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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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Swart IC, Van Gelder W, De Haan CAM, Bosch BJ, Oliveira S. Next generation single-domain antibodies against respiratory zoonotic RNA viruses. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1389548. [PMID: 38784667 PMCID: PMC11111979 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1389548] [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: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The global impact of zoonotic viral outbreaks underscores the pressing need for innovative antiviral strategies, particularly against respiratory zoonotic RNA viruses. These viruses possess a high potential to trigger future epidemics and pandemics due to their high mutation rate, broad host range and efficient spread through airborne transmission. Recent pandemics caused by coronaviruses and influenza A viruses underscore the importance of developing targeted antiviral strategies. Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), originating from camelids, also known as nanobodies or VHHs (Variable Heavy domain of Heavy chain antibodies), have emerged as promising tools to combat current and impending zoonotic viral threats. Their unique structure, coupled with attributes like robustness, compact size, and cost-effectiveness, positions them as strong alternatives to traditional monoclonal antibodies. This review describes the pivotal role of sdAbs in combating respiratory zoonotic viruses, with a primary focus on enhancing sdAb antiviral potency through optimization techniques and diverse administration strategies. We discuss both the promises and challenges within this dynamically growing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris C. Swart
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Willem Van Gelder
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Cornelis A. M. De Haan
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Berend-Jan Bosch
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Sabrina Oliveira
- Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Pharmaceutics, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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3
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Choi J, Jeon Y, Roh Y, Jang J, Lee E, Villamante L, Kim M, Kwon MH. The dispensability of V H-V L pairing and the indispensability of V L domain integrity in the IgG1 secretion process. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1346259. [PMID: 38756530 PMCID: PMC11096469 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1346259] [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: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The CH1 domain of IgG antibodies controls assembly and secretion, mediated by the molecular chaperone BiP via the endoplasmic reticulum protein quality control (ERQC) mechanism. However, it is not clear whether the variable domains are necessary for this process. Methods: Here, we generated IgG1 antibodies in which the V domain (VH and/or VL) was either removed or replaced, and then assessed expression, assembly, and secretion in HEK293 cells. Results: All Ig variants formed a covalent linkage between the Cγ1 and Cκ, were successfully secreted in an assembled form. Replacement of the cognate Vκ with a non-secretory pseudo Vκ (ψVκ) hindered secretion of individual or assembled secretion of neither heavy chains (HCs) nor light chains (LCs). The ψLC (ψVκ-Cκ) exhibited a less folded structure compared to the wild type (wt) LC, as evidenced by enhanced stable binding to the molecular chaperone BiP and susceptibility to proteolytic degradation. Molecular dynamics simulation demonstrated dramatic alterations in overall structure of ψFab (Fd-ψLC) from wt Fab. Discussion: These findings suggest that V domains do not initiate HC:LC assembly and secretion; instead, the critical factor governing IgG assembly and secretion is the CH-CL pairing. Additionally, the structural integrity of the VL domain is crucial for IgG secretion. These data offer valuable insight into the design of bioactive molecules based on an IgG backbone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juho Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yerin Jeon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngin Roh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongyun Jang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunbin Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Luigie Villamante
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjae Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Hee Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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Slagboom J, Lewis AH, Schouten WM, van Haperen R, Veltman M, Bittenbinder MA, Vonk FJ, Casewell NR, Grosveld F, Drabek D, Kool J. High throughput identification of human monoclonal antibodies and heavy-chain-only antibodies to treat snakebite. Toxicon X 2024; 21:100185. [PMID: 38425752 PMCID: PMC10901844 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2024.100185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a priority Neglected Tropical Disease that causes an estimated 81,000-135,000 fatalities each year. The development of a new generation of safer, affordable, and accessible antivenom therapies is urgently needed. With this goal in mind, rigorous characterisation of the specific toxins in snake venom is key to generating novel therapies for snakebite. Monoclonal antibodies directed against venom toxins are emerging as potentially strong candidates in the development of new snakebite diagnostics and treatment. Venoms comprise many different toxins of which several are responsible for their pathological effects. Due to the large variability of venoms within and between species, formulations of combinations of human antibodies are proposed as the next generation antivenoms. Here a high-throughput screening method employing antibody-based ligand fishing of venom toxins in 384 filter-well plate format has been developed to determine the antibody target/s The approach uses Protein G beads for antibody capture followed by exposure to a full venom or purified toxins to bind their respective ligand toxin(s). This is followed by a washing/centrifugation step to remove non-binding toxins and an in-well tryptic digest. Finally, peptides from each well are analysed by nanoLC-MS/MS and subsequent Mascot database searching to identify the bound toxin/s for each antibody under investigation. The approach was successfully validated to rapidly screen antibodies sourced from hybridomas, derived from venom-immunised mice expressing either regular human antibodies or heavy-chain-only human antibodies (HCAbs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Slagboom
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081HV, the Netherlands
| | - Abigail H. Lewis
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081HV, the Netherlands
| | - Wietse M. Schouten
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081HV, the Netherlands
| | - Rien van Haperen
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Harbour BioMed, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mieke Veltman
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Harbour BioMed, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mátyás A. Bittenbinder
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081HV, the Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Freek J. Vonk
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081HV, the Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Frank Grosveld
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Harbour BioMed, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dubravka Drabek
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Harbour BioMed, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kool
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081HV, the Netherlands
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Dübel S. Can antibodies be "vegan"? A guide through the maze of today's antibody generation methods. MAbs 2024; 16:2343499. [PMID: 38634488 PMCID: PMC11028021 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2024.2343499] [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: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
There is no doubt that today's life sciences would look very different without the availability of millions of research antibody products. Nevertheless, the use of antibody reagents that are poorly characterized has led to the publication of false or misleading results. The use of laboratory animals to produce research antibodies has also been criticized. Surprisingly, both problems can be addressed with the same technology. This review charts today's maze of different antibody formats and the various methods for antibody production and their interconnections, ultimately concluding that sequence-defined recombinant antibodies offer a clear path to both improved quality of experimental data and reduced use of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Dübel
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
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6
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Hurley K, Cao M, Huang H, Wang Y. Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT) with Single-Domain Antibodies (Nanobodies). Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3493. [PMID: 37444603 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133493] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The persistent threat of cancer necessitates the development of improved and more efficient therapeutic strategies that limit damage to healthy tissues. Targeted alpha therapy (TαT), a novel form of radioimmuno-therapy (RIT), utilizes a targeting vehicle, commonly antibodies, to deliver high-energy, but short-range, alpha-emitting particles specifically to cancer cells, thereby reducing toxicity to surrounding normal tissues. Although full-length antibodies are often employed as targeting vehicles for TαT, their high molecular weight and the presence of an Fc-region lead to a long blood half-life, increased bone marrow toxicity, and accumulation in other tissues such as the kidney, liver, and spleen. The discovery of single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), or nanobodies, naturally occurring in camelids and sharks, has introduced a novel antigen-specific vehicle for molecular imaging and TαT. Given that nanobodies are the smallest naturally occurring antigen-binding fragments, they exhibit shorter relative blood half-lives, enhanced tumor uptake, and equivalent or superior binding affinity and specificity. Nanobody technology could provide a viable solution for the off-target toxicity observed with full-length antibody-based TαT. Notably, the pharmacokinetic properties of nanobodies align better with the decay characteristics of many short-lived α-emitting radionuclides. This review aims to encapsulate recent advancements in the use of nanobodies as a vehicle for TαT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Hurley
- Radiobiology and Health, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0, Canada
| | - Meiyun Cao
- Radiobiology and Health, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0, Canada
| | - Haiming Huang
- Research Center, Forlong Biotechnology Inc., Suzhou 215004, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Radiobiology and Health, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
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7
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Chen S, Liang Q, Zhuo Y, Hong Q. Human-murine chimeric autoantibodies with high affinity and specificity for systemic sclerosis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1127849. [PMID: 37398644 PMCID: PMC10311643 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1127849] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Scleroderma 70 (Scl-70) is commonly used in the clinic for aiding systemic sclerosis (SSc) diagnosis due to its recognition as autoantibodies in the serum of SSc patients. However, obtaining sera positive for anti-Scl-70 antibody can be challenging; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a specific, sensitive, and easily available reference for SSc diagnosis. In this study, murine-sourced scFv library were screened by phage display technology against human Scl-70, and the scFvs with high affinity were constructed into humanized antibodies for clinical application. Finally, ten high-affinity scFv fragments were obtained. Three fragments (2A, 2AB, and 2HD) were select for humanization. The physicochemical properties of the amino acid sequence, three-dimensional structural basis, and electrostatic potential distribution of the protein surface of different scFv fragments revealed differences in the electrostatic potential of their CDR regions determined their affinity for Scl-70 and expression. Notably, the specificity test showed the half-maximal effective concentration values of the three humanized antibodies were lower than that of positive patient serum. Moreover, these humanized antibodies showed high specificity for Scl-70 in diagnostic immunoassays for ANA. Among these three antibodies, 2A exhibited most positive electrostatic potential on the surface of the CDRs and highest affinity and specificity for Scl-70 but with least expression level; thus, it may provide new foundations for developing enhanced diagnostic strategies for SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunhui Chen
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiong Liang
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanhang Zhuo
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Center for Experimental Research in Clinical Medicine, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qin Hong
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Center for Experimental Research in Clinical Medicine, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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8
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Du W, Janssens R, Mykytyn AZ, Li W, Drabek D, van Haperen R, Chatziandreou M, Rissmann M, van der Lee J, van Dortmondt M, Martin IS, van Kuppeveld FJM, Hurdiss DL, Haagmans BL, Grosveld F, Bosch BJ. Avidity engineering of human heavy-chain-only antibodies mitigates neutralization resistance of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1111385. [PMID: 36895554 PMCID: PMC9990171 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1111385] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants have accrued mutations within the spike protein rendering most therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against COVID-19 ineffective. Hence there is an unmet need for broad-spectrum mAb treatments for COVID-19 that are more resistant to antigenically drifted SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here we describe the design of a biparatopic heavy-chain-only antibody consisting of six antigen binding sites recognizing two distinct epitopes in the spike protein NTD and RBD. The hexavalent antibody showed potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern, including the Omicron sub-lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5, whereas the parental components had lost Omicron neutralization potency. We demonstrate that the tethered design mitigates the substantial decrease in spike trimer affinity seen for escape mutations for the hexamer components. The hexavalent antibody protected against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a hamster model. This work provides a framework for designing therapeutic antibodies to overcome antibody neutralization escape of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Du
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rick Janssens
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Harbour BioMed, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anna Z. Mykytyn
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wentao Li
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Dubravka Drabek
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Harbour BioMed, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rien van Haperen
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Harbour BioMed, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marianthi Chatziandreou
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Melanie Rissmann
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joline van der Lee
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Melissa van Dortmondt
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Itziar Serna Martin
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Daniel L. Hurdiss
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Bart L. Haagmans
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frank Grosveld
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Harbour BioMed, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Berend-Jan Bosch
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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9
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An anti-CTLA-4 heavy chain-only antibody with enhanced T reg depletion shows excellent preclinical efficacy and safety profile. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2200879119. [PMID: 35925889 PMCID: PMC9371702 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2200879119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The value of anti-CTLA-4 antibodies in cancer therapy is well established. However, the broad application of currently available anti-CTLA-4 therapeutic antibodies is hampered by their narrow therapeutic index. It is therefore challenging and attractive to develop the next generation of anti-CTLA-4 therapeutics with improved safety and efficacy. To this end, we generated fully human heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs) against CTLA-4. The hIgG1 Fc domain of the top candidate, HCAb 4003-1, was further engineered to enhance its regulatory T (Treg) cell depletion effect and to decrease its half-life, resulting in HCAb 4003-2. We tested these HCAbs in in vitro and in vivo experiments in comparison with ipilimumab and other anti-CTLA4 antibodies. The results show that human HCAb 4003-2 binds human CTLA-4 with high affinity and potently blocks the binding of B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) to CTLA-4. The results also show efficient tumor penetration. HCAb 4003-2 exhibits enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity function, lower serum exposure, and more potent anti-tumor activity than ipilimumab in murine tumor models, which is partly driven by a substantial depletion of intratumoral Tregs. Importantly, the enhanced efficacy combined with the shorter serum half-life and less systemic drug exposure in vivo potentially provides an improved therapeutic window in cynomolgus monkeys and preliminary clinical applications. With its augmented efficacy via Treg depletion and improved safety profile, HCAb 4003-2 is a promising candidate for the development of next generation anti-CTLA-4 therapy.
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10
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Rutkauskaite J, Berger S, Stavrakis S, Dressler O, Heyman J, Casadevall I Solvas X, deMello A, Mazutis L. High-throughput single-cell antibody secretion quantification and enrichment using droplet microfluidics-based FRET assay. iScience 2022; 25:104515. [PMID: 35733793 PMCID: PMC9207670 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
High-throughput screening and enrichment of antibody-producing cells have many important applications. Herein, we present a droplet microfluidic approach for high-throughput screening and sorting of antibody-secreting cells using a Förster resonance electron transfer (FRET)-based assay. The FRET signal is mediated by the specific binding of the secreted antibody to two fluorescently labeled probes supplied within a droplet. Functional hybridoma cells expressing either membrane-bound or secreted monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), or both, were efficiently differentiated in less than 30 min. The antibody secretion rate by individual hybridoma cells was recorded in the range of 14,000 Abs/min, while the density of membrane-bound fraction was approximately 100 Abs/μm2. Combining the FRET assay with droplet-based single-cell sorting, an 800-fold enrichment of antigen-specific cells was achieved after one round of sorting. The presented system overcomes several key limitations observed in conventional FACS-based screening methods and should be applicable to assaying various other secreted proteins. FRET-based screening assay of antibody-secreting cells in microfluidic droplets Membrane-bound and secreted antibodies of the same cell are efficiently differentiated Using mouse hybridoma cells antibody secretion assay is completed in 30 min FRET-based droplet sorting enables over 800-fold enrichment in one round of sorting
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Affiliation(s)
- Justina Rutkauskaite
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, 7 Sauletekio ave., 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania.,Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Simon Berger
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stavros Stavrakis
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Dressler
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - John Heyman
- Harvard University, SEAS, 9 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Andrew deMello
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir Prelog Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Linas Mazutis
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, 7 Sauletekio ave., 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
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11
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A Transgenic Heavy Chain IgG Mouse Platform as a Source of High Affinity Fully Human Single-Domain Antibodies for Therapeutic Applications. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2446:121-141. [PMID: 35157271 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2075-5_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The antibody repertoires of transgenic mice expressing human heavy chain only antibodies (HCAbs) can be retrieved from immune cells after antigen challenge. Compared with genetically modified rodents expressing conventional human antibodies (tetramers consisting of two heavy chains paired with two light chains), there is no chain pairing problem, since each antibody consists of a heavy chain dimer which is solely responsible for antigen binding. HCAbs can be obtained by classical hybridoma fusion, or the generation of phage libraries or eukaryotic cell libraries displaying or secreting HCAbs. Combined transcriptomic/serum proteomic approaches can also be used to determine the repertoire of antibodies, as well as single cell technologies such as the Beacon system that enable capture of immune cells of interest, analysis, and sequencing of antibodies in a short period of time. Here, we describe a protocol for obtaining monoclonal HCAbs from immunized Harbour transgenic mice through the generation and screening of HEK cell libraries of secreted antibodies. The method can be used routinely and is fast and affordable for everyone. Selected VH regions (single domains) are sequenced and individual HCAbs can be produced and purified from the same expression vector that is used for library generation (hIgG1 Fc). They can also be cloned into other expression plasmids and reformatted to equip them with a particular effector function, modify lifespan in serum, or optimize valency and avidity depending on the specific aim.
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12
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Non-Antibody-Based Binders for the Enrichment of Proteins for Analysis by Mass Spectrometry. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11121791. [PMID: 34944435 PMCID: PMC8698613 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is often a need to isolate proteins from body fluids, such as plasma or serum, prior to further analysis with (targeted) mass spectrometry. Although immunoglobulin or antibody-based binders have been successful in this regard, they possess certain disadvantages, which stimulated the development and validation of alternative, non-antibody-based binders. These binders are based on different protein scaffolds and are often selected and optimized using phage or other display technologies. This review focuses on several non-antibody-based binders in the context of enriching proteins for subsequent liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis and compares them to antibodies. In addition, we give a brief introduction to approaches for the immobilization of binders. The combination of non-antibody-based binders and targeted mass spectrometry is promising in areas, like regulated bioanalysis of therapeutic proteins or the quantification of biomarkers. However, the rather limited commercial availability of these binders presents a bottleneck that needs to be addressed.
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13
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Bélanger K, Tanha J. High-efficacy, high-manufacturability human VH domain antibody therapeutics from transgenic sources. Protein Eng Des Sel 2021; 34:6276122. [PMID: 33991089 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzab012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest in single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) stems from their unique structural/pronounced, hence therapeutically desirable, features. From the outset-as therapeutic modalities-human antibody heavy chain variable domains (VHs) attracted a particular attention compared with 'naturally-occurring' camelid and shark heavy-chain-only antibody variable domains (VHHs and VNARs, respectively) due to their perceived lack of immunogenicity. However, they have not quite lived up to their initial promise as the VH hits, primarily mined from synthetic VH phage display libraries, have too often been plagued with aggregation tendencies, low solubility and low affinity. Largely unexplored, synthetic camelized human VH display libraries appeared to have remediated the aggregation problem, but the low affinity of the VH hits still persisted, requiring undertaking additional, laborious affinity maturation steps to render VHs therapeutically feasible. A wholesome resolution has recently emerged with the development of non-canonical transgenic rodent antibody discovery platforms that appear to facilely and profusely generate high affinity, high solubility and aggregation-resistant human VHs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasandra Bélanger
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Jamshid Tanha
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
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14
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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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15
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Transgenic Animals for the Generation of Human Antibodies. LEARNING MATERIALS IN BIOSCIENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-54630-4_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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16
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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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17
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Bringing the Heavy Chain to Light: Creating a Symmetric, Bivalent IgG-Like Bispecific. Antibodies (Basel) 2020; 9:antib9040062. [PMID: 33172091 PMCID: PMC7709125 DOI: 10.3390/antib9040062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Bispecific molecules are biologically significant, yet their complex structures pose important manufacturing and pharmacokinetic challenges. Nevertheless, owing to similarities with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), IgG-like bispecifics conceptually align well with conventional expression and manufacturing platforms and often exhibit potentially favorable drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) properties. However, IgG-like bispecifics do not possess target bivalency and current designs often require tedious engineering and purification to ensure appropriate chain pairing. Here, we present a near-native IgG antibody format, the 2xVH, which can create bivalency for each target or epitope and requires no engineering for cognate chain pairing. In this modality, two different variable heavy (VH) domains with distinct binding specificities are grafted onto the first constant heavy (CH1) and constant light (CL) domains, conferring the molecule with dual specificity. To determine the versatility of this format, we characterized the expression, binding, and stability of several previously identified soluble human VH domains. By grafting these domains onto an IgG scaffold, we generated several prototype 2xVH IgG and Fab molecules that display similar properties to mAbs. These molecules avoided the post-expression purification necessary for engineered bispecifics while maintaining a capacity for simultaneous dual binding. Hence, the 2xVH format represents a bivalent, bispecific design that addresses limitations of manufacturing IgG-like bispecifics while promoting biologically-relevant dual target engagement.
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18
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Hacisuleyman A, Erman B. ModiBodies: A computational method for modifying nanobodies in nanobody-antigen complexes to improve binding affinity and specificity. J Biol Phys 2020; 46:189-208. [PMID: 32418062 DOI: 10.1007/s10867-020-09548-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanobodies are special derivatives of antibodies, which consist of single domain fragments. They have become of considerable interest as next-generation biotechnological tools for antigen recognition. They can be easily engineered due to their high stability and compact size. Nanobodies have three complementarity-determining regions, CDRs, which are enlarged to provide a similar binding surface to that of human immunoglobulins. Here, we propose a benchmark testing algorithm that uses 3D structures of already existing protein-nanobody complexes as initial structures followed by successive mutations on the CDR domains. The aim is to find optimum binding amino acids for hypervariable residues of CDRs. We use molecular dynamics simulations to compare the binding energies of the resulting complexes with that of the known complex and accept those that are improved by mutations. We use the MDM4-VH9 complex, (PDB id 2VYR), fructose-bisphosphate aldolase from Trypanosoma congolense (PDB id 5O0W) and human lysozyme (PDB id 4I0C) as benchmark complexes. By using this algorithm, better binding nanobodies can be generated in a short amount of time. We suggest that this method can complement existing immune and synthetic library-based methods, without a need for extensive experimentation or large libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysima Hacisuleyman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Burak Erman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
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19
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, van de Water S, Harmsen M, Bermúdez-Méndez E, Drabek D, Grosveld F, Wernike K, Beer M, Aebischer A, Daramola O, Rodriguez Conde S, Brennan K, Kozub D, Søndergaard Kristiansen M, Mistry KK, Deng Z, Hellert J, Guardado-Calvo P, Rey FA, van Keulen L, Kortekaas J. Multimeric single-domain antibody complexes protect against bunyavirus infections. eLife 2020; 9:52716. [PMID: 32314955 PMCID: PMC7173960 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization has included three bunyaviruses posing an increasing threat to human health on the Blueprint list of viruses likely to cause major epidemics and for which no, or insufficient countermeasures exist. Here, we describe a broadly applicable strategy, based on llama-derived single-domain antibodies (VHHs), for the development of bunyavirus biotherapeutics. The method was validated using the zoonotic Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV), an emerging pathogen of ruminants, as model pathogens. VHH building blocks were assembled into highly potent neutralizing complexes using bacterial superglue technology. The multimeric complexes were shown to reduce and prevent virus-induced morbidity and mortality in mice upon prophylactic administration. Bispecific molecules engineered to present two different VHHs fused to an Fc domain were further shown to be effective upon therapeutic administration. The presented VHH-based technology holds great promise for the development of bunyavirus antiviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra van de Water
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Michiel Harmsen
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Erick Bermúdez-Méndez
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands.,Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Dubravka Drabek
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Harbour Antibodies B.V, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frank Grosveld
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Harbour Antibodies B.V, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Wernike
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Andrea Aebischer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Olalekan Daramola
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Rodriguez Conde
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Brennan
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Dorota Kozub
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kieran K Mistry
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ziyan Deng
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Hellert
- Structural Virology Unit, Virology Department, CNRS UMR 3569, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Pablo Guardado-Calvo
- Structural Virology Unit, Virology Department, CNRS UMR 3569, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Félix A Rey
- Structural Virology Unit, Virology Department, CNRS UMR 3569, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands.,Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
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20
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Bélanger K, Iqbal U, Tanha J, MacKenzie R, Moreno M, Stanimirovic D. Single-Domain Antibodies as Therapeutic and Imaging Agents for the Treatment of CNS Diseases. Antibodies (Basel) 2019; 8:antib8020027. [PMID: 31544833 PMCID: PMC6640712 DOI: 10.3390/antib8020027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibodies have become one of the most successful therapeutics for a number of oncology and inflammatory diseases. So far, central nervous system (CNS) indications have missed out on the antibody revolution, while they remain 'hidden' behind several hard to breach barriers. Among the various antibody modalities, single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) may hold the 'key' to unlocking the access of antibody therapies to CNS diseases. The unique structural features of sdAbs make them the smallest monomeric antibody fragments suitable for molecular targeting. These features are of particular importance when developing antibodies as modular building blocks for engineering CNS-targeting therapeutics and imaging agents. In this review, we first introduce the characteristic properties of sdAbs compared to traditional antibodies. We then present recent advances in the development of sdAbs as potential therapeutics across brain barriers, including their use for the delivery of biologics across the blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers, treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and molecular imaging of brain targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasandra Bélanger
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada.
| | - Umar Iqbal
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada.
| | - Jamshid Tanha
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.
| | - Roger MacKenzie
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada.
| | - Maria Moreno
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada.
| | - Danica Stanimirovic
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada.
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21
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Abstract
Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), the autonomous variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies produced naturally by camelid ungulates and cartilaginous fishes, have evolved to bind antigen using only three complementarity-determining region (CDR) loops rather than the six present in conventional VH:VL antibodies. It has been suggested, based on limited evidence, that sdAbs may adopt paratope structures that predispose them to preferential recognition of recessed protein epitopes, but poor or non-recognition of protuberant epitopes and small molecules. Here, we comprehensively surveyed the evidence in support of this hypothesis. We found some support for a global structural difference in the paratope shapes of sdAbs compared with those of conventional antibodies: sdAb paratopes have smaller molecular surface areas and diameters, more commonly have non-canonical CDR1 and CDR2 structures, and have elongated CDR3 length distributions, but have similar amino acid compositions and are no more extended (interatomic distance measured from CDR base to tip) than conventional antibody paratopes. Comparison of X-ray crystal structures of sdAbs and conventional antibodies in complex with cognate antigens showed that sdAbs and conventional antibodies bury similar solvent-exposed surface areas on proteins and form similar types of non-covalent interactions, although these are more concentrated in the compact sdAb paratope. Thus, sdAbs likely have privileged access to distinct antigenic regions on proteins, but only owing to their small molecular size and not to general differences in molecular recognition mechanism. The evidence surrounding the purported inability of sdAbs to bind small molecules was less clear. The available data provide a structural framework for understanding the evolutionary emergence and function of autonomous heavy chain-only antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin A Henry
- a Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre , National Research Council Canada , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada
| | - C Roger MacKenzie
- a Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre , National Research Council Canada , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada.,b School of Environmental Sciences , University of Guelph , Guelph , Ontario , Canada
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22
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Abstract
The unique class of heavy chain-only antibodies, present in Camelidae, can be shrunk to just the variable region of the heavy chain to yield VHHs, also called nanobodies. About one-tenth the size of their full-size counterparts, nanobodies can serve in applications similar to those for conventional antibodies, but they come with a number of signature advantages that find increasing application in biology. They not only function as crystallization chaperones but also can be expressed inside cells as such, or fused to other proteins to perturb the function of their targets, for example, by enforcing their localization or degradation. Their small size also affords advantages when applied in vivo, for example, in imaging applications. Here we review such applications, with particular emphasis on those areas where conventional antibodies would face a more challenging environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R Ingram
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Florian I Schmidt
- Institute of Innate Immunity, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
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23
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Henry KA, Kim DY, Kandalaft H, Lowden MJ, Yang Q, Schrag JD, Hussack G, MacKenzie CR, Tanha J. Stability-Diversity Tradeoffs Impose Fundamental Constraints on Selection of Synthetic Human V H/V L Single-Domain Antibodies from In Vitro Display Libraries. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1759. [PMID: 29375542 PMCID: PMC5763143 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human autonomous VH/VL single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) are attractive therapeutic molecules, but often suffer from suboptimal stability, solubility and affinity for cognate antigens. Most commonly, human sdAbs have been isolated from in vitro display libraries constructed via synthetic randomization of rearranged VH/VL domains. Here, we describe the design and characterization of three novel human VH/VL sdAb libraries through a process of: (i) exhaustive biophysical characterization of 20 potential VH/VL sdAb library scaffolds, including assessment of expression yield, aggregation resistance, thermostability and tolerance to complementarity-determining region (CDR) substitutions; (ii) in vitro randomization of the CDRs of three VH/VL sdAb scaffolds, with tailored amino acid representation designed to promote solubility and expressibility; and (iii) systematic benchmarking of the three VH/VL libraries by panning against five model antigens. We isolated ≥1 antigen-specific human sdAb against four of five targets (13 VHs and 7 VLs in total); these were predominantly monomeric, had antigen-binding affinities ranging from 5 nM to 12 µM (average: 2–3 µM), but had highly variable expression yields (range: 0.1–19 mg/L). Despite our efforts to identify the most stable VH/VL scaffolds, selection of antigen-specific binders from these libraries was unpredictable (overall success rate for all library-target screens: ~53%) with a high attrition rate of sdAbs exhibiting false positive binding by ELISA. By analyzing VH/VL sdAb library sequence composition following selection for monomeric antibody expression (binding to protein A/L followed by amplification in bacterial cells), we found that some VH/VL sdAbs had marked growth advantages over others, and that the amino acid composition of the CDRs of this set of sdAbs was dramatically restricted (bias toward Asp and His and away from aromatic and hydrophobic residues). Thus, CDR sequence clearly dramatically impacts the stability of human autonomous VH/VL immunoglobulin domain folds, and sequence-stability tradeoffs must be taken into account during the design of such libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin A Henry
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Dae Young Kim
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hiba Kandalaft
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael J Lowden
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Qingling Yang
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Joseph D Schrag
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Greg Hussack
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - C Roger MacKenzie
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Jamshid Tanha
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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24
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Bannas P, Hambach J, Koch-Nolte F. Nanobodies and Nanobody-Based Human Heavy Chain Antibodies As Antitumor Therapeutics. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1603. [PMID: 29213270 PMCID: PMC5702627 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 356] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionized cancer therapy. However, delivery to tumor cells in vivo is hampered by the large size (150 kDa) of conventional antibodies. The minimal target recognition module of a conventional antibody is composed of two non-covalently associated variable domains (VH and VL). The proper orientation of these domains is mediated by their hydrophobic interface and is stabilized by their linkage to disulfide-linked constant domains (CH1 and CL). VH and VL domains can be fused via a genetic linker into a single-chain variable fragment (scFv). scFv modules in turn can be fused to one another, e.g., to generate a bispecific T-cell engager, or they can be fused in various orientations to antibody hinge and Fc domains to generate bi- and multispecific antibodies. However, the inherent hydrophobic interaction of VH and VL domains limits the stability and solubility of engineered antibodies, often causing aggregation and/or mispairing of V-domains. Nanobodies (15 kDa) and nanobody-based human heavy chain antibodies (75 kDa) can overcome these limitations. Camelids naturally produce antibodies composed only of heavy chains in which the target recognition module is composed of a single variable domain (VHH or Nb). Advantageous features of nanobodies include their small size, high solubility, high stability, and excellent tissue penetration in vivo. Nanobodies can readily be linked genetically to Fc-domains, other nanobodies, peptide tags, or toxins and can be conjugated chemically at a specific site to drugs, radionuclides, photosensitizers, and nanoparticles. These properties make them particularly suited for specific and efficient targeting of tumors in vivo. Chimeric nanobody-heavy chain antibodies combine advantageous features of nanobodies and human Fc domains in about half the size of a conventional antibody. In this review, we discuss recent developments and perspectives for applications of nanobodies and nanobody-based human heavy chain antibodies as antitumor therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Bannas
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Hambach
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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