as single-domain antibodies and single-chain variable fragments, for clinical diagnostic but also therapeutic applications. Smaller antibody formats combine several benefits for clinical applications and can be manufactured at reduced production costs compared with full-length IgGs. Moreover, such formats have a relevant potential for targeted drug delivery that directs drug cargo to a specific tissue or across the blood–brain barrier. In this review, we give an overview of the challenges for antibody drug delivery in general and focus on intranasal delivery to the central nervous system with antibody formats of different sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arghavan Soleimanizadeh
- Institute of Applied Biotechnology, Biberach University of Applied Science, 88400 Biberach, Germany; (A.S.); (H.D.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Heiko Dinter
- Institute of Applied Biotechnology, Biberach University of Applied Science, 88400 Biberach, Germany; (A.S.); (H.D.)
- Department of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Schindowski
- Institute of Applied Biotechnology, Biberach University of Applied Science, 88400 Biberach, Germany; (A.S.); (H.D.)
- Correspondence:
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30
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Anumukonda K, Francis M, Currie P, Tulenko F, Hsu E. Heavy chain-only antibody genes in fish evolved to generate unique CDR3 repertoire. Eur J Immunol 2021; 52:247-260. [PMID: 34708869 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149588] [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: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In addition to conventional immunoglobulin, camelids and cartilaginous fish express a special class of antibody that consists only of heavy (H) chain (HCAbs). In the holocephalan elephantfish, there are two HCAb classes, one of which has evolved surprising features. The H-chain genes in cartilaginous fish are organized as 20-200 minigenes, or clusters, each consisting of VH, 1-3 DH, JH gene segments with one set of constant region exons. We report that HHC2 (holocephalan H-chain antibody 2) evolved from IgM H-chain clusters, but its DH gene segments have diverged considerably. The three DH in HHC2 clusters are A-rich, so that one to three potential reading frames for each DH encode lysine and arginine. All three are incorporated into the rearranged VDJ, ensuring that the ligand-binding site carries multiple basic residues, as cDNA sequences demonstrate. The electropositive character in HHC2 CDR3 is accompanied by a paucity of aromatic amino acids, the latter feature at variance to the established, interactive role of tyrosine not only in ligand-binding but generally at interfaces of protein complexes. The selection for these divergent HHC2 features challenges currently accepted ideas on what determines antibody reactivity and molecular recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamala Anumukonda
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA
| | - Malcolm Francis
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Peter Currie
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Frank Tulenko
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Ellen Hsu
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA
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31
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Perry CT, Pratte ZA, Clavere-Graciette A, Ritchie KB, Hueter RE, Newton AL, Fischer GC, Dinsdale EA, Doane MP, Wilkinson KA, Bassos-Hull K, Lyons K, Dove ADM, Hoopes LA, Stewart FJ. Elasmobranch microbiomes: emerging patterns and implications for host health and ecology. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:61. [PMID: 34526135 PMCID: PMC8444439 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00121-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays) are of broad ecological, economic, and societal value. These globally important fishes are experiencing sharp population declines as a result of human activity in the oceans. Research to understand elasmobranch ecology and conservation is critical and has now begun to explore the role of body-associated microbiomes in shaping elasmobranch health. Here, we review the burgeoning efforts to understand elasmobranch microbiomes, highlighting microbiome variation among gastrointestinal, oral, skin, and blood-associated niches. We identify major bacterial lineages in the microbiome, challenges to the field, key unanswered questions, and avenues for future work. We argue for prioritizing research to determine how microbiomes interact mechanistically with the unique physiology of elasmobranchs, potentially identifying roles in host immunity, disease, nutrition, and waste processing. Understanding elasmobranch–microbiome interactions is critical for predicting how sharks and rays respond to a changing ocean and for managing healthy populations in managed care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron T Perry
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Zoe A Pratte
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | | | - Kim B Ritchie
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of South Carolina Beaufort, Beaufort, SC, USA
| | - Robert E Hueter
- Sharks and Rays Conservation Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA.,OCEARCH, Park City, UT, USA
| | - Alisa L Newton
- Disney's Animals, Science and Environment, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - G Christopher Fischer
- OCEARCH, Park City, UT, USA.,Marine Science Research Institute, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Dinsdale
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Michael P Doane
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Krystan A Wilkinson
- Sharks and Rays Conservation Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA.,Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program ℅ Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | - Kim Bassos-Hull
- Sharks and Rays Conservation Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | - Kady Lyons
- Research and Conservation Department, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alistair D M Dove
- Research and Conservation Department, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lisa A Hoopes
- Research and Conservation Department, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Frank J Stewart
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
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32
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Therapeutic Antibodies Targeting Potassium Ion Channels. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 267:507-545. [PMID: 33963460 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies combine specificity and high affinity binding with excellent pharmacokinetic properties and are rapidly being developed for a wide range of drug targets including clinically important potassium ion channels. Nonetheless, while therapeutic antibodies come with great promise, K+ channels represent particularly difficult targets for biologics development for a variety of reasons that include their dynamic structures and relatively small extracellular loops, their high degree of sequence conservation (leading to immune tolerance), and their generally low-level expression in vivo. The process is made all the more difficult when large numbers of antibody candidates must be screened for a given target, or when lead candidates fail to cross-react with orthologous channels in animal disease models due to their highly selective binding properties. While the number of antibodies targeting potassium channels in preclinical or clinical development is still modest, significant advances in the areas of protein expression and antibody screening are converging to open the field to an avalanche of new drugs. Here, the opportunities and constraints associated with the discovery of antibodies against K+ channels are discussed, with an emphasis on novel technologies that are opening the field to exciting new possibilities for biologics development.
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33
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Rossotti MA, Bélanger K, Henry KA, Tanha J. Immunogenicity and humanization of single‐domain antibodies. FEBS J 2021; 289:4304-4327. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.15809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin A. Rossotti
- Life Sciences Division Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre National Research Council Canada Ottawa Canada
| | - Kasandra Bélanger
- Life Sciences Division Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre National Research Council Canada Ottawa Canada
| | - Kevin A. Henry
- Life Sciences Division Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre National Research Council Canada Ottawa Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology Faculty of Medicine University of Ottawa Canada
| | - Jamshid Tanha
- Life Sciences Division Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre National Research Council Canada Ottawa Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology Faculty of Medicine University of Ottawa Canada
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34
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Errasti-Murugarren E, Bartoccioni P, Palacín M. Membrane Protein Stabilization Strategies for Structural and Functional Studies. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11020155. [PMID: 33671740 PMCID: PMC7926488 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11020155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Accounting for nearly two-thirds of known druggable targets, membrane proteins are highly relevant for cell physiology and pharmacology. In this regard, the structural determination of pharmacologically relevant targets would facilitate the intelligent design of new drugs. The structural biology of membrane proteins is a field experiencing significant growth as a result of the development of new strategies for structure determination. However, membrane protein preparation for structural studies continues to be a limiting step in many cases due to the inherent instability of these molecules in non-native membrane environments. This review describes the approaches that have been developed to improve membrane protein stability. Membrane protein mutagenesis, detergent selection, lipid membrane mimics, antibodies, and ligands are described in this review as approaches to facilitate the production of purified and stable membrane proteins of interest for structural and functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaitz Errasti-Murugarren
- Laboratory of Amino acid Transporters and Disease, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- CIBERER (Centro Español en Red de Biomedicina de Enfermedades Raras), 28029 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (E.E.-M.); (M.P.)
| | - Paola Bartoccioni
- Laboratory of Amino acid Transporters and Disease, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- CIBERER (Centro Español en Red de Biomedicina de Enfermedades Raras), 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Palacín
- Laboratory of Amino acid Transporters and Disease, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- CIBERER (Centro Español en Red de Biomedicina de Enfermedades Raras), 28029 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (E.E.-M.); (M.P.)
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35
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Sillen M, Declerck PJ. Targeting PAI-1 in Cardiovascular Disease: Structural Insights Into PAI-1 Functionality and Inhibition. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 7:622473. [PMID: 33415130 PMCID: PMC7782431 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.622473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a member of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) superfamily with antiprotease activity, is the main physiological inhibitor of tissue-type (tPA) and urokinase-type (uPA) plasminogen activators (PAs). Apart from being crucially involved in fibrinolysis and wound healing, PAI-1 plays a pivotal role in various acute and chronic pathophysiological processes, including cardiovascular disease, tissue fibrosis, cancer, and age-related diseases. In the prospect of treating the broad range of PAI-1-related pathologies, many efforts have been devoted to developing PAI-1 inhibitors. The use of these inhibitors, including low molecular weight molecules, peptides, antibodies, and antibody fragments, in various animal disease models has provided ample evidence of their beneficial effect in vivo and moved forward some of these inhibitors in clinical trials. However, none of these inhibitors is currently approved for therapeutic use in humans, mainly due to selectivity and toxicity issues. Furthermore, the conformational plasticity of PAI-1, which is unique among serpins, poses a real challenge in the identification and development of PAI-1 inhibitors. This review will provide an overview of the structural insights into PAI-1 functionality and modulation thereof and will highlight diverse approaches to inhibit PAI-1 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul J. Declerck
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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36
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Abstract
Unique, functional, homodimeric heavy chain-only antibodies, devoid of light chains, are circulating in the blood of Camelidae. These antibodies recognize their cognate antigen via one single domain, known as VHH or Nanobody. This serendipitous discovery made three decades ago has stimulated a growing number of researchers to generate highly specific Nanobodies against a myriad of targets. The small size, strict monomeric state, robustness, and easy tailoring of these Nanobodies have inspired many groups to design innovative Nanobody-based multi-domain constructs to explore novel applications. As such, Nanobodies have been employed as an exquisite research tool in structural, cell, and developmental biology. Furthermore, Nanobodies have demonstrated their benefit for more sensitive diagnostic tests. Finally, several Nanobody-based constructs have been designed to develop new therapeutic products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Muyldermans
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; .,Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Recognition and Imaging, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
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37
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Mieczkowski C, Bahmanjah S, Yu Y, Baker J, Raghunathan G, Tomazela D, Hsieh M, McCoy M, Strickland C, Fayadat-Dilman L. Crystal Structure and Characterization of Human Heavy-Chain Only Antibodies Reveals a Novel, Stable Dimeric Structure Similar to Monoclonal Antibodies. Antibodies (Basel) 2020; 9:antib9040066. [PMID: 33266498 PMCID: PMC7709113 DOI: 10.3390/antib9040066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the novel crystal structure and characterization of symmetrical, homodimeric humanized heavy-chain-only antibodies or dimers (HC2s). HC2s were found to be significantly coexpressed and secreted along with mAbs from transient CHO HC/LC cotransfection, resulting in an unacceptable mAb developability attribute. Expression of full-length HC2s in the absence of LC followed by purification resulted in HC2s with high purity and thermal stability similar to conventional mAbs. The VH and CH1 portion of the heavy chain (or Fd) was also efficiently expressed and yielded a stable, covalent, and reducible dimer (Fd2). Mutagenesis of all heavy chain cysteines involved in disulfide bond formation revealed that Fd2 intermolecular disulfide formation was similar to Fabs and elucidated requirements for Fd2 folding and expression. For one HC2, we solved the crystal structure of the Fd2 domain to 2.9 Å, revealing a highly symmetrical homodimer that is structurally similar to Fabs and is mediated by conserved (CH1) and variable (VH) contacts with all CDRs positioned outward for target binding. Interfacial dimer contacts revealed by the crystal structure were mutated for two HC2s and were found to dramatically affect HC2 formation while maintaining mAb bioactivity, offering a potential means to modulate novel HC2 formation through engineering. These findings indicate that human heavy-chain dimers can be secreted efficiently in the absence of light chains, may show good physicochemical properties and stability, are structurally similar to Fabs, offer insights into their mechanism of formation, and may be amenable as a novel therapeutic modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Mieczkowski
- Discovery Biologics, Protein Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (Y.Y.); (J.B.); (G.R.); (D.T.); (M.H.); (L.F.-D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-650-496-6501
| | - Soheila Bahmanjah
- Department of Chemistry, Modeling and Informatics, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.)
| | - Yao Yu
- Discovery Biologics, Protein Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (Y.Y.); (J.B.); (G.R.); (D.T.); (M.H.); (L.F.-D.)
| | - Jeanne Baker
- Discovery Biologics, Protein Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (Y.Y.); (J.B.); (G.R.); (D.T.); (M.H.); (L.F.-D.)
| | - Gopalan Raghunathan
- Discovery Biologics, Protein Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (Y.Y.); (J.B.); (G.R.); (D.T.); (M.H.); (L.F.-D.)
| | - Daniela Tomazela
- Discovery Biologics, Protein Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (Y.Y.); (J.B.); (G.R.); (D.T.); (M.H.); (L.F.-D.)
| | - Mark Hsieh
- Discovery Biologics, Protein Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (Y.Y.); (J.B.); (G.R.); (D.T.); (M.H.); (L.F.-D.)
| | - Mark McCoy
- Department of Pharmacology, Mass Spectrometry & Biophysics, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA;
| | - Corey Strickland
- Department of Chemistry, Modeling and Informatics, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA; (S.B.); (C.S.)
| | - Laurence Fayadat-Dilman
- Discovery Biologics, Protein Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (Y.Y.); (J.B.); (G.R.); (D.T.); (M.H.); (L.F.-D.)
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38
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Muyldermans S. A guide to: generation and design of nanobodies. FEBS J 2020; 288:2084-2102. [PMID: 32780549 PMCID: PMC8048825 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A nanobody (Nb) is a registered trademark of Ablynx, referring to the single antigen-binding domain of heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs) that are circulating in Camelidae. Nbs are produced recombinantly in micro-organisms and employed as research tools or for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. They were - and still are - also named single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) or variable domain of the heavy chain of HCAbs (VHH). A variety of methods are currently in use for the fast and efficient generation of target-specific Nbs. Such Nbs are produced at low cost and associate with high affinity to their cognate antigen. They are robust, strictly monomeric and easy to tailor into more complex entities to meet the requirements of their application. Here, we review the various sources and different strategies that have been developed to identify rapidly, target-specific Nbs. We further discuss a variety of engineering technologies that have been explored to broaden the application range of Nbs and summarise those applications where designed Nbs might offer a marked advantage over other affinity reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Muyldermans
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.,Liaoning Key Laboratory of Molecular Recognition and Imaging, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, China
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Tu Z, Huang X, Fu J, Hu N, Zheng W, Li Y, Zhang Y. Landscape of variable domain of heavy-chain-only antibody repertoire from alpaca. Immunology 2020; 161:53-65. [PMID: 32506493 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Heavy-chain-only antibodies (HCAbs), which are devoid of light chains, have been found naturally occurring in various species including camelids and cartilaginous fish. Because of their high thermostability, refoldability and capacity for cell permeation, the variable regions of the heavy chain of HCAbs (VHHs) have been widely used in diagnosis, bio-imaging, food safety and therapeutics. Most immunogenetic and functional studies of HCAbs are based on case studies or a limited number of low-throughput sequencing data. A complete picture derived from more abundant high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data can help us gain deeper insights. We cloned and sequenced the full-length coding region of VHHs in Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) via HTS in this study. A new pipeline was developed to conduct an in-depth analysis of the HCAb repertoires. Various critical features, including the length distribution of complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3), V(D)J usage, VJ pairing, germline-specific mutation rate and germline-specific scoring profiles (GSSPs), were systematically characterized. The quantitative data show that V(D)J usage and VHH recombination are highly biased. Interestingly, we found that the average CDR3 length of classical VHHs is longer than that of non-classical ones, whereas the mutation rates are similar in both kinds of VHHs. Finally, GSSPs were built to quantitatively describe and compare sequences that originate from each VJ pair. Overall, this study presents a comprehensive landscape of the HCAb repertoire, which can provide useful guidance for the modeling of somatic hypermutation and the design of novel functional VHHs or VHH repertoires via evolutionary profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhui Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Modern Analytical Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Huang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jinheng Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi-OAI Joint Research Institution, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Na Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Modern Analytical Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Maternal and Child Medical Research Institute, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yanping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Modern Analytical Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi-OAI Joint Research Institution, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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40
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Wang X, Huang J, Wang P, Wang R, Wang C, Yu D, Ke C, Huang T, Song Y, Bai J, Li K, Ren L, Miller RD, Han H, Zhou X, Zhao Y. Analysis of the Chinese Alligator TCRα/δ Loci Reveals the Evolutionary Pattern of Atypical TCRδ/TCRμ in Tetrapods. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:637-647. [PMID: 32591403 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Atypical TCRδ found in sharks, amphibians, birds, and monotremes and TCRμ found in monotremes and marsupials are TCR chains that use Ig or BCR-like variable domains (VHδ/Vμ) rather than conventional TCR V domains. These unconventional TCR are consistent with a scenario in which TCR and BCR, although having diverged from each other more than 400 million years ago, continue to exchange variable gene segments in generating diversity for Ag recognition. However, the process underlying this exchange and leading to the evolution of these atypical TCR receptor genes remains elusive. In this study, we identified two TCRα/δ gene loci in the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis). In total, there were 144 V, 154 Jα, nine Jδ, eight Dδ, two Cα, and five Cδ gene segments in the TCRα/δ loci of the Chinese alligator, representing the most complicated TCRα/δ gene system in both genomic structure and gene content in any tetrapod examined so far. A pool of 32 VHδ genes divided into 18 subfamilies was found to be scattered over the two loci. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that these VHδ genes could be related to bird VHδ genes, VHδ/Vμ genes in platypus or opossum, or alligator VH genes. Based on these findings, a model explaining the evolutionary pattern of atypical TCRδ/TCRμ genes in tetrapods is proposed. This study sheds new light on the evolution of TCR and BCR genes, two of the most essential components of adaptive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xifeng Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinwei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Renping Wang
- Administration Bureau of Alligator sinensis National Nature Reserve Protection, Anhui 242000, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaolin Wang
- Administration Bureau of Alligator sinensis National Nature Reserve Protection, Anhui 242000, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuncun Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Huang
- Henan Engineering Laboratory for Mammary Bioreactor, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Yu Song
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhui Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Kongpan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Liming Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Robert D Miller
- Department of Biology, Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
| | - Haitang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China;
| | - Xin Zhou
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China;
| | - Yaofeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China;
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41
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Ott JA, Harrison J, Flajnik MF, Criscitiello MF. Nurse shark T-cell receptors employ somatic hypermutation preferentially to alter alpha/delta variable segments associated with alpha constant region. Eur J Immunol 2020; 50:1307-1320. [PMID: 32346855 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201948495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In addition to canonical TCR and BCR, cartilaginous fish assemble noncanonical TCR that employ various B-cell components. For example, shark T cells associate alpha (TCR-α) or delta (TCR-δ) constant (C) regions with Ig heavy chain (H) variable (V) segments or TCR-associated Ig-like V (TAILV) segments to form chimeric IgV-TCR, and combine TCRδC with both Ig-like and TCR-like V segments to form the doubly rearranging NAR-TCR. Activation-induced (cytidine) deaminase-catalyzed somatic hypermutation (SHM), typically used for B-cell affinity maturation, also is used by TCR-α during selection in the shark thymus presumably to salvage failing receptors. Here, we found that the use of SHM by nurse shark TCR varies depending on the particular V segment or C region used. First, SHM significantly alters alpha/delta V (TCRαδV) segments using TCR αC but not δC. Second, mutation to IgHV segments associated with TCR δC was reduced compared to mutation to TCR αδV associated with TCR αC. Mutation was present but limited in V segments of all other TCR chains including NAR-TCR. Unexpectedly, we found preferential rearrangement of the noncanonical IgHV-TCRδC over canonical TCR αδV-TCRδC receptors. The differential use of SHM may reveal how activation-induced (cytidine) deaminase targets V regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannine A Ott
- Comparative Immunogenetics Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Jenna Harrison
- Comparative Immunogenetics Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Martin F Flajnik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael F Criscitiello
- Comparative Immunogenetics Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.,Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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42
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Cytogenetic Mapping of 35 New Markers in the Alpaca ( Vicugna pacos). Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11050522. [PMID: 32397072 PMCID: PMC7288448 DOI: 10.3390/genes11050522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpaca is a camelid species of broad economic, biological and biomedical interest, and an essential part of the cultural and historical heritage of Peru. Recently, efforts have been made to improve knowledge of the alpaca genome, and its genetics and cytogenetics, to develop molecular tools for selection and breeding. Here, we report cytogenetic mapping of 35 new markers to 19 alpaca autosomes and the X chromosome. Twenty-eight markers represent alpaca SNPs, of which 17 are located inside or near protein-coding genes, two are in ncRNA genes and nine are intergenic. The remaining seven markers correspond to candidate genes for fiber characteristics (BMP4, COL1A2, GLI1, SFRP4), coat color (TYR) and development (CHD7, PAX7). The results take the tally of cytogenetically mapped markers in alpaca to 281, covering all 36 autosomes and the sex chromosomes. The new map assignments overall agree with human–camelid conserved synteny data, except for mapping BMP4 to VPA3, suggesting a hitherto unknown homology with HSA14. The findings validate, refine and correct the current alpaca assembly VicPac3.1 by anchoring unassigned sequence scaffolds, and ordering and orienting assigned scaffolds. The study contributes to the improvement in the alpaca reference genome and advances camelid molecular cytogenetics.
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43
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Cheong WS, Leow CY, Abdul Majeed AB, Leow CH. Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of shark variable new antigen receptor (VNAR) single domain antibody. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 147:369-375. [PMID: 31926922 PMCID: PMC7112388 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Conventional monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been widely used in research and diagnostic applications due to their high affinity and specificity. However, multiple limitations, such as large size, complex structure and sensitivity to extreme ambient temperature potentially weaken the performance of mAbs in certain applications. To address this problem, the exploration of new antigen binders is extensively required in relation to improve the quality of current diagnostic platforms. In recent years, a new immunoglobulin-based protein, namely variable domain of new antigen receptor (VNAR) was discovered in sharks. Unlike conventional mAbs, several advantages of VNARs, include small size, better thermostability and peculiar paratope structure have attracted interest of researchers to further explore on it. This article aims to first present an overview of the shark VNARs and outline the characteristics as an outstanding new reagent for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shien Cheong
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Chiuan Yee Leow
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | | | - Chiuan Herng Leow
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia.
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44
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Li Z, Zhang M, Zheng S, Song Y, Cheng X, Yu D, Du L, Ren L, Han H, Zhao Y. Genetic removal of the CH1 exon leads to the production of hypofunctional heavy chain-only IgG2a in rats. Transgenic Res 2020; 29:199-213. [PMID: 32078126 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-020-00189-9] [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: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Despite great values in many applications, heavy chain-only antibodies (HcAbs) are naturally only produced in camelids and sharks, which are not easy to access and handle. Production of the type of antibodies in small laboratory animals would remarkably facilitate their applications. We previously reported a mouse line in which the CH1 exon of mouse γ1 was deleted that could express heavy chain-only IgG1 antibodies. However, these mice showed an extremely weak IgG1 response to specific antigens when immunized, and we could only achieve single VH domains with low affinity to antigens using these mice. One possibility is that the mouse germline VH repertoire was not sufficient to support the expression of functional heavy chain-only antibodies. In this study, we report the generation of a rat line in which the CH1 exon of the γ2a gene was removed and the γ1 and γ2b genes were silenced. Although the genetically modified rats expressed heavy chain-only IgG2a, they also exhibited a very weak IgG2a response to antigen immunization. Panning of a phage library constructed using IgG2a VH segments amplified from immunized rats identified antigen-specific single VH antibodies, which also exhibited much lower affinity than that of commercial mAbs. Together with our previous report, this study suggests that the simple genetic removal of the CH1 exon does not guarantee the successful expression of functional heavy chain-only antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenrong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Science, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Science, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Shunan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Science, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Song
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Science, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueqian Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Science, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Science, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Du
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Science, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Liming Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Science, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Haitang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Science, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yaofeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Science, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
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45
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Feng R, Wang R, Hong J, Dower CM, Croix BS, Ho M. Isolation of rabbit single domain antibodies to B7-H3 via protein immunization and phage display. Antib Ther 2020; 3:10-17. [PMID: 32166218 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbaa002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Single domain antibodies have certain advantages including their small size, high stability and excellent tissue penetration, making them attractive drug candidates. Rabbit antibodies can recognize diverse epitopes, including those that are poorly immunogenic in mice and humans. In the present study, we established a method to isolate rabbit VH single domain antibodies for potential cancer therapy. We immunized rabbits with recombinant human B7-H3 (CD276) protein, made a phage-displayed rabbit VH single domain library with a diversity of 7 × 109, and isolated two binders (A1 and B1; also called RFA1 and RFB1) from phage panning. Both rabbit VH single domains exhibited antigen-dependent binding to B7-H3-positive tumor cell lines but not B7-H3 knockout tumor cell lines. Our study shows that protein immunization followed by phage display screening can be used to isolate rabbit single domain antibodies. The two single domain antibodies reported here may have potential applications in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruonan Feng
- NCI Antibody Engineering Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ruixue Wang
- Antibody Therapy Section, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jessica Hong
- NCI Antibody Engineering Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.,Antibody Therapy Section, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Christopher M Dower
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Brad St Croix
- Tumor Angiogenesis Unit, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Mitchell Ho
- NCI Antibody Engineering Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.,Antibody Therapy Section, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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46
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Sun Y, Huang T, Hammarström L, Zhao Y. The Immunoglobulins: New Insights, Implications, and Applications. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2019; 8:145-169. [PMID: 31846352 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-021419-083720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Immunoglobulins (Igs), as one of the hallmarks of adaptive immunity, first arose approximately 500 million years ago with the emergence of jawed vertebrates. Two events stand out in the evolutionary history of Igs from cartilaginous fish to mammals: (a) the diversification of Ig heavy chain (IgH) genes, resulting in Ig isotypes or subclasses associated with novel functions, and (b) the diversification of genetic and structural strategies, leading to the creation of the antibody repertoire we know today. This review first gives an overview of the IgH isotypes identified in jawed vertebrates to date and then highlights the implications or applications of five new recent discoveries arising from comparative studies of Igs derived from different vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Sun
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, Shandong, People's Republic of China;
| | - Tian Huang
- Henan Engineering Laboratory for Mammary Bioreactor, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan, People's Republic of China;
| | - Lennart Hammarström
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Yaofeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China;
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Hoey RJ, Eom H, Horn JR. Structure and development of single domain antibodies as modules for therapeutics and diagnostics. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019; 244:1568-1576. [PMID: 31594404 PMCID: PMC6920669 DOI: 10.1177/1535370219881129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Since their discovery just over 25 years ago, the single variable domain from heavy-chain-only antibodies plays a role in an increasing number of antibody-based applications. Structural and biophysical studies have revealed that the small, ∼15 kDa, single variable domain found in camelids displays versatility in target recognition. Such insight has served as the foundation to develop and engineer VHH domains with enhanced properties capable of targeting a range of therapeutically relevant protein antigens or low-molecular weight haptens. Furthermore, the modular nature of VHH domains allows them to be introduced into constructs that are simply not possible with conventional antibodies. Here, we review the structural and biophysical properties of VHH domains, highlight recent VHH-based therapeutics and diagnostics, and provide insight into VHH engineering that may pave the way to next-generation single domain antibody applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Hoey
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Northern
Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115,
USA
| | - Hyeyoung Eom
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Northern
Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115,
USA
| | - James R Horn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Northern
Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115,
USA
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48
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Ciccarese S, Burger PA, Ciani E, Castelli V, Linguiti G, Plasil M, Massari S, Horin P, Antonacci R. The Camel Adaptive Immune Receptors Repertoire as a Singular Example of Structural and Functional Genomics. Front Genet 2019; 10:997. [PMID: 31681428 PMCID: PMC6812646 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The adaptive immune receptors repertoire is highly plastic, with its ability to produce antigen-binding molecules and select those with high affinity for their antigen. Species have developed diverse genetic and structural strategies to create their respective repertoires required for their survival in the different environments. Camelids, until now, considered as a case of evolutionary innovation because of their only heavy-chain antibodies, represent a new mammalian model particularly useful for understanding the role of diversity in the immune system function. Here, we review the structural and functional characteristics and the current status of the genomic organization of camel immunoglobulins (IG) or antibodies, α/ß and γ/δ T cell receptors (TR), and major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In camelid humoral response, in addition to the conventional antibodies, there are IG with “only-heavy-chain” (no light chain, and two identical heavy gamma chains lacking CH1 and with a VH domain designated as VHH). The unique features of these VHH offer advantages in biotechnology and for clinical applications. The TRG and TRD rearranged variable domains of Camelus dromedarius (Arabian camel) display somatic hypermutation (SHM), increasing the intrinsic structural stability in the γ/δ heterodimer and influencing the affinity maturation to a given antigen similar to immunoglobulin genes. The SHM increases the dromedary γ/δ repertoire diversity. In Camelus genus, the general structural organization of the TRB locus is similar to that of the other artiodactyl species, with a pool of TRBV genes positioned at the 5’ end of three in tandem D-J-C clusters, followed by a single TRBV gene with an inverted transcriptional orientation located at the 3’ end. At the difference of TRG and TRD, the diversity of the TRB variable domains is not shaped by SHM and depends from the classical combinatorial and junctional diversity. The MHC locus is located on chromosome 20 in Camelus dromedarius. Cytogenetic and comparative whole genome analyses revealed the order of the three major regions “Centromere-ClassII-ClassIII-ClassI”. Unexpectedly low extent of polymorphisms and haplotypes was observed in all Old World camels despite different geographic origins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pamela A Burger
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elena Ciani
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Castelli
- Department of Biology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy
| | | | - Martin Plasil
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czechia.,CEITEC-VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, RG Animal Immunogenomics, Brno, Czechia
| | - Serafina Massari
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Petr Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czechia.,CEITEC-VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, RG Animal Immunogenomics, Brno, Czechia
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49
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Weiss RA, Verrips CT. Nanobodies that Neutralize HIV. Vaccines (Basel) 2019; 7:vaccines7030077. [PMID: 31370301 PMCID: PMC6789485 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines7030077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanobodies or VHH (variable domains of heavy-chain only antibodies) are derived from camelid species such as llamas and camels. Nanobodies isolated and selected through phage display can neutralize a broad range of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains. Nanobodies fit into canyons on the HIV envelope that may not be accessible to IgG (immunoglobulin G) containing both heavy and light chains, and they tend to have long CDR3 (complementarity-determining region 3) loops that further enhance recognition of otherwise cryptic epitopes. Nanobodies are readily expressed at high levels in bacteria and yeast, as well as by viral vectors, and they form relatively stable, heat-resistant molecules. Nanobodies can be linked to human Fc chains to gain immune effector functions. Bivalent and trivalent nanobodies recognizing the same or distinct epitopes on the envelope glycoproteins, gp120 and gp41, greatly increase the potency of HIV-1 neutralization. Nanobodies have potential applications for HIV-1 diagnostics, vaccine design, microbicides, immunoprophylaxis, and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin A Weiss
- Division of Infection & Immunity, University College London, 90 Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - C Theo Verrips
- QVQ Holding bv, Padualaan 8, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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50
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Richardson MF, Munyard K, Croft LJ, Allnutt TR, Jackling F, Alshanbari F, Jevit M, Wright GA, Cransberg R, Tibary A, Perelman P, Appleton B, Raudsepp T. Chromosome-Level Alpaca Reference Genome VicPac3.1 Improves Genomic Insight Into the Biology of New World Camelids. Front Genet 2019; 10:586. [PMID: 31293619 PMCID: PMC6598621 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of high-quality chromosomally assigned reference genomes constitutes a key feature for understanding genome architecture of a species and is critical for the discovery of the genetic blueprints of traits of biological significance. South American camelids serve people in extreme environments and are important fiber and companion animals worldwide. Despite this, the alpaca reference genome lags far behind those available for other domestic species. Here we produced a chromosome-level improved reference assembly for the alpaca genome using the DNA of the same female Huacaya alpaca as in previous assemblies. We generated 190X Illumina short-read, 8X Pacific Biosciences long-read and 60X Dovetail Chicago® chromatin interaction scaffolding data for the assembly, used testis and skin RNAseq data for annotation, and cytogenetic map data for chromosomal assignments. The new assembly VicPac3.1 contains 90% of the alpaca genome in just 103 scaffolds and 76% of all scaffolds are mapped to the 36 pairs of the alpaca autosomes and the X chromosome. Preliminary annotation of the assembly predicted 22,462 coding genes and 29,337 isoforms. Comparative analysis of selected regions of the alpaca genome, such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the region involved in the Minute Chromosome Syndrome (MCS) and candidate genes for high-altitude adaptations, reveal unique features of the alpaca genome. The alpaca reference genome VicPac3.1 presents a significant improvement in completeness, contiguity and accuracy over VicPac2 and is an important tool for the advancement of genomics research in all New World camelids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark F Richardson
- Genomics Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Kylie Munyard
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Larry J Croft
- Genomics Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Theodore R Allnutt
- Bioinformatics Core Research Group, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Felicity Jackling
- Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Fahad Alshanbari
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Matthew Jevit
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Gus A Wright
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Rhys Cransberg
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ahmed Tibary
- Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Polina Perelman
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Belinda Appleton
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Terje Raudsepp
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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