Development and characterization of chicken-chicken B cell hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies that detect sporozoite and merozoite antigens of Eimeria

Hybridoma technology a versatile method for isolation of monoclonal antibodies, its applicability across species, limitations, advancement and future perspectives

The advancements in technology and manufacturing processes have allowed the development of new derivatives, biosimilar or advanced improved versions for approved antibodies each year for treatment regimen. There are more than 700 antibody-based molecules that are in different stages of phase I/II/ III clinical trials targeting new unique targets. To date, approximately more than 80 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been approved. A total of 7 novel antibody therapeutics had been granted the first approval either in the United States or European Union in the year 2019, representing approximately 20% of the total number of approved drugs. Most of these licenced mAbs or their derivatives are either of hybridoma origin or their improvised engineered versions. Even with the recent development of high throughput mAb generation technologies, hybridoma is the most favoured method due to its indigenous nature to preserve natural cognate antibody pairing information and preserves innate functions of immune cells. The recent advent of antibody engineering technology has superseded the species level barriers and has shown success in isolation of hybridoma across phylogenetically distinct species. This has led to the isolation of monoclonal antibodies against human targets that are conserved and non-immunogenic in the rodent. In this review, we have discussed in detail about hybridoma technology, its expansion towards different animal species, the importance of antibodies isolated from different animal sources that are useful in biological applications, advantages, and limitations. This review also summarizes the challenges and recent progress associated with hybridoma development, and how it has been overcome in these years to provide new insights for the isolation of mAbs.

Passive immunization with hyperimmune egg-yolk IgY as prophylaxis and therapy for poultry diseases – A review

Passive immunization with pathogen-specific egg yolk antibodies (IgY) is emerging as a potential alternative to antibiotics for the treatment and prevention of various human and animal diseases. Laying hens are an excellent source of high-quality polyclonal antibodies, which can be collected noninvasively from egg yolks. The use of IgY offers several advantages in that it is environmentally friendly, nontoxic, and reduces the numbers of animals required for antibody production. This paper reviews the use of IgY antibodies in the treatment and prevention of enteric pathogen infections in poultry. Brief descriptions of the production, structure, and properties of IgY are also presented. Some limitations of the technology and future perspectives are discussed.

Production of a functional chicken single-chain variable fragment antibody derived from caecal tonsils B lymphocytes against macrogamonts of Eimeria tenella

Avian coccidiosis is due to a protozoan intracellular parasite belonging to the genus Eimeria which multiplies in the intestine of the host. In order to identify Eimeria antigens which reflect the natural avian humoral immune response, chicken hybridomas were produced by fusion of myeloma MuH1 with B lymphocytes from Eimeria tenella infected chicken. B lymphocytes used for fusions were isolated from tonsils at the basis of caeca where the parasite develops. One of the clones (G1F5) recognised oocyst antigens and the macrogamont stage of the parasite in ELISA and immunofluorescence assay. A single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody was cloned from the light chain variant region (VL) and heavy chain variant region (VH) genes of the hybridoma. This recombinant antibody (scFv G1F5) exhibited antigen binding specificity to oocysts and macrogamonts of E. tenella equivalent to the mAb produced by the clone G1F5. Nucleotide sequence analysis of VL genes from scFv G1F5 compared to the germ-line revealed vestiges of gene conversion. scFv derived from chicken B lymphocytes isolated from the gut-associated lymphoid tissue following experimental infection can reveal specific antigens recognised by the avian immune response.

Characterization of Stage-Specific and Cross-Reactive Antigens from Eimeria acervulina by Chicken Monoclonal Antibodies

The characterization of five chicken monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that were developed against apical complex antigens of Eimeria acervulina sporozoites is realized and the mAbs reactivity to merozoites belonging to this species is tested. Using immuno-fluorescence assay (IFA), one mAb (HE-4) that recognized apical antigens common to sporozoites of E. acervulina and E. brunetti bound antigens localized on the apical tip of merozoites from all stages of development examined. The mAb 8E-1, reactive with antigens found on the apical tip of all chicken Eimeria sporozoites, also showed binding to antigens common to merozoites from all generations. Another mAb, 8C-3, which identified an antigen shared by sporozoites apical tip and sporocysts wall of E. acervulina reacted very weak and inconstantly with the merozoites from all generations whereas the mAbs 5D-11 and 8D-2 that recognized antigens shared by the sporozoites of E. acervulina and E. maxima (mAb 5D-11) and E. acervulina and E. brunetti (mAb 8D-2) did not react with the merozoites from any generation. Collectively, these results showed that the invasive stages of chicken Eimeria share cross reactive apical complex antigens which are inter-species and inter-generation-specific that might be components of a potential recombinant vaccine.

Analysis of cross-reactivity of five new chicken monoclonal antibodies which recognize the apical complex of Eimeria using confocal laser immunofluorescence assay

For Apicomplexa (members) the host cell invasion is realized with the help of the organelles located at the apical tip of parasites. In this research paper the characterization of five chicken monoclonal antibodies (mabs) produced against Eimeria acervulina sporozoites is described. All mabs reacted with molecules belonging to the apical complex of chicken Eimeria sporozoites. On immunofluorescence assay (IFA) one mab, 8E-1, recognized an apical tip molecule present on all chicken Eimeria sporozoites, two mabs (8D-2 and HE-4) recognized an antigen present on the apical tip of the same two Eimeria species (E. acervulina and E. brunetti), another mab (5D-11) recognized an antigen present on the apical tip of other two species (E. acervulina and E. maxima) while one mab (8C-3) identified antigens present on the sporozoites and sporocysts wall of only E. acervulina. Besides the apical tip antigens, two mabs (HE-4 and 8D-2) recognized some proteins located in the anterior half of the sporozoites. Collectively, these mabs proved that the apical complex of chicken Eimeria sporozoites share one or more antigens that are expected to play a role in host cell recognition and invasion.

Generation and characterization of recombinant ScFv antibodies detecting Eimeria acervulina surface antigens

In our previous attempt to generate monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against coccidia parasites that more accurately reflect the natural avian humoral immune response, we produced two chicken B-cell hybridomas, 5D11 and 2-1. While both cell lines secreted antibodies reactive with sporozoites of Eimeria acervulina, they were produced in yields too low to conduct meaningful in vivo studies. To circumvent this problem, we produced four single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies from the V(H) and V(L) genes of hybridomas 5D11 and 2-1. The concentration of these recombinant antibodies expressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity was 5-6 mg/L. Three of the antibodies exhibited antigen binding specificity to Eimeria surface antigens equivalent to that of the native MAbs. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the V(L) genes from hybridomas 5D11 and 2-1 and genomic DNA revealed vestiges of gene conversion with V(lambda) pseudogenes. These recombinant scFv antibodies will prove useful for further characterization of natural Eimeria surface antigens as potential vaccine candidates.

Chicken monoclonal antibodies against synthetic bovine prion protein peptide

Chicken monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were developed against bovine prion protein (PrP) peptide. Chickens immunized with bovine PrP peptide B204 (amino acid residues 204-220) coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin produced specific antibodies to the peptide as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the B204 peptide coupled to ovalbumin as target antigen. From a fusion experiment using the chicken fusion partner cell line MuH1 and immune spleen cells, 19 mAbs reactive with B204 were generated. These mAbs were subdivided into five groups based on competitive ELISA using B204 and four 10-amino acid peptides. These five groups included all combinations expected based on comparison of amino acid sequences among the five species, bovine, mouse, human, sheep and hamster, examined. These results indicate that the chicken mAb system is a suitable technique for immunological analysis of PrP in mammals.