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Rodriguez-Aponte SA, Naranjo CA, Johnston RS, Dalvie NC, Crowell LE, Bajoria S, Kumru OS, Joshi SB, Volkin DB, Love JC. Minimal purification method enables developability assessment of recombinant proteins. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:2423-2434. [PMID: 36929469 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28385] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Analytical characterization of proteins is a critical task for developing therapeutics and subunit vaccine candidates. Assessing candidates with a battery of biophysical assays can inform the selection of one that exhibits properties consistent with a given target product profile (TPP). Such assessments, however, require several milligrams of purified protein, and ideal assessments of the physicochemical attributes of the proteins should not include unnatural modifications like peptide tags for purification. Here, we describe a fast two-stage minimal purification process for recombinant proteins secreted by the yeast host Komagataella phaffii from a 20 mL culture supernatant. This method comprises a buffer exchange and filtration with a Q-membrane filter and we demonstrate sufficient removal of key supernatant impurities including host-cell proteins (HCPs) and DNA with yields of 1-2 mg and >60% purity. This degree of purity enables characterizing the resulting proteins using affinity binding, mass spectrometry, and differential scanning calorimetry. We first evaluated this method to purify an engineered SARS-CoV-2 subunit protein antigen and compared the purified protein to a conventional two-step chromatographic process. We then applied this method to compare several SARS-CoV-2 RBD sequences. Finally, we show this simple process can be applied to a range of other proteins, including a single-domain antibody, a rotavirus protein subunit, and a human growth hormone. This simple and fast developability methodology obviates the need for genetic tagging or full chromatographic development when assessing and comparing early-stage protein therapeutics and vaccine candidates produced in K. phaffii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio A Rodriguez-Aponte
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher A Naranjo
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ryan S Johnston
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Neil C Dalvie
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laura E Crowell
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sakshi Bajoria
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Ozan S Kumru
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Sangeeta B Joshi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - David B Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Vaccine Analytics and Formulation Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - J Christopher Love
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Mazuz ML, Laughery JM, Lebovitz B, Yasur-Landau D, Rot A, Bastos RG, Edery N, Fleiderovitz L, Levi MM, Suarez CE. Experimental Infection of Calves with Transfected Attenuated Babesia bovis Expressing the Rhipicephalus microplus Bm86 Antigen and eGFP Marker: Preliminary Studies towards a Dual Anti-Tick/Babesia Vaccine. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020135. [PMID: 33572875 PMCID: PMC7911397 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020135] [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: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine babesiosis, caused by Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, is a major tick-borne disease of cattle with global economic impact. The disease can be prevented using integrated control measures including attenuated Babesia vaccines, babesicidal drugs, and tick control approaches. Vaccination of cattle with the Rhipicephalus microplus Bm86-based recombinant vaccine reduces the fitness of R. microplus and R. annulatus, but several booster inoculations are required to maintain protection. Herein, we generated a stable transfected strain of B. bovis expressing an enhanced GFP (eGFP) and a chimeric version of Bm86 (B. bovis/Bm86/eGFP). The eGFP was expressed in the parasite cytoplasm, whereas Bm86 was displayed on the surface of merozoites. Three splenectomized calves experimentally infected with B. bovis/Bm86/eGFP showed mild signs of acute disease and developed long-lasting antibody responses to B. bovis and native Bm86. No evidence of sequestration of parasites in the cerebral capillaries was found upon postmortem analysis, confirming attenuation of the strain. This is the first report of transfected B. bovis expressing the tick antigen Bm86 on the merozoite surface that elicits an antibody response to native Bm86. These results represent a proof of concept for a novel live, attenuated, tagged dual-vaccine approach to attempt simultaneous control of babesiosis and tick infestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica L. Mazuz
- Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O.B. 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel; (B.L.); (D.Y.-L.); (A.R.); (L.F.); (M.M.L.)
- Correspondence: (M.L.M.); (C.E.S.); Tel.: +972-3-968-1690 (M.L.M.); Tel.: +1-509-335-6341 (C.E.S.)
| | - Jacob M. Laughery
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA; (J.M.L.); (R.G.B.)
| | - Benjamin Lebovitz
- Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O.B. 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel; (B.L.); (D.Y.-L.); (A.R.); (L.F.); (M.M.L.)
| | - Daniel Yasur-Landau
- Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O.B. 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel; (B.L.); (D.Y.-L.); (A.R.); (L.F.); (M.M.L.)
| | - Assael Rot
- Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O.B. 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel; (B.L.); (D.Y.-L.); (A.R.); (L.F.); (M.M.L.)
| | - Reginaldo G. Bastos
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA; (J.M.L.); (R.G.B.)
| | - Nir Edery
- Division of Pathology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O.B. 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel;
| | - Ludmila Fleiderovitz
- Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O.B. 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel; (B.L.); (D.Y.-L.); (A.R.); (L.F.); (M.M.L.)
| | - Maayan Margalit Levi
- Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O.B. 12, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel; (B.L.); (D.Y.-L.); (A.R.); (L.F.); (M.M.L.)
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA; (J.M.L.); (R.G.B.)
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, WSU, Pullman, WA 99164-6630, USA
- Correspondence: (M.L.M.); (C.E.S.); Tel.: +972-3-968-1690 (M.L.M.); Tel.: +1-509-335-6341 (C.E.S.)
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Csordas BG, Cunha RC, Garcia MV, da Silva SS, Leite FL, Andreotti R. Molecular characterization of the recombinant protein RmLTI-BmCG-LTB: Protective immunity against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191596. [PMID: 29415034 PMCID: PMC5802849 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The bovine tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is found in several tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This parasite transmits pathogens that cause disease, such as babesiosis (Babesia bovis and B. bigemina) and anaplasmosis (Anaplasma marginale). Tick infestations cause enormous livestock losses, and controlling tick infestations and the transmission of tick-borne diseases remains a challenge for the livestock industry. Because the currently available commercial vaccines offer only partial protection against R. (B.) microplus, there is a need for more efficient vaccines. Several recombinant antigens have been evaluated using different immunization strategies, and they show great promise. This work describes the construction and immunological characterization of a multi-antigen chimera composed of two R. (B.) microplus antigens (RmLTI and BmCG) and one Escherichia coli antigen (B subunit, LTB). The immunogenic regions of each antigen were selected and combined to encode a single polypeptide. The gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli. For all of the experiments, two groups (treated and control) of four Angus heifers (3-6 months old) were used. The inoculation was performed via intramuscular injection with 200 μg of purified recombinant chimeric protein and adjuvated. The chimeric protein was recognized by specific antibodies against each subunit and by sera from cattle inoculated with the chimera. Immunization of RmLTI-BmCG-LTB cattle reduced the number of adult female ticks by 6.29% and vaccination of cattle with the chimeric antigen provided 55.6% efficacy against R. (B.) microplus infestation. The results of this study indicate that the novel chimeric protein is a potential candidate for the future development of a more effective vaccine against R. (B.) microplus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Guimarães Csordas
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Bolsista de Doutorado pela Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Casquero Cunha
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Marcos Valério Garcia
- Bolsista de Pós-Doutorado, Fundação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular do Carrapato, Departamento de Sanidade Animal, Embrapa Gado de Corte, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil
| | - Sérgio Silva da Silva
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Fábio Leivas Leite
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Renato Andreotti
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular do Carrapato, Departamento de Sanidade Animal, Embrapa Gado de Corte, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil
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Pinheiro AF, Borsuk S, Berne MEA, Pinto LDS, Andreotti R, Roos T, Rollof BC, Leite FPL. Expression of Neospora caninum NcSRS2 surface protein in Pichia pastoris and its application for serodiagnosis of Neospora infection. Pathog Glob Health 2013; 107:116-21. [PMID: 23683365 DOI: 10.1179/2047773213y.0000000082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neospora caninum is considerd a major cause of abortion in cattle worldwide. The antigenic domain of NcSRS2 in N. caninum is an important surface antigen present in the membrane of this parasite. In the present study, the Pichia pastoris expression system proved to be a useful tool for the production of recombinant protein. The truncated NcSRS2 gene (by removal of the N-terminal hydrophobic sequence), was cloned in the vector pPICZalphaB, and integrated on the genome of the methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris. Subsequently, the NcSRS2 protein was expressed, purified, and characterized using naturally infected cattle sera and Mab 6xhistag. The recombinant protein NcSRS2 was present in the supernatant of the culture, where later it was concentrated and purified using ammonium sulfate (∼100 mg/ml). An indirect immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) was performed using cattle sera from endemic N. caninum area.
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Kung F, Anguita J, Pal U. Borrelia burgdorferi and tick proteins supporting pathogen persistence in the vector. Future Microbiol 2013; 8:41-56. [PMID: 23252492 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.12.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi, a pathogen transmitted by Ixodes ticks, is responsible for a prevalent illness known as Lyme disease, and a vaccine for human use is unavailable. Recently, genome sequences of several B. burgdorferi strains and Ixodes scapularis ticks have been determined. In addition, remarkable progress has been made in developing molecular genetic tools to study the pathogen and vector, including their intricate relationship. These developments are helping unravel the mechanisms by which Lyme disease pathogens survive in a complex enzootic infection cycle. Notable discoveries have already contributed to understanding the spirochete gene regulation accounting for the temporal and spatial expression of B. burgdorferi genes during distinct phases of the lifecycle. A number of pathogen and vector gene products have also been identified that contribute to microbial virulence and/or persistence. These research directions will enrich our knowledge of vector-borne infections and contribute towards the development of preventative strategies against Lyme disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith Kung
- Department of Veterinary Medicine & Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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Protective immunity against tick infestation in cattle vaccinated with recombinant trypsin inhibitor of Rhipicephalus microplus. Vaccine 2012; 30:6678-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.08.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2012] [Revised: 08/01/2012] [Accepted: 08/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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