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Nasr S, Borges A, Sahyoun C, Nasr R, Roufayel R, Legros C, Sabatier JM, Fajloun Z. Scorpion Venom as a Source of Antimicrobial Peptides: Overview of Biomolecule Separation, Analysis and Characterization Methods. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1380. [PMID: 37760677 PMCID: PMC10525675 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12091380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Scorpion venoms have long captivated scientific researchers, primarily due to the potency and specificity of the mechanism of action of their derived components. Among other molecules, these venoms contain highly active compounds, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and ion channel-specific components that selectively target biological receptors with remarkable affinity. Some of these receptors have emerged as prime therapeutic targets for addressing various human pathologies, including cancer and infectious diseases, and have served as models for designing novel drugs. Consequently, extensive biochemical and proteomic investigations have focused on characterizing scorpion venoms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the key methodologies used in the extraction, purification, analysis, and characterization of AMPs and other bioactive molecules present in scorpion venoms. Noteworthy techniques such as gel electrophoresis, reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, and "omics" approaches are explored, along with various combinations of methods that enable bioassay-guided venom fractionation. Furthermore, this review presents four adapted proteomic workflows that lead to the comprehensive dissection of the scorpion venom proteome, with an emphasis on AMPs. These workflows differ based on whether the venom is pre-fractionated using separation techniques or is proteolytically digested directly before further proteomic analyses. Since the composition and functionality of scorpion venoms are species-specific, the selection and sequence of the techniques for venom analyses, including these workflows, should be tailored to the specific parameters of the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Nasr
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology (LBA3B), Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon; (S.N.); (C.S.)
| | - Adolfo Borges
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Toxinas y Receptores, Instituto de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas 50587, Venezuela;
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Investigación Científica, Asunción 1255, Paraguay
| | - Christina Sahyoun
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology (LBA3B), Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon; (S.N.); (C.S.)
- Univ Angers, INSERM, CNRS, MITOVASC, Team 2 CarMe, SFR ICAT, 49000 Angers, France
| | - Riad Nasr
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Public Health 3, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1200, Lebanon;
| | - Rabih Roufayel
- College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila 54200, Kuwait;
| | - Christian Legros
- Univ Angers, INSERM, CNRS, MITOVASC, Team 2 CarMe, SFR ICAT, 49000 Angers, France
| | - Jean-Marc Sabatier
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Ziad Fajloun
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology (LBA3B), Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon; (S.N.); (C.S.)
- Faculty of Sciences 3, Department of Biology, Lebanese University, Campus Michel Slayman Ras Maska, Tripoli 1352, Lebanon
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2
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Elatrous S, Ouanes-Besbes L, Ben Sik-Ali H, Hamouda Z, BenAbdallah S, Tilouche N, Jalloul F, Fkih-Hassen M, Dachraoui F, Ouanes I, Abroug F. Study of severe scorpion envenoming following subcutaneous venom injection into dogs: Hemodynamic and concentration/effect analysis. Toxicon 2015; 104:1-6. [PMID: 26166304 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2015] [Revised: 06/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate the dose-effects of Androctonus australis hector (Aah) venom injected subcutaneously on hemodynamics and neurohormonal secretions, 10 anesthetized and ventilated mongrel dogs, were split in two groups (n = 5/group). Subcutaneous injection was done with either 0.2 mg/kg or 0.125 mg/kg of the purified G50 scorpion toxic fraction. Hemodynamic parameters using right heart catheter were recorded and plasma concentrations of catecholamine, troponin, and serum toxic fraction were measured sequentially from baseline to 120 min. We identified the dose of toxic fraction evoking characteristic hemodynamic perturbation of severe envenomation, the time-lapse to envenomation, and the associated plasma level. The injection of 0.125 mg/kg toxic fraction was not associated with significant variations in hemodynamic parameters, whereas the 0.2 mg/kg dose caused envenomation characterized by significant increase in plasma catecholamines, increased pulmonary artery occluded pressure, mean arterial pressure, and systemic vascular resistance (p < 0.05), in association with sustained decline in cardiac output (p < 0.001). Envenomation occurred by the 30th minute, and the corresponding concentration of toxic fraction was 1.14 ng/ml. The current experiment allowed the identification of the sub-lethal dose (0.2 mg/kg) of the toxic fraction of Aah administered by the subcutaneous route. Two parameters with potential clinical relevance were also uncovered: the time-lapse to envenomation and the corresponding concentration of toxic fraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souheil Elatrous
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Tahar Sfar. Mahdia, University of Monastir, Tunisia.
| | - Lamia Ouanes-Besbes
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Fatouma Bourguiba Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Habiba Ben Sik-Ali
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Tahar Sfar. Mahdia, University of Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Zineb Hamouda
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Fatouma Bourguiba Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Saoussen BenAbdallah
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Fatouma Bourguiba Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Nejla Tilouche
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Tahar Sfar. Mahdia, University of Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Faten Jalloul
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Fatouma Bourguiba Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Fkih-Hassen
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Tahar Sfar. Mahdia, University of Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Fahmi Dachraoui
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Fatouma Bourguiba Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Islem Ouanes
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Fatouma Bourguiba Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Fekri Abroug
- Laboratoire de Recherche LR12-SP15 (Recherche Cardio - pulmonaire en médecine aigue et Toxicologie), Tunisia; ICU CHU Fatouma Bourguiba Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia
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Zahid M, Loyau S, Bouabdelli M, Aubrey N, Jandrot-Perrus M, Billiald P. Design and reshaping of an scFv directed against human platelet glycoprotein VI with diagnostic potential. Anal Biochem 2011; 417:274-82. [PMID: 21771576 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2011.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2011] [Revised: 06/21/2011] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Blood platelets play a key role in physiological hemostasis and in thrombosis. As a consequence, platelet functional analysis is widely used in the diagnosis of hemorrhagic disorders as well as in the evaluation of thrombosis risks and of the efficacy of antithrombotics. Glycoprotein (GP) VI is a platelet-specific collagen-signaling receptor. Clinical studies suggest that increased GPVI expression is associated with a risk of arterial thrombosis. Conversely, GPVI deficiencies have been identified in patients with defective platelet responses to collagen. Currently, there is no standard test available for measuring GPVI expression, essentially because antibodies usually cross-link GPVI upon binding, leading to platelet activation and consecutive changes in GPVI expression. Here, we designed a recombinant monovalent antibody fragment (scFv) derived from an anti-GPVI monoclonal IgG, 3J24, with the characteristics required to analyze GPVI expression. Guided by in silico modeling and V-KAPPA chain analysis, a Protein L (PpL) recognition pattern was engineered in the scFv, making possible its purification and detection using PpL conjugates. The PpL affinity-purified scFv is functional. It retains GPVI-binding specificity and allows detection of platelet surface-expressed GPVI without inducing platelet activation. In conclusion, the reshaped scFv may be very useful in the development of diagnostic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Zahid
- Université Paris-Sud 11, IFR 141, Faculté de Pharmacie, 92260 Châtenay-Malabry, France
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The discovery of small-molecule mimicking peptides through phage display. Molecules 2011; 16:774-89. [PMID: 21248663 PMCID: PMC6259150 DOI: 10.3390/molecules16010774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2010] [Revised: 01/12/2011] [Accepted: 01/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Using peptides to achieve the functional and structural mimicry of small-molecules, especially those with biological activity or clear biotechnological applications, has great potential in overcoming difficulties associated with synthesis, or unfavorable physical properties. Combinatorial techniques like phage display can aid in the discovery of these peptides even if their mechanism of mimicry is not rationally obvious.The major focus of this field has been limited to developing biotin and sugar mimetics. However, the full "mimicry" of these peptides has not yet been fully established as some bind to the target with a different mechanism than that of the natural ligand and some do not share all of the natural ligand's binding partners. In this article, mimicry of small-molecules by phage display-discovered peptides is reviewed and their potential in biochemical and medical applications is analyzed.
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Identification, cloning and functional characterization of a novel dermonecrotic toxin (phospholipase D) from brown spider (Loxosceles intermedia) venom. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2008; 1780:167-78. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2007.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2007] [Revised: 11/12/2007] [Accepted: 11/15/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Nouira S, Elatrous S, Besbes L, Boukef R, Devaux C, Aubrey N, Elayeb M, Abroug F. Neurohormonal activation in severe scorpion envenomation: correlation with hemodynamics and circulating toxin. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2005; 208:111-6. [PMID: 16183384 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2005.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2004] [Revised: 12/23/2004] [Accepted: 01/31/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We studied the effects of scorpion (Androctonus australis hector) venom on hemodynamics and on the release of catecholamines, neuropeptide Y (NPY), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in dog model of severe scorpion envenomation. Nine mongrel anesthetized dogs were submitted to mechanical ventilation through intubation and were administered intravenously purified dried scorpion venom (Androctonus autstralis) 0.05 mg/kg. Measurements including pulmonary artery catheter derived parameters, serum toxin levels and humoral variables were performed at baseline (before venom injection) and 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after venom injection. Humoral variables included: serum lactate, epinephrine (EP), norepinephrine (NE), NPY, ET-1 and ANP plasma concentrations. Scorpion venom caused rapid and transient increase of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and PAOP associated with a marked and sustained decline in cardiac output (-55% at 60 min; P < 0.001). Hemodynamic changes were associated with a rapid and significant increase of all measured hormones. The highest increase was for NE (28-fold) and EP (25-fold). MAP was closely correlated with NE and less significantly correlated with toxin levels. Similarly, significant correlation was observed between PAPO and ANP plasma levels. These findings support the implication of excessive catecholamines release in hemodynamic disturbances of severe SE and suggest that NPY and ET-1 could be involved in this process. Serum toxin does not appear to consistently contribute to these effects. Through its correlation with PAOP, ANP could be a reliable and useful marker of cardiac dysfunction in SE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semir Nouira
- Service de Réanimation Médicale and Experimental Toxicology Unit (99/UR/088-59 and UR/06/02), Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital Monastir 5000, Tunisia.
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Peter JC, Wallukat G, Tugler J, Maurice D, Roegel JC, Briand JP, Hoebeke J. Modulation of the M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor activity with monoclonal anti-M2 receptor antibody fragments. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:55697-706. [PMID: 15485827 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m407213200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies directed against the second extracellular loop of G protein-coupled receptors are known to have functional activities. From a partial agonist monoclonal antibody directed against the M2 muscarinic receptor, we constructed and produced a single chain variable fragment with high affinity for its target epitope. The fragment is able to recognize its receptor on Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor to block the effect of carbachol on this receptor and to exert an inverse agonist activity on the basal activity of the receptor. The antibody fragment is also able to increase the basal rhythm of cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and to inhibit in a non-competitive manner the negative chronotropic effect of carbachol. This antibody fragment is able to exert its inverse agonist activity in vivo on mouse heart activity. The immunological strategy presented here could be useful to develop specific allosteric inverse agonist reagents for G protein-coupled receptors.
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MESH Headings
- Allosteric Site
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/chemistry
- Base Sequence
- Binding, Competitive
- Blotting, Western
- CHO Cells
- Carbachol/pharmacology
- Cells, Cultured
- Cricetinae
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- Epitopes/chemistry
- Escherichia coli/metabolism
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
- Immunohistochemistry
- Mice
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism
- Nucleotides/chemistry
- Peptides/chemistry
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Rats
- Receptor, Muscarinic M2/chemistry
- Receptor, Muscarinic M2/metabolism
- Receptors, Cholinergic/chemistry
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Surface Plasmon Resonance
- Time Factors
- Transfection
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Christophe Peter
- CNRS, Unité Propre de Recherche 9021, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Laboratory of Therapeutical Chemistry and Immunology, 15 rue René Descartes, F-67084 Strasbourg, France
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Das D, Kriangkum J, Nagata LP, Fulton RE, Suresh MR. Development of a biotin mimic tagged ScFv antibody against western equine encephalitis virus: bacterial expression and refolding. J Virol Methods 2004; 117:169-77. [PMID: 15041214 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2004.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2003] [Revised: 01/05/2004] [Accepted: 01/06/2004] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Single chain antibodies (ScFvs) are heavy and light chain variable domains connected by an artificial linker. Because of their smaller size, ScFvs show improved tissue penetration in vivo and reduced immunogenicity, making them ideal for therapeutic applications. We have cloned a ScFv against western equine encephalitis (WEE) using rDNA technology. The ScFv was generated from a hybridoma cell line (11D2) specific to the WEE virus E1 glycoprotein and is arranged in the V(L)-V(H) orientation with a (gly(4)ser)(3) linker. This ScFv was engineered successfully with a biotin mimic tag (11 amino acid peptide) and cloned in the pET22b+ expression vector. The ScFv was expressed as a approximately 32kDa protein in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies, with an estimated yield of 20-40 mg/l. Different refolding protocols were used to solubilise the inclusion bodies. Most of the functional ScFv was generated when the inclusion bodies were solubilized in a detergent, air oxidised in the presence of CuSO(4) and then denatured in urea buffer in comparison to other protocols. The product was renatured finally in Tris arginine buffer (pH 8.0). Refolded protein was dialysed against phosphate buffer saline (PBS) (pH 7.3) to remove the Tris and arginine. Our refolding protocol generated up to a 50% yield of soluble protein, which retained antigen-binding activity with whole inactivated WEE virus as demonstrated by ELISA and Western blot analysis. This 11D2-biotin mimic ScFv complexed with streptavidin horseradish peroxidase (St-HRPO) will be useful as a detector reagent in the ultrasensitive ELISA detection of WEE virus antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Das
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2N8
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Aubrey N, Muzard J, Christophe Peter J, Rochat H, Goyffon M, Devaux C, Billiald P. Engineering of a recombinant Fab from a neutralizing IgG directed against scorpion neurotoxin AahI, and functional evaluation versus other antibody fragments. Toxicon 2004; 43:233-41. [PMID: 15033320 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2003.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2003] [Revised: 10/15/2003] [Accepted: 11/25/2003] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Antibody-based therapy is the only specific treatment for scorpion envenomation. However, there are still major drawbacks associated with its use; mainly because antivenoms are still prepared from immune equine serum raised against crude venoms, whereas only a limited number of neurotoxins are responsible for the lethality of the venom. Using a murine hybridoma that secretes a well-characterized neutralizing IgG directed to neurotoxins AahI and AahIII from the venom of the scorpion Androctonus australis, we constructed a recombinant Fab (rFab) fragment, which was produced and purified from transformed bacteria. It recognized toxin AahI with a high affinity (KD = 8.2 x 10(-11)) equivalent to the homologous pFab prepared by papain digestion of whole IgG. Although the AahI-neutralizing capacity of protein L-purified rFab was low compared to other recombinant antibody formats (scFv and diabody) investigated in parallel, the antibody engineering approach presented here provides an innovative way to synthesize novel toxin-neutralizing molecules. It may serve as a strategy for designing a new generation of antivenoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Aubrey
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, USM 0505-Lerai, 57 rue Cuvier, F75231 Paris cedex 05, France
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Hu WG, Alvi AZ, Fulton RE, Suresh MR, Nagata LP. Genetic engineering of streptavidin-binding peptide tagged single-chain variable fragment antibody to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. HYBRIDOMA AND HYBRIDOMICS 2002; 21:415-20. [PMID: 12573105 DOI: 10.1089/153685902321043945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A recombinant gene encoding a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody against Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) was cloned into a prokaryotic T7 RNA polymerase-regulated expression vector. A streptavidin-binding peptide gene fused to a 6His tag was attached downstream to the scFv gene. The recombinant fusion protein was expressed in bacteria as inclusion bodies that were subsequently solubilized with 8 M urea and renatured by an arginine system. Purification of the fusion protein was achieved by immobilized metal affinity chromatography. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting results revealed that the fusion protein not only retained VEE antigen binding and specificity properties similar to those of its parent native monoclonal antibody (MAb), but also possessed streptavidin-binding activity. This experimental approach can eliminate the need for chemical biotinylation of antibodies and the risk associated of antibody denaturation and can provide a stable and reproducible reagent for rapid and efficient immunoassay of VEE when detected by horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated streptavidin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Gang Hu
- Chemical Biological Defence Section, Defence Research & Development Canada-Suffield, Box 4000, Station Main, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada T1A 8K6
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