1
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Desai N, Pande S, Salave S, Singh TRR, Vora LK. Antitoxin nanoparticles: design considerations, functional mechanisms, and applications in toxin neutralization. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:104060. [PMID: 38866357 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104060] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The application of nanotechnology has significantly advanced the development of novel platforms that enhance disease treatment and diagnosis. A key innovation in this field is the creation of antitoxin nanoparticles (ATNs), designed to address toxin exposure. These precision-engineered nanosystems have unique physicochemical properties and selective binding capabilities, allowing them to effectively capture and neutralize toxins from various biological, chemical, and environmental sources. In this review, we thoroughly examine their therapeutic and diagnostic potential for managing toxin-related challenges. We also explore recent advancements and offer critical insights into the design and clinical implementation of ATNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimeet Desai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, India
| | - Shreya Pande
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, India
| | - Sagar Salave
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad (NIPER-A), Gujarat, India
| | | | - Lalitkumar K Vora
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
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2
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Benard-Valle M, Wouters Y, Ljungars A, Nguyen GTT, Ahmadi S, Ebersole TW, Dahl CH, Guadarrama-Martínez A, Jeppesen F, Eriksen H, Rodríguez-Barrera G, Boddum K, Jenkins TP, Bjørn SP, Schoffelen S, Voldborg BG, Alagón A, Laustsen AH. In vivo neutralization of coral snake venoms with an oligoclonal nanobody mixture in a murine challenge model. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4310. [PMID: 38773068 PMCID: PMC11109316 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48539-z] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Oligoclonal mixtures of broadly-neutralizing antibodies can neutralize complex compositions of similar and dissimilar antigens, making them versatile tools for the treatment of e.g., infectious diseases and animal envenomations. However, these biotherapeutics are complicated to develop due to their complex nature. In this work, we describe the application of various strategies for the discovery of cross-neutralizing nanobodies against key toxins in coral snake venoms using phage display technology. We prepare two oligoclonal mixtures of nanobodies and demonstrate their ability to neutralize the lethality induced by two North American coral snake venoms in mice, while individual nanobodies fail to do so. We thus show that an oligoclonal mixture of nanobodies can neutralize the lethality of venoms where the clinical syndrome is caused by more than one toxin family in a murine challenge model. The approaches described may find utility for the development of advanced biotherapeutics against snakebite envenomation and other pathologies where multi-epitope targeting is beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Benard-Valle
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yessica Wouters
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Ljungars
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Giang Thi Tuyet Nguyen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Shirin Ahmadi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tasja Wainani Ebersole
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Camilla Holst Dahl
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alid Guadarrama-Martínez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Mor, 62210, México
| | - Frederikke Jeppesen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Helena Eriksen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Gibran Rodríguez-Barrera
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Mor, 62210, México
| | - Kim Boddum
- Sophion Bioscience, DK-2750, Ballerup, Denmark
| | - Timothy Patrick Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sara Petersen Bjørn
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sanne Schoffelen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Bjørn Gunnar Voldborg
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Mor, 62210, México
| | - Andreas Hougaard Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens, Lyngby, Denmark.
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3
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Torres SV, Valle MB, Mackessy SP, Menzies SK, Casewell NR, Ahmadi S, Burlet NJ, Muratspahić E, Sappington I, Overath MD, Rivera-de-Torre E, Ledergerber J, Laustsen AH, Boddum K, Bera AK, Kang A, Brackenbrough E, Cardoso IA, Crittenden EP, Edge RJ, Decarreau J, Ragotte RJ, Pillai AS, Abedi M, Han HL, Gerben SR, Murray A, Skotheim R, Stuart L, Stewart L, Fryer TJA, Jenkins TP, Baker D. De novo designed proteins neutralize lethal snake venom toxins. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4402792. [PMID: 38798548 PMCID: PMC11118692 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4402792/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming remains a devastating and neglected tropical disease, claiming over 100,000 lives annually and causing severe complications and long-lasting disabilities for many more1,2. Three-finger toxins (3FTx) are highly toxic components of elapid snake venoms that can cause diverse pathologies, including severe tissue damage3 and inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) resulting in life-threatening neurotoxicity4. Currently, the only available treatments for snakebite consist of polyclonal antibodies derived from the plasma of immunized animals, which have high cost and limited efficacy against 3FTxs5,6,7. Here, we use deep learning methods to de novo design proteins to bind short- and long-chain α-neurotoxins and cytotoxins from the 3FTx family. With limited experimental screening, we obtain protein designs with remarkable thermal stability, high binding affinity, and near-atomic level agreement with the computational models. The designed proteins effectively neutralize all three 3FTx sub-families in vitro and protect mice from a lethal neurotoxin challenge. Such potent, stable, and readily manufacturable toxin-neutralizing proteins could provide the basis for safer, cost-effective, and widely accessible next-generation antivenom therapeutics. Beyond snakebite, our computational design methodology should help democratize therapeutic discovery, particularly in resource-limited settings, by substantially reducing costs and resource requirements for development of therapies to neglected tropical diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Vázquez Torres
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Graduate Program in Biological Physics, Structure and Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Melisa Benard Valle
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Stephen P. Mackessy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, 80639, USA
| | - Stefanie K. Menzies
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
- Centre for Drugs & Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
- Biomedical & Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom LA1 4YG8
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
- Centre for Drugs & Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Shirin Ahmadi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nick J. Burlet
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Edin Muratspahić
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Isaac Sappington
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Graduate Program in Biological Physics, Structure and Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Max D. Overath
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Esperanza Rivera-de-Torre
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jann Ledergerber
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kim Boddum
- Sophion Bioscience, DK-2750 Ballerup, Denmark
| | - Asim K. Bera
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alex Kang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Evans Brackenbrough
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Iara A. Cardoso
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Edouard P. Crittenden
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Rebecca J. Edge
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom
| | - Justin Decarreau
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Robert J. Ragotte
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Arvind S. Pillai
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mohamad Abedi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hannah L. Han
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stacey R. Gerben
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Analisa Murray
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rebecca Skotheim
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lynda Stuart
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lance Stewart
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thomas J. A. Fryer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA
| | - Timothy P. Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - David Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105,USA
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4
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Liu ML, Liang XM, Jin MY, Huang HW, Luo L, Wang H, Shen X, Xu ZL. Food-Borne Biotoxin Neutralization in Vivo by Nanobodies: Current Status and Prospects. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:10753-10771. [PMID: 38706131 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c02257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Food-borne biotoxins from microbes, plants, or animals contaminate unclean, spoiled, and rotten foods, posing significant health risks. Neutralizing such toxins is vital for human health, especially after food poisoning. Nanobodies (Nbs), a type of single-domain antibodies derived from the genetic cloning of a variable domain of heavy chain antibodies (VHHs) in camels, offer unique advantages in toxin neutralization. Their small size, high stability, and precise binding enable effective neutralization. The use of Nbs in neutralizing food-borne biotoxins offers numerous benefits, and their genetic malleability allows tailored optimization for diverse toxins. As nanotechnology continues to evolve and improve, Nbs are poised to become increasingly efficient and safer tools for toxin neutralization, playing a pivotal role in safeguarding human health and environmental safety. This review not only highlights the efficacy of these agents in neutralizing toxins but also proposes innovative solutions to address their current challenges. It lays a solid foundation for their further development in this crucial field and propels their commercial application, thereby contributing significantly to advancements in this domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ling Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiao-Min Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ming-Yu Jin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- School of Life and Health Technology, Dongguan, University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Hui-Wei Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lin Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xing Shen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhen-Lin Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety/Research Center for Green Development of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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5
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Bittenbinder MA, van Thiel J, Cardoso FC, Casewell NR, Gutiérrez JM, Kool J, Vonk FJ. Tissue damaging toxins in snake venoms: mechanisms of action, pathophysiology and treatment strategies. Commun Biol 2024; 7:358. [PMID: 38519650 PMCID: PMC10960010 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06019-6] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is an important public health issue responsible for mortality and severe morbidity. Where mortality is mainly caused by venom toxins that induce cardiovascular disturbances, neurotoxicity, and acute kidney injury, morbidity is caused by toxins that directly or indirectly destroy cells and degrade the extracellular matrix. These are referred to as 'tissue-damaging toxins' and have previously been classified in various ways, most of which are based on the tissues being affected (e.g., cardiotoxins, myotoxins). This categorisation, however, is primarily phenomenological and not mechanistic. In this review, we propose an alternative way of classifying cytotoxins based on their mechanistic effects rather than using a description that is organ- or tissue-based. The mechanisms of toxin-induced tissue damage and their clinical implications are discussed. This review contributes to our understanding of fundamental biological processes associated with snakebite envenoming, which may pave the way for a knowledge-based search for novel therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mátyás A Bittenbinder
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR, Leiden, The Netherlands
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jory van Thiel
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Fernanda C Cardoso
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - José-María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Jeroen Kool
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Freek J Vonk
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2333 CR, Leiden, The Netherlands
- AIMMS, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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6
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Thumtecho S, Burlet NJ, Ljungars A, Laustsen AH. Towards better antivenoms: navigating the road to new types of snakebite envenoming therapies. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2023; 29:e20230057. [PMID: 38116472 PMCID: PMC10729942 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2023-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a significant global health challenge, and for over a century, traditional plasma-derived antivenoms from hyperimmunized animals have been the primary treatment against this infliction. However, these antivenoms have several inherent limitations, including the risk of causing adverse reactions when administered to patients, batch-to-batch variation, and high production costs. To address these issues and improve treatment outcomes, the development of new types of antivenoms is crucial. During this development, key aspects such as improved clinical efficacy, enhanced safety profiles, and greater affordability should be in focus. To achieve these goals, modern biotechnological methods can be applied to the discovery and development of therapeutic agents that can neutralize medically important toxins from multiple snake species. This review highlights some of these agents, including monoclonal antibodies, nanobodies, and selected small molecules, that can achieve broad toxin neutralization, have favorable safety profiles, and can be produced on a large scale with standardized manufacturing processes. Considering the inherent strengths and limitations related to the pharmacokinetics of these different agents, a combination of them might be beneficial in the development of new types of antivenom products with improved therapeutic properties. While the implementation of new therapies requires time, it is foreseeable that the application of biotechnological advancements represents a promising trajectory toward the development of improved therapies for snakebite envenoming. As research and development continue to advance, these new products could emerge as the mainstay treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suthimon Thumtecho
- Division of Toxicology, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nick J. Burlet
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Ljungars
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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7
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Werner RM, Soffa AN. Considerations for the development of a field-based medical device for the administration of adjunctive therapies for snakebite envenoming. Toxicon X 2023; 20:100169. [PMID: 37661997 PMCID: PMC10474190 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2023.100169] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The timely administration of antivenom is the most effective method currently available to reduce the burden of snakebite envenoming (SBE), a neglected tropical disease that most often affects rural agricultural global populations. There is increasing interest in the development of adjunctive small molecule and biologic therapeutics that target the most problematic venom components to bridge the time-gap between initial SBE and the administration antivenom. Unique combinations of these therapeutics could provide relief from the toxic effects of regional groupings of medically relevant snake species. The application a PRISMA/PICO literature search methodology demonstrated an increasing interest in the rapid administration of therapies to improve patient symptoms and outcomes after SBE. Advice from expert interviews and considerations regarding the potential routes of therapy administration, anatomical bite location, and species-specific venom delivery have provided a framework to identify ideal metrics and potential hurdles for the development of a field-based medical device that could be used immediately after SBE to deliver adjunctive therapies. The use of subcutaneous (SC) or intramuscular (IM) injection were identified as potential routes of administration of both small molecule and biologic therapies. The development of a field-based medical device for the delivery of adjunctive SBE therapies presents unique challenges that will require a collaborative and transdisciplinary approach to be successful.
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8
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Menzies SK, Arinto-Garcia R, Amorim FG, Cardoso IA, Abada C, Crasset T, Durbesson F, Edge RJ, El-Kazzi P, Hall S, Redureau D, Stenner R, Boldrini-França J, Sun H, Roldão A, Alves PM, Harrison RA, Vincentelli R, Berger I, Quinton L, Casewell NR, Schaffitzel C. ADDovenom: Thermostable Protein-Based ADDomer Nanoparticles as New Therapeutics for Snakebite Envenoming. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:673. [PMID: 38133177 PMCID: PMC10747859 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15120673] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming can be a life-threatening medical emergency that requires prompt medical intervention to neutralise the effects of venom toxins. Each year up to 138,000 people die from snakebites and threefold more victims suffer life-altering disabilities. The current treatment of snakebite relies solely on antivenom-polyclonal antibodies isolated from the plasma of hyperimmunised animals-which is associated with numerous deficiencies. The ADDovenom project seeks to deliver a novel snakebite therapy, through the use of an innovative protein-based scaffold as a next-generation antivenom. The ADDomer is a megadalton-sized, thermostable synthetic nanoparticle derived from the adenovirus penton base protein; it has 60 high-avidity binding sites to neutralise venom toxins. Here, we outline our experimental strategies to achieve this goal using state-of-the-art protein engineering, expression technology and mass spectrometry, as well as in vitro and in vivo venom neutralisation assays. We anticipate that the approaches described here will produce antivenom with unparalleled efficacy, safety and affordability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie K. Menzies
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
- Centre for Drugs & Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Raquel Arinto-Garcia
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Technológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
- ITQB NOVA, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Gobbi Amorim
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Allée du six Aout 11, Quartier Agora, Liège Université, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Iara Aimê Cardoso
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Camille Abada
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Thomas Crasset
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Allée du six Aout 11, Quartier Agora, Liège Université, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Fabien Durbesson
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Rebecca J. Edge
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Priscila El-Kazzi
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Sophie Hall
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Damien Redureau
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Allée du six Aout 11, Quartier Agora, Liège Université, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Richard Stenner
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Johara Boldrini-França
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Huan Sun
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - António Roldão
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Technológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
- ITQB NOVA, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Paula M. Alves
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Technológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal
- ITQB NOVA, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Robert A. Harrison
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
- Centre for Drugs & Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Renaud Vincentelli
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Imre Berger
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Loïc Quinton
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, Allée du six Aout 11, Quartier Agora, Liège Université, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
- Centre for Drugs & Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Christiane Schaffitzel
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
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9
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David TI, Pestov NB, Korneenko TV, Barlev NA. Non-Immunoglobulin Synthetic Binding Proteins for Oncology. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:1232-1247. [PMID: 37770391 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923090043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Extensive application of technologies like phage display in screening peptide and protein combinatorial libraries has not only facilitated creation of new recombinant antibodies but has also significantly enriched repertoire of the protein binders that have polypeptide scaffolds without homology to immunoglobulins. These innovative synthetic binding protein (SBP) platforms have grown in number and now encompass monobodies/adnectins, DARPins, lipocalins/anticalins, and a variety of miniproteins such as affibodies and knottins, among others. They serve as versatile modules for developing complex affinity tools that hold promise in both diagnostic and therapeutic settings. An optimal scaffold typically has low molecular weight, minimal immunogenicity, and demonstrates resistance against various challenging conditions, including proteolysis - making it potentially suitable for peroral administration. Retaining functionality under reducing intracellular milieu is also advantageous. However, paramount to its functionality is the scaffold's ability to tolerate mutations across numerous positions, allowing for the formation of a sufficiently large target binding region. This is achieved through the library construction, screening, and subsequent expression in an appropriate system. Scaffolds that exhibit high thermodynamic stability are especially coveted by the developers of new SBPs. These are steadily making their way into clinical settings, notably as antagonists of oncoproteins in signaling pathways. This review surveys the diverse landscape of SBPs, placing particular emphasis on the inhibitors targeting the oncoprotein KRAS, and highlights groundbreaking opportunities for SBPs in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope I David
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, 119121, Russia
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Nikolay B Pestov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, 119121, Russia.
- Laboratory of Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Other Viral Encephalitides, Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 108819, Russia
- Group of Cross-Linking Enzymes, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Tatyana V Korneenko
- Group of Cross-Linking Enzymes, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Nikolai A Barlev
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, 119121, Russia
- Laboratory of Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Other Viral Encephalitides, Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 108819, Russia
- Institute of Cytology Russian Academy of Sciences, St.-Petersburg, 194064, Russia
- School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
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10
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M Morris N, A Blee J, Hauert S. Global parameter optimisation and sensitivity analysis of antivenom pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Toxicon 2023; 232:107206. [PMID: 37356552 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107206] [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: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
In recent years it has become possible to design snakebite antivenoms with diverse pharmacokinetic properties. Owing to the pharmacokinetic variability of venoms, the choice of antivenom scaffold may influence a treatment's neutralisation coverage. Computation offers a useful medium through which to assess the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of envenomation-treatment systems, as antivenoms with identical neutralising capacities can be simulated. In this study, we simulate envenomation and treatment with a variety of antivenoms, to define the properties of effective antivenoms. Systemic envenomation and treatment were described using a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. Treatment of Naja sumatrana and Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus envenomation was simulated with a set of 200,000 theoretical antivenoms across 10 treatment time delays. These two venoms are well-characterised and have differing pharmacokinetic properties. The theoretical antivenom set varied across molecular weight, dose, kon, koff, and valency. The best and worst treatments were identified using an area under the curve metric, and a global sensitivity analysis was performed to quantify the influence of the input parameters on treatment outcome. The simulations show that scaffolds of diverse molecular formats can be effective. Molecular weight and valency have a negligible direct impact on treatment outcome, however low molecular weight scaffolds offer more flexibility across the other design parameters, particularly when treatment is delayed. The simulations show kon to primarily mediate treatment efficacy, with rates above 105 M-1s-1 required for the most effective treatments. koff has the greatest impact on the performance of less effective scaffolds. While the same scaffold preferences for improved treatment are seen for both model snakes, the parameter bounds for C. purpureomaculatus envenomation are more constrained. This paper establishes a computational framework for the optimisation of antivenom design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M Morris
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, Ada Lovelace Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK.
| | - Johanna A Blee
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, Ada Lovelace Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK.
| | - Sabine Hauert
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, Ada Lovelace Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK.
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11
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Molecularly Imprinted Ligand-Free Nanogels for Recognizing Bee Venom-Originated Phospholipase A2 Enzyme. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14194200. [PMID: 36236149 PMCID: PMC9571764 DOI: 10.3390/polym14194200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, ligand-free nanogels (LFNGs) as potential antivenom mimics were developed with the aim of preventing hypersensitivity and other side effects following massive bee attacks. For this purpose, poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate was chosen as a main synthetic biocompatible matrix to prepare the experimental LFNGs. The overall concept uses inverse mini-emulsion polymerization as the main route to deliver nanogel caps with complementary cavities for phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from bee venom, created artificially with the use of molecular imprinting (MI) technologies. The morphology and the hydrodynamic features of the nanogels were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The following rebinding experiments evidenced the specificity of molecularly imprinted LFNG for PLA2, with rebinding capacities up to 8-fold higher compared to the reference non-imprinted nanogel, while the in vitro binding assays of PLA2 from commercial bee venom indicated that such synthetic nanogels are able to recognize and retain the targeted PLA2 enzyme. The results were finally collaborated with in vitro cell-viability experiments and resulted in a strong belief that such LFNG may actually be used for future therapies against bee envenomation.
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12
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Morris NM, Blee JA, Hauert S. Developing a computational pharmacokinetic model of systemic snakebite envenomation and antivenom treatment. Toxicon 2022; 215:77-90. [PMID: 35716719 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Snakebite envenomation is responsible for over 100,000 deaths and 400,000 cases of disability annually, most of which are preventable through access to safe and effective antivenoms. Snake venom toxins span a wide molecular weight range, influencing their absorption, distribution, and elimination within the body. In recent years, a range of scaffolds have been applied to antivenom development. These scaffolds similarly span a wide molecular weight range and subsequently display diverse pharmacokinetic behaviours. Computational simulations represent a powerful tool to explore the interplay between these varied antivenom scaffolds and venoms, to assess whether a pharmacokinetically optimal antivenom exists. The purpose of this study was to establish a computational model of systemic snakebite envenomation and treatment, for the quantitative assessment and comparison of conventional and next-generation antivenoms. A two-compartment mathematical model of envenomation and treatment was defined and the system was parameterised using existing data from rabbits. Elimination and biodistribution parameters were regressed against molecular weight to predict the dynamics of IgG, F(ab')2, Fab, scFv, and nanobody antivenoms, spanning a size range of 15-150 kDa. As a case study, intramuscular envenomation by Naja sumatrana (equatorial spitting cobra) and its treatment using Fab, F(ab')2, and IgG antivenoms was simulated. Variable venom dose tests were applied to visualise effective antivenom dose levels. Comparisons to existing antivenoms and experimental rescue studies highlight the large dose reductions that could result from recombinant antivenom use. This study represents the first comparative in silico model of snakebite envenomation and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie M Morris
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, Ada Lovelace Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK.
| | - Johanna A Blee
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, Ada Lovelace Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK.
| | - Sabine Hauert
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, Ada Lovelace Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK.
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13
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Wang B, Liu G, Luo M, Zhang X, Wang Q, Zou S, Zhang F, Jin X, Zhang L. Preparation and Evaluation of a Horse Antiserum against the Venom of Sea Snake Hydrophis curtus from Hainan, China. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14040253. [PMID: 35448862 PMCID: PMC9024827 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14040253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Sea snake venom is extremely toxic, and it can induce severe respiratory failure and cause high mortality. The most effective first aid treatment for sea snake bites is to inject antivenom as soon as possible. However, in China, there are only four types of terrestrial snake antivenoms, none of which are effective in the treatment of sea snake bites. In order to develop an antivenom for the dominant species of sea snakes in Chinese seas, Hydrophis curtus venom (HcuV) was chosen as the antigen to immunize horses. From immune plasma, a high-titer Hydrophis curtus antivenom (HcuAV) was prepared. In vitro assessment showed that HcuAV had a cross-neutralizing capacity against HcuV and Hydrophis cyanocinctus venom (HcyV). In vivo assessment indicated that HcuAV injection could significantly improve the survival rates of the HcuV and HcyV envenomated mice (0% to 100% and 87.5%, respectively) when it was injected at a sufficient amount within the shortest possible time. In addition, HcuAV could also effectively alleviate multiple organ injuries caused by HcuV. These results provide experimental support for the future clinical application of HcuAV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Department of Marine Biomedicine and Polar Medicine, Naval Characteristic Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; (B.W.); (G.L.); (Q.W.); (S.Z.); (F.Z.)
| | - Guoyan Liu
- Department of Marine Biomedicine and Polar Medicine, Naval Characteristic Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; (B.W.); (G.L.); (Q.W.); (S.Z.); (F.Z.)
| | - Min Luo
- Shanghai Serum Bio-Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201707, China; (M.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xin Zhang
- Shanghai Serum Bio-Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201707, China; (M.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Qianqian Wang
- Department of Marine Biomedicine and Polar Medicine, Naval Characteristic Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; (B.W.); (G.L.); (Q.W.); (S.Z.); (F.Z.)
| | - Shuaijun Zou
- Department of Marine Biomedicine and Polar Medicine, Naval Characteristic Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; (B.W.); (G.L.); (Q.W.); (S.Z.); (F.Z.)
| | - Fuhai Zhang
- Department of Marine Biomedicine and Polar Medicine, Naval Characteristic Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; (B.W.); (G.L.); (Q.W.); (S.Z.); (F.Z.)
| | - Xia Jin
- Shanghai Serum Bio-Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201707, China; (M.L.); (X.Z.)
- Correspondence: (X.J.); (L.Z.)
| | - Liming Zhang
- Department of Marine Biomedicine and Polar Medicine, Naval Characteristic Medical Center, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; (B.W.); (G.L.); (Q.W.); (S.Z.); (F.Z.)
- Correspondence: (X.J.); (L.Z.)
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14
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Rivera-de-Torre E, Rimbault C, Jenkins TP, Sørensen CV, Damsbo A, Saez NJ, Duhoo Y, Hackney CM, Ellgaard L, Laustsen AH. Strategies for Heterologous Expression, Synthesis, and Purification of Animal Venom Toxins. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:811905. [PMID: 35127675 PMCID: PMC8811309 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.811905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal venoms are complex mixtures containing peptides and proteins known as toxins, which are responsible for the deleterious effect of envenomations. Across the animal Kingdom, toxin diversity is enormous, and the ability to understand the biochemical mechanisms governing toxicity is not only relevant for the development of better envenomation therapies, but also for exploiting toxin bioactivities for therapeutic or biotechnological purposes. Most of toxinology research has relied on obtaining the toxins from crude venoms; however, some toxins are difficult to obtain because the venomous animal is endangered, does not thrive in captivity, produces only a small amount of venom, is difficult to milk, or only produces low amounts of the toxin of interest. Heterologous expression of toxins enables the production of sufficient amounts to unlock the biotechnological potential of these bioactive proteins. Moreover, heterologous expression ensures homogeneity, avoids cross-contamination with other venom components, and circumvents the use of crude venom. Heterologous expression is also not only restricted to natural toxins, but allows for the design of toxins with special properties or can take advantage of the increasing amount of transcriptomics and genomics data, enabling the expression of dormant toxin genes. The main challenge when producing toxins is obtaining properly folded proteins with a correct disulfide pattern that ensures the activity of the toxin of interest. This review presents the strategies that can be used to express toxins in bacteria, yeast, insect cells, or mammalian cells, as well as synthetic approaches that do not involve cells, such as cell-free biosynthesis and peptide synthesis. This is accompanied by an overview of the main advantages and drawbacks of these different systems for producing toxins, as well as a discussion of the biosafety considerations that need to be made when working with highly bioactive proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esperanza Rivera-de-Torre
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Esperanza Rivera-de-Torre, ; Andreas H. Laustsen,
| | - Charlotte Rimbault
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Timothy P. Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Christoffer V. Sørensen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anna Damsbo
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Natalie J. Saez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Yoan Duhoo
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Celeste Menuet Hackney
- Department of Biology, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Ellgaard
- Department of Biology, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Esperanza Rivera-de-Torre, ; Andreas H. Laustsen,
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15
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Jenkins TP, Ahmadi S, Bittenbinder MA, Stewart TK, Akgun DE, Hale M, Nasrabadi NN, Wolff DS, Vonk FJ, Kool J, Laustsen AH. Terrestrial venomous animals, the envenomings they cause, and treatment perspectives in the Middle East and North Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009880. [PMID: 34855751 PMCID: PMC8638997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The Middle East and Northern Africa, collectively known as the MENA region, are inhabited by a plethora of venomous animals that cause up to 420,000 bites and stings each year. To understand the resultant health burden and the key variables affecting it, this review describes the epidemiology of snake, scorpion, and spider envenomings primarily based on heterogenous hospital data in the MENA region and the pathologies associated with their venoms. In addition, we discuss the venom composition and the key medically relevant toxins of these venomous animals, and, finally, the antivenoms that are currently in use to counteract them. Unlike Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, scorpion stings are significantly more common (approximately 350,000 cases/year) than snakebites (approximately 70,000 cases/year) and present the most significant contributor to the overall health burden of envenomings, with spider bites being negligible. However, this review also indicates that there is a substantial lack of high-quality envenoming data available for the MENA region, rendering many of these estimates speculative. Our understanding of the venoms and the toxins they contain is also incomplete, but already presents clear trends. For instance, the majority of snake venoms contain snake venom metalloproteinases, while sodium channel-binding toxins and potassium channel-binding toxins are the scorpion toxins that cause most health-related challenges. There also currently exist a plethora of antivenoms, yet only few are clinically validated, and their high cost and limited availability present a substantial health challenge. Yet, some of the insights presented in this review might help direct future research and policy efforts toward the appropriate prioritization of efforts and aid the development of future therapeutic solutions, such as next-generation antivenoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Shirin Ahmadi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Matyas A Bittenbinder
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Trenton K Stewart
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Dilber E Akgun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey
| | - Melissa Hale
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nafiseh N Nasrabadi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Centre, Student Research Commitee, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Venomous Animals and Antivenom Production, Razi Vaccine, and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Darian S Wolff
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Freek J Vonk
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kool
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andreas H Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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16
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Hamza M, Knudsen C, Gnanathasan CA, Monteiro W, Lewin MR, Laustsen AH, Habib AG. Clinical management of snakebite envenoming: Future perspectives. Toxicon X 2021; 11:100079. [PMID: 34430847 PMCID: PMC8374517 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2021.100079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in rural communities throughout the tropics. Generally, the main clinical features of snakebites are local swelling, tissue necrosis, shock, spontaneous systemic hemorrhage, incoagulable blood, paralysis, rhabdomyolysis, and acute kidney injury. These clinical manifestations result from complex biochemical venom constituents comprising of cytotoxins, hemotoxins, neurotoxins, myotoxins, and other substances. Timely diagnosis of envenoming and identification of the responsible snake species is clinically challenging in many parts of the world and necessitates prompt and thorough clinical assessment, which could be supported by the development of reliable, affordable, widely-accessible, point-of-care tests. Conventional antivenoms based on polyclonal antibodies derived from animals remain the mainstay of therapy along with supportive medical and surgical care. However, while antivenoms save countless lives, they are associated with adverse reactions, limited potency, and are relatively inefficacious against presynaptic neurotoxicity and in preventing necrosis. Nevertheless, major scientific and technological advances are facilitating the development of new molecular and immunologic diagnostic tests, as well as a new generation of antivenoms comprising human monoclonal antibodies with broader and more potent neutralization capacity and less immunogenicity. Repurposed pharmaceuticals based on small molecule inhibitors (e.g., marimastat and varespladib) used alone and in combination against enzymatic toxins, such as metalloproteases and phospholipase A2s, have shown promise in animal studies. These orally bioavailable molecules could serve as early interventions in the out-of-hospital setting if confirmed to be safe and efficacious in clinical studies. Antivenom access can be improved by the usage of drones and ensuring constant antivenom supply in remote endemic rural areas. Overall, the improvement of clinical management of snakebite envenoming requires sustained, coordinated, and multifaceted efforts involving basic and applied sciences, new technology, product development, effective clinical training, implementation of existing guidelines and therapeutic approaches, supported by improved supply of existing antivenoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Hamza
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria
| | - Cecilie Knudsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Wuelton Monteiro
- Department of Research, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
- School of Health Sciences, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Matthew R. Lewin
- Center for Exploration and Travel Health, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, USA
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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17
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Small Molecule Receptor Binding Inhibitors with In Vivo Efficacy against Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotypes A and E. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168577. [PMID: 34445283 PMCID: PMC8395308 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most poisonous substances in nature. Currently, the only therapy for botulism is antitoxin. This therapy suffers from several limitations and hence new therapeutic strategies are desired. One of the limitations in discovering BoNT inhibitors is the absence of an in vitro assay that correlates with toxin neutralization in vivo. In this work, a high-throughput screening assay for receptor-binding inhibitors against BoNT/A was developed. The assay is composed of two chimeric proteins: a receptor-simulating protein, consisting of the fourth luminal loop of synaptic vesicle protein 2C fused to glutathione-S-transferase, and a toxin-simulating protein, consisting of the receptor-binding domain of BoNT/A fused to beta-galactosidase. The assay was applied to screen the LOPAC1280 compound library. Seven selected compounds were evaluated in mice exposed to a lethal dose of BoNT/A. The compound aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) conferred 92% protection, whereas significant delayed time to death (p < 0.005) was observed for three additional compounds. Remarkably, ATA was also fully protective in mice challenged with a lethal dose of BoNT/E, which also uses the SV2 receptor. This study demonstrates that receptor-binding inhibitors have the potential to serve as next generation therapeutics for botulism, and therefore the assay developed may facilitate discovery of new anti-BoNT countermeasures.
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18
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Koide H, Yamauchi I, Hoshino Y, Yasuno G, Okamoto T, Akashi S, Saito K, Oku N, Asai T. Design of abiotic polymer ligand-decorated lipid nanoparticles for effective neutralization of target toxins in the blood. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:5588-5598. [PMID: 34241600 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm00515d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Macromolecular toxins often induce inflammatory cytokine production, multiple-organ dysfunction, and cell death. Synthetic polymer ligands (PLs) prepared with several functional monomers have the potential of neutralizing target toxins after binding to them; therefore, they are of significant interest as abiotic antidotes. Although PLs show little toxin neutralization effect in the bloodstream because of immediate elimination from there, the toxin neutralization effect is significantly improved by the direct decoration of PLs onto lipid nanoparticles (PL-LNPs). However, this direct decoration decreases PL mobility, induces LNP aggregation after capturing the target, and decreases LNP blood circulation time. We designed novel PL-LNPs to improve PL mobility, inhibit the aggregation tendency after capturing the target, and increase LNP blood circulation time in order to achieve highly effective toxin neutralization in vivo. Specifically, LNPs were modified with PLs-conjugated polyethylene glycol (PEG), and additional PEG was used to modify the PL-decorated LNPs (PL-PEG-LNPs). Histones were used as target toxins, and N-isopropylacrylamide-based PLs were used for histone capture. PEGylation increased the plasma LNP level 24 h after intravenous injection by ∼90 times and inhibited LNP aggregation after histone capture. The dissociation constant (Kd) of PL-PEG-LNPs against histone was two times smaller compared to that of PL-LNPs. Although PL-LNPs inhibited histone-platelet interaction in the bloodstream, a large amount of histone-PL-LNP complexes accumulated in the lungs because of aggregation. However, PL-PEG-LNPs inhibited both histone-platelet interaction and histone accumulation in the lungs. Importantly, PL-PEG-LNP treatment increased the survival rate of histone-treated mice compared to PL-LNPs. These results provide a platform for the development of abiotic antidote nanoparticles in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Koide
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
| | - Ikumi Yamauchi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
| | - Yu Hoshino
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Go Yasuno
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
| | - Takumi Okamoto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
| | - Sotaro Akashi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Saito
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
| | - Naoto Oku
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan. and Laboratory of Biomedical and Analytical Sciences, Faculty of Pharma Sciences, Teikyo University, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Asai
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.
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Damm M, Hempel BF, Süssmuth RD. Old World Vipers-A Review about Snake Venom Proteomics of Viperinae and Their Variations. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13060427. [PMID: 34204565 PMCID: PMC8235416 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13060427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fine-tuned by millions of years of evolution, snake venoms have frightened but also fascinated humanity and nowadays they constitute potential resources for drug development, therapeutics and antivenoms. The continuous progress of mass spectrometry techniques and latest advances in proteomics workflows enabled toxinologists to decipher venoms by modern omics technologies, so-called ‘venomics’. A tremendous upsurge reporting on snake venom proteomes could be observed. Within this review we focus on the highly venomous and widely distributed subfamily of Viperinae (Serpentes: Viperidae). A detailed public literature database search was performed (2003–2020) and we extensively reviewed all compositional venom studies of the so-called Old-World Vipers. In total, 54 studies resulted in 89 venom proteomes. The Viperinae venoms are dominated by four major, four secondary, six minor and several rare toxin families and peptides, respectively. The multitude of different venomics approaches complicates the comparison of venom composition datasets and therefore we differentiated between non-quantitative and three groups of quantitative workflows. The resulting direct comparisons within these groups show remarkable differences on the intra- and interspecies level across genera with a focus on regional differences. In summary, the present compilation is the first comprehensive up-to-date database on Viperinae venom proteomes and differentiating between analytical methods and workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maik Damm
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Benjamin-Florian Hempel
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, (BCRT), 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Roderich D. Süssmuth
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)30-314-24205
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Fernandes CFC, Pereira SS, Luiz MB, Silva NKRL, Silva MCS, Marinho ACM, Fonseca MHG, Furtado GP, Trevizani R, Nicolete R, Soares AM, Zuliani JP, Stabeli RG. Engineering of single-domain antibodies for next-generation snakebite antivenoms. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 185:240-250. [PMID: 34118288 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Given the magnitude of the global snakebite crisis, strategies to ensure the quality of antivenom, as well as the availability and sustainability of its supply are under development by several research groups. Recombinant DNA technology has allowed the engineering of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant fragments as alternatives to conventional antivenoms. Besides having higher therapeutic efficacy, with broad neutralization capacity against local and systemic toxicity, novel antivenoms need to be safe and cost-effective. Due to the biological and physical chemical properties of camelid single-domain antibodies, with high volume of distribution to distal tissue, their modular format, and their versatility, their biotechnological application has grown considerably in recent decades. This article presents the most up-to-date developments concerning camelid single-domain-based antibodies against major toxins from snake venoms, the main venomous animals responsible for reported envenoming cases and related human deaths. A brief discussion on the composition, challenges, and perspectives of antivenoms is presented, as well as the road ahead for next-generation antivenoms based on single-domain antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Soraya S Pereira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Marcos B Luiz
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Nauanny K R L Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Marcela Cristina S Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Andreimar M Soares
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Juliana P Zuliani
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental, INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo G Stabeli
- Plataforma Bi-Institucional de Medicina Translacional (Fiocruz-USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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21
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DeVree BT, Steiner LM, Głazowska S, Ruhnow F, Herburger K, Persson S, Mravec J. Current and future advances in fluorescence-based visualization of plant cell wall components and cell wall biosynthetic machineries. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:78. [PMID: 33781321 PMCID: PMC8008654 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-01922-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Plant cell wall-derived biomass serves as a renewable source of energy and materials with increasing importance. The cell walls are biomacromolecular assemblies defined by a fine arrangement of different classes of polysaccharides, proteoglycans, and aromatic polymers and are one of the most complex structures in Nature. One of the most challenging tasks of cell biology and biomass biotechnology research is to image the structure and organization of this complex matrix, as well as to visualize the compartmentalized, multiplayer biosynthetic machineries that build the elaborate cell wall architecture. Better knowledge of the plant cells, cell walls, and whole tissue is essential for bioengineering efforts and for designing efficient strategies of industrial deconstruction of the cell wall-derived biomass and its saccharification. Cell wall-directed molecular probes and analysis by light microscopy, which is capable of imaging with a high level of specificity, little sample processing, and often in real time, are important tools to understand cell wall assemblies. This review provides a comprehensive overview about the possibilities for fluorescence label-based imaging techniques and a variety of probing methods, discussing both well-established and emerging tools. Examples of applications of these tools are provided. We also list and discuss the advantages and limitations of the methods. Specifically, we elaborate on what are the most important considerations when applying a particular technique for plants, the potential for future development, and how the plant cell wall field might be inspired by advances in the biomedical and general cell biology fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian T DeVree
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Lisa M Steiner
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Sylwia Głazowska
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Felix Ruhnow
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Klaus Herburger
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Staffan Persson
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jozef Mravec
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
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22
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Jenkins TP, Laustsen AH. Cost of Manufacturing for Recombinant Snakebite Antivenoms. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:703. [PMID: 32766215 PMCID: PMC7381290 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people across the globe. It has been suggested that recombinant antivenoms based on mixtures of human monoclonal antibodies, which target key toxins of medically important snake venom, could present a promising avenue toward the reduction of morbidity and mortality of envenomated patients. However, since snakebite envenoming is a disease of poverty, it is pivotal that next-generation therapies are affordable to those most in need; this warrants analysis of the cost dynamics of recombinant antivenom manufacture. Therefore, we present, for the first time, a bottom-up analysis of the cost dynamics surrounding the production of future recombinant antivenoms based on available industry data. We unravel the potential impact that venom volume, abundance of medically relevant toxins in a venom, and the molecular weight of these toxins may have on the final product cost. Furthermore, we assess the roles that antibody molar mass, manufacturing and purification strategies, formulation, antibody efficacy, and potential cross-reactivity play in the complex cost dynamics of recombinant antivenom manufacture. Notably, according to our calculations, it appears that such next-generation antivenoms based on cocktails of monoclonal immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs) could be manufacturable at a comparable or lower cost to current plasma-derived antivenoms, which are priced at USD 13-1120 per treatment. We found that monovalent recombinant antivenoms based on IgGs could be manufactured for USD 20-225 per treatment, while more complex polyvalent recombinant antivenoms based on IgGs could be manufactured for USD 48-1354 per treatment. Finally, we investigated the prospective cost of manufacturing for recombinant antivenoms based on alternative protein scaffolds, such as DARPins and nanobodies, and highlight the potential utility of such scaffolds in the context of low-cost manufacturing. In conclusion, the development of recombinant antivenoms not only holds a promise for improving therapeutic parameters, such as safety and efficacy, but could possibly also lead to a more competetive cost of manufacture of antivenom products for patients worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Patrick Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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Nazari A, Samianifard M, Rabie H, Mirakabadi AZ. Recombinant antibodies against Iranian cobra venom as a new emerging therapy by phage display technology. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2020; 26:e20190099. [PMID: 32695146 PMCID: PMC7346683 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2019-0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The production of antivenom from immunized animals is an established treatment for snakebites; however, antibody phage display technology may have the capacity to delivery results more quickly and with a better match to local need. Naja oxiana, the Iranian cobra, is a medically important species, responsible for a significant number of deaths annually. This study was designed as proof of principle to determine whether recombinant antibodies with the capacity to neutralize cobra venom could be isolated by phage display. Methods: Toxic fractions from cobra venom were prepared by chromatography and used as targets in phage display to isolate recombinant antibodies from a human scFv library. Candidate antibodies were expressed in E. coli HB2151 and purified by IMAC chromatography. The selected clones were analyzed in in vivo and in vitro experiments. Results: Venom toxicity was contained in two fractions. Around a hundred phage clones were isolated against each fraction, those showing the best promise were G12F3 and G1F4. While all chosen clones showed low but detectable neutralizing effect against Naja oxiana venom, clone G12F3 could inhibit PLA2 activity. Conclusion: Therefore, phage display is believed to have a good potential as an approach to the development of snake antivenom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Nazari
- Department of Biochemistry and Proteomics, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Maedeh Samianifard
- Department of Biochemistry and Proteomics, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Hadi Rabie
- Department of Venomous Animals, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Abbas Zare Mirakabadi
- Department of Venomous Animals, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
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24
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Krause KE, Jenkins TP, Skaarup C, Engmark M, Casewell NR, Ainsworth S, Lomonte B, Fernández J, Gutiérrez JM, Lund O, Laustsen AH. An interactive database for the investigation of high-density peptide microarray guided interaction patterns and antivenom cross-reactivity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008366. [PMID: 32579606 PMCID: PMC7313730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a major neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people every year. The only effective treatment against snakebite envenoming consists of unspecified cocktails of polyclonal antibodies purified from the plasma of immunized production animals. Currently, little data exists on the molecular interactions between venom-toxin epitopes and antivenom-antibody paratopes. To address this issue, high-density peptide microarray (hdpm) technology has recently been adapted to the field of toxinology. However, analysis of such valuable datasets requires expert understanding and, thus, complicates its broad application within the field. In the present study, we developed a user-friendly, and high-throughput web application named "Snake Toxin and Antivenom Binding Profiles" (STAB Profiles), to allow straight-forward analysis of hdpm datasets. To test our tool and evaluate its performance with a large dataset, we conducted hdpm assays using all African snake toxin protein sequences available in the UniProt database at the time of study design, together with eight commercial antivenoms in clinical use in Africa, thus representing the largest venom-antivenom dataset to date. Furthermore, we introduced a novel method for evaluating raw signals from a peptide microarray experiment and a data normalization protocol enabling intra-microarray and even inter-microarray chip comparisons. Finally, these data, alongside all the data from previous similar studies by Engmark et al., were preprocessed according to our newly developed protocol and made publicly available for download through the STAB Profiles web application (http://tropicalpharmacology.com/tools/stab-profiles/). With these data and our tool, we were able to gain key insights into toxin-antivenom interactions and were able to differentiate the ability of different antivenoms to interact with certain toxins of interest. The data, as well as the web application, we present in this article should be of significant value to the venom-antivenom research community. Knowledge gained from our current and future analyses of this dataset carry the potential to guide the improvement and optimization of current antivenoms for maximum patient benefit, as well as aid the development of next-generation antivenoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamille E. Krause
- Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Timothy P. Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Carina Skaarup
- Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mikael Engmark
- Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Ainsworth
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Julián Fernández
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José M. Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Ole Lund
- Department of Bio and Health Informatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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25
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Diagnostic and Therapeutic Value of Aptamers in Envenomation Cases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103565. [PMID: 32443562 PMCID: PMC7278915 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It is now more than a century since Albert Calmette from the Institut Pasteur changed the world of envenomation by demonstrating that antibodies raised against animal venoms have the ability to treat human victims of previously fatal bites or stings. Moreover, the research initiated at that time effectively launched the discipline of toxicology, first leading to the search for toxic venom components, followed by the demonstration of venoms that also contained compounds of therapeutic value. Interest from pharmaceutical companies to treat envenomation is, however, declining, mainly for economic reasons, and hence, the World Health Organization has reclassified this public health issue to be a highest priority concern. While the production, storage, and safety of antivenom sera suffer from major inconveniences, alternative chemical and technological approaches to the problem of envenomation need to be considered that bypass the use of antibodies for toxin neutralization. Herein, we review an emerging strategy that relies on the use of aptamers and discuss how close—or otherwise—we are to finding a viable alternative to the use of antibodies for the therapy of human envenomation.
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26
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Bonarek P, Loch JI, Tworzydło M, Cooper DR, Milto K, Wróbel P, Kurpiewska K, Lewiński K. Structure-based design approach to rational site-directed mutagenesis of β-lactoglobulin. J Struct Biol 2020; 210:107493. [PMID: 32169624 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant proteins play an important role in medicine and have diverse applications in industrial biotechnology. Lactoglobulin has shown great potential for use in targeted drug delivery and body fluid detoxification because of its ability to bind a variety of molecules. In order to modify the biophysical properties of β-lactoglobulin, a series of single-site mutations were designed using a structure-based approach. A 3-dimensional structure alignment of homologous molecules led to the design of nine β-lactoglobulin variants with mutations introduced in the binding pocket region. Seven stable and correctly folded variants (L39Y, I56F, L58F, V92F, V92Y, F105L, M107L) were thoroughly characterized by fluorescence, circular dichroism, isothermal titration calorimetry, size-exclusion chromatography, and X-ray structural investigations. The effects of the amino acid substitutions were observed as slight rearrangements of the binding pocket geometry, but they also significantly influenced the global properties of the protein. Most of the mutations increased the thermal/chemical stability without altering the dimerization constant or pH-dependent conformational behavior. The crystal structures reveal that the I56F and F105L mutations reduced the depth of the binding pocket, which is advantageous since it can reduce the affinity to endogenous fatty acids. The F105L mutant created a unique binding mode for a fatty acid, supporting the idea that lactoglobulin can be altered to bind unique molecules. Selected variants possessing a unique combination of their individual properties can be used for further, more advanced mutagenesis, and the presented results support further research using β-lactoglobulin as a therapeutic delivery agent or a blood detoxifying molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Bonarek
- Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna I Loch
- Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Chemistry, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Magdalena Tworzydło
- Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - David R Cooper
- University of Virginia, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, 1340 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Katažyna Milto
- Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Paulina Wróbel
- Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Chemistry, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kurpiewska
- Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Chemistry, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Lewiński
- Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Chemistry, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
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27
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Pucca MB, Cerni FA, Oliveira IS, Jenkins TP, Argemí L, Sørensen CV, Ahmadi S, Barbosa JE, Laustsen AH. Bee Updated: Current Knowledge on Bee Venom and Bee Envenoming Therapy. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2090. [PMID: 31552038 PMCID: PMC6743376 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees can be found all around the world and fulfill key pollination roles within their natural ecosystems, as well as in agriculture. Most species are typically docile, and most interactions between humans and bees are unproblematic, despite their ability to inject a complex venom into their victims as a defensive mechanism. Nevertheless, incidences of bee stings have been on the rise since the accidental release of Africanized bees to Brazil in 1956 and their subsequent spread across the Americas. These bee hybrids are more aggressive and are prone to attack, presenting a significant healthcare burden to the countries they have colonized. To date, treatment of such stings typically focuses on controlling potential allergic reactions, as no specific antivenoms against bee venom currently exist. Researchers have investigated the possibility of developing bee antivenoms, but this has been complicated by the very low immunogenicity of the key bee toxins, which fail to induce a strong antibody response in the immunized animals. However, with current cutting-edge technologies, such as phage display, alongside the rise of monoclonal antibody therapeutics, the development of a recombinant bee antivenom is achievable, and promising results towards this goal have been reported in recent years. Here, current knowledge on the venom biology of Africanized bees and current treatment options against bee envenoming are reviewed. Additionally, recent developments within next-generation bee antivenoms are presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela B. Pucca
- Medical School, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista, Brazil
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Felipe A. Cerni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Isadora S. Oliveira
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Timothy P. Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lídia Argemí
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Christoffer V. Sørensen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Shirin Ahmadi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosafety, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey
| | - José E. Barbosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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Knudsen C, Ledsgaard L, Dehli RI, Ahmadi S, Sørensen CV, Laustsen AH. Engineering and design considerations for next-generation snakebite antivenoms. Toxicon 2019; 167:67-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Pucca MB, Cerni FA, Janke R, Bermúdez-Méndez E, Ledsgaard L, Barbosa JE, Laustsen AH. History of Envenoming Therapy and Current Perspectives. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1598. [PMID: 31354735 PMCID: PMC6635583 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Each year, millions of humans fall victim to animal envenomings, which may either be deadly or cause permanent disability to the effected individuals. The Nobel Prize-winning discovery of serum therapy for the treatment of bacterial infections (tetanus and diphtheria) paved the way for the introduction of antivenom therapies for envenomings caused by venomous animals. These antivenoms are based on polyclonal antibodies derived from the plasma of hyperimmunized animals and remain the only specific treatment against animal envenomings. Following the initial development of serum therapy for snakebite envenoming by French scientists in 1894, other countries with high incidences of animal envenomings, including Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Costa Rica, and Mexico, started taking up antivenom production against local venomous animals over the course of the twentieth century. These undertakings revolutionized envenoming therapy and have saved innumerous patients worldwide during the last 100 years. This review describes in detail the above-mentioned historical events surrounding the discovery and the application of serum therapy for envenomings, as well as it provides an overview of important developments and scientific breakthroughs that were of importance for antibody-based therapies in general. This begins with discoveries concerning the characterization of antibodies, including the events leading up to the elucidation of the antibody structure. These discoveries further paved the way for other milestones in antibody-based therapies, such as the introduction of hybridoma technology in 1975. Hybridoma technology enabled the expression and isolation of monoclonal antibodies, which in turn formed the basis for the development of phage display technology and transgenic mice, which can be harnessed to directly obtain fully human monoclonal antibodies. These developments were driven by the ultimate goal of producing potent neutralizing monoclonal antibodies with optimal pharmacokinetic properties and low immunogenicity. This review then provides an outline of the most recent achievements in antivenom research, which include the application of new biotechnologies, the development of the first human monoclonal antibodies that can neutralize animal toxins, and efforts toward creating fully recombinant antivenoms. Lastly, future perspectives in the field of envenoming therapies are discussed, including rational engineering of antibody cross-reactivity and the use of oligoclonal antibody mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela B. Pucca
- Medical School, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista, Brazil
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Felipe A. Cerni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Rahel Janke
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Line Ledsgaard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - José E. Barbosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Williams HF, Layfield HJ, Vallance T, Patel K, Bicknell AB, Trim SA, Vaiyapuri S. The Urgent Need to Develop Novel Strategies for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Snakebites. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:E363. [PMID: 31226842 PMCID: PMC6628419 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11060363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a priority neglected tropical disease, which kills in excess of 100,000 people per year. Additionally, many millions of survivors also suffer through disabilities and long-term health consequences. The only treatment for SBE, antivenom, has a number of major associated problems, not least, adverse reactions and limited availability. This emphasises the necessity for urgent improvements to the management of this disease. Administration of antivenom is too frequently based on symptomatology, which results in wasting crucial time. The majority of SBE-affected regions rely on broad-spectrum polyvalent antivenoms that have a low content of case-specific efficacious immunoglobulins. Research into small molecular therapeutics such as varespladib/methyl-varespladib (PLA2 inhibitors) and batimastat/marimastat (metalloprotease inhibitors) suggest that such adjunctive treatments could be hugely beneficial to victims. Progress into toxin-specific monoclonal antibodies as well as alternative binding scaffolds such as aptamers hold much promise for future treatment strategies. SBE is not implicit during snakebite, due to venom metering. Thus, the delay between bite and symptom presentation is critical and when symptoms appear it may often already be too late to effectively treat SBE. The development of reliable diagnostical tools could therefore initiate a paradigm shift in the treatment of SBE. While the complete eradication of SBE is an impossibility, mitigation is in the pipeline, with new treatments and diagnostics rapidly emerging. Here we critically review the urgent necessity for the development of diagnostic tools and improved therapeutics to mitigate the deaths and disabilities caused by SBE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Vallance
- School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AH, UK.
| | - Ketan Patel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AH, UK.
| | - Andrew B Bicknell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AH, UK.
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Tan H, Chen L, Ma L, Liu S, Zhou H, Zhang Y, Guo T, Liu W, Dai H, Yu Y. Fluorescence Spectroscopic Investigation of Competitive Interactions between Quercetin and Aflatoxin B₁ for Binding to Human Serum Albumin. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11040214. [PMID: 30970656 PMCID: PMC6521043 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11040214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB₁) is a highly toxic mycotoxin found worldwide in cereals, food, and animal feeds. AFB₁ binds to human serum albumin (HSA) with high affinity. In previous experiments, it has been revealed that reducing the binding rate of AFB₁ with HSA could speed up the elimination rate of AFB₁. Therefore, we examined the ability of quercetin to compete with AFB₁ for binding HSA by fluorescence spectroscopy, synchronous spectroscopy, ultrafiltration studies, etc. It was shown that AFB₁ and quercetin bind to HSA in the same Sudlow site Ӏ (subdomain IIA), and the binding constant (Ka) of the quercetin-HSA complex is significantly stronger than the complex of AFB₁-HSA. Our data in this experiment showed that quercetin is able to remove the AFB₁ from HSA and reduce its bound fraction. This exploratory work may be of significance for studies in the future regarding decreasing its bound fraction and then increasing its elimination rate for detoxification. This exploratory study may initiate future epidemiological research designs to obtain further in vivo evidence of the long-term (potential protective) effects of competing substances on human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Tan
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Lu Chen
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Liang Ma
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Shuang Liu
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Hongyuan Zhou
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Yuhao Zhang
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Ting Guo
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Hongjie Dai
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Yong Yu
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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