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Lu J, Jiang Y, Guo J, Chen L, Liu F, Li Z, Liu X, Du P, Yu Y, Wang R, Yang Z. A human bispecific antibody neutralizes botulinum neurotoxin serotype A. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20806. [PMID: 38012220 PMCID: PMC10681988 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48008-5] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) shows high lethality and toxicity, marking it as an important biological threat. The only effective post-exposure therapy is botulinum antitoxin; however, such products have great potential for improvement. To prevent or treat BoNT, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are promising agents. Herein, we aimed to construct a bispecific antibody (termed LUZ-A1-A3) based on the anti-BoNT/A human monoclonal antibodies (HMAb) A1 and A3. LUZ-A1-A3 binds to the Hc and L-HN domains of BoNT/A, displaying potent neutralization activity against BoNT/A (124 × higher than that of HMAb A1 or HMAb A3 alone and 15 × higher than that of the A1 + A3 combination). LUZ-A1-A3 provided effective protection against BoNT/A in an in vivo mouse model. Mice were protected from infection with 500 × LD50 of BoNT/A by LUZ-A1-A3 from up to 7 days before intraperitoneal administration of BoNT/A. We also demonstrated the effective therapeutic capacity of LUZ-A1-A3 against BoNT/A in a mouse model. LUZ-A1-A3 (5 μg/mouse) neutralized 20 × LD50 of BoNT/A at 3 h after intraperitoneal BoNT/A administration and complete neutralized 20 × LD50 of BoNT/A at 0.5 h after intraperitoneal BoNT/A administration. Thus, LUZ-A1-A3 is a promising agent for the pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment of BoNT/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiansheng Lu
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yujia Jiang
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Jiazheng Guo
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Fujia Liu
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiying Li
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Xuyang Liu
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Du
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yunzhou Yu
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China.
| | - Rong Wang
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhixin Yang
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China.
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Harmsen MM, Cornelissen JC, van der Wal FJ, Bergervoet JHW, Koene M. Single-Domain Antibody Multimers for Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotypes C, D, and Their Mosaics in Endopep-MS. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:573. [PMID: 37755999 PMCID: PMC10535107 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15090573] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are highly toxic proteins that require high-affinity immunocapture reagents for use in endopeptidase-based assays. Here, 30 novel and 2 earlier published llama single-domain antibodies (VHHs) against the veterinary-relevant BoNT serotypes C and D were yeast-produced. These VHHs recognized 10 independent antigenic sites, and many cross-reacted with the BoNT/DC and CD mosaic variants. As VHHs are highly suitable for genetically linking to increase antigen-binding affinity, 52 VHH multimers were produced and their affinity for BoNT/C, D, DC, and CD was determined. A selection of 15 multimers with high affinity (KD < 0.1 nM) was further shown to be resilient to a high salt wash that is used for samples from complex matrices and bound native BoNTs from culture supernatants as shown by Endopep-MS. High-affinity multimers suitable for further development of a highly sensitive Endopep-MS assay include four multimers that bind both BoNT/D and CD with KD of 14-99 pM, one multimer for BoNT/DC (65 pM) that also binds BoNT/C (75 pM), and seven multimers for BoNT/C (<1-19 pM), six of which also bind BoNT/DC with lower affinity (93-508 pM). In addition to application in diagnostic tests, these VHHs could be used for the development of novel therapeutics for animals or humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel M. Harmsen
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands (F.J.v.d.W.)
| | - Jan C. Cornelissen
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands (F.J.v.d.W.)
| | - Fimme J. van der Wal
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands (F.J.v.d.W.)
| | - Jan H. W. Bergervoet
- Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam Koene
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands (F.J.v.d.W.)
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Fan Y, Lou J, Tam CC, Wen W, Conrad F, Leal da Silva Alves P, Cheng LW, Garcia-Rodriguez C, Farr-Jones S, Marks JD. A Three-Monoclonal Antibody Combination Potently Neutralizes BoNT/G Toxin in Mice. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15050316. [PMID: 37235351 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15050316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Equine-derived antitoxin (BAT®) is the only treatment for botulism from botulinum neurotoxin serotype G (BoNT/G). BAT® is a foreign protein with potentially severe adverse effects and is not renewable. To develop a safe, more potent, and renewable antitoxin, humanized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated. Yeast displayed single chain Fv (scFv) libraries were prepared from mice immunized with BoNT/G and BoNT/G domains and screened with BoNT/G using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Fourteen scFv-binding BoNT/G were isolated with KD values ranging from 3.86 nM to 103 nM (median KD 20.9 nM). Five mAb-binding non-overlapping epitopes were humanized and affinity matured to create antibodies hu6G6.2, hu6G7.2, hu6G9.1, hu6G10, and hu6G11.2, with IgG KD values ranging from 51 pM to 8 pM. Three IgG combinations completely protected mice challenged with 10,000 LD50s of BoNT/G at a total mAb dose of 6.25 μg per mouse. The mAb combinations have the potential for use in the diagnosis and treatment of botulism due to serotype G and, along with antibody combinations to BoNT/A, B, C, D, E, and F, provide the basis for a fully recombinant heptavalent botulinum antitoxin to replace the legacy equine product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfeng Fan
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Jianlong Lou
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Christina C Tam
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Station, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA
| | - Weihua Wen
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Fraser Conrad
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Priscila Leal da Silva Alves
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Station, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA
| | - Luisa W Cheng
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Station, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA
| | - Consuelo Garcia-Rodriguez
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - Shauna Farr-Jones
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
| | - James D Marks
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
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Li Z, Li B, Lu J, Liu X, Tan X, Wang R, Du P, Yu S, Xu Q, Pang X, Yu Y, Yang Z. Biological and Immunological Characterization of a Functional L-HN Derivative of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype F. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15030200. [PMID: 36977091 PMCID: PMC10056376 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15030200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) can cause nerve paralysis syndrome in mammals and other vertebrates. BoNTs are the most toxic biotoxins known and are classified as Class A biological warfare agents. BoNTs are mainly divided into seven serotypes A-G and new neurotoxins BoNT/H and BoNT/X, which have similar functions. BoNT proteins are 150 kDa polypeptide consisting of two chains and three domains: the light chain (L, catalytic domain, 50 kDa) and the heavy chain (H, 100 kDa), which can be divided into an N-terminal membrane translocation domain (HN, 50 kDa) and a C-terminal receptor binding domain (Hc, 50 kDa). In current study, we explored the immunoprotective efficacy of each functional molecule of BoNT/F and the biological characteristics of the light chain-heavy N-terminal domain (FL-HN). The two structure forms of FL-HN (i.e., FL-HN-SC: single chain FL-HN and FL-HN-DC: di-chain FL-HN) were developed and identified. FL-HN-SC could cleave the vesicle associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) substrate protein in vitro as FL-HN-DC or FL. While only FL-HN-DC had neurotoxicity and could enter neuro-2a cells to cleave VAMP2. Our results showed that the FL-HN-SC had a better immune protection effect than the Hc of BoNT/F (FHc), which indicated that L-HN-SC, as an antigen, provided the strongest protective effects against BoNT/F among all the tested functional molecules. Further in-depth research on the different molecular forms of FL-HN suggested that there were some important antibody epitopes at the L-HN junction of BoNT/F. Thus, FL-HN-SC could be used as a subunit vaccine to replace the FHc subunit vaccine and/or toxoid vaccine, and to develop antibody immune molecules targeting L and HN domains rather than the FHc domain. FL-HN-DC could be used as a new functional molecule to evaluate and explore the structure and activity of toxin molecules. Further exploration of the biological activity and molecular mechanism of the functional FL-HN or BoNT/F is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Li
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Bolin Li
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jiansheng Lu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xuyang Liu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Xiao Tan
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Peng Du
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Shuo Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Qing Xu
- Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xiaobin Pang
- Pharmaceutical College, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Yunzhou Yu
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (Z.Y.)
| | - Zhixin Yang
- Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100071, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (Z.Y.)
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Fan Y, Sun Z, Conrad F, Wen W, Zhao L, Lou J, Zhou Y, Farr-Jones S, Marks JD. Multicolor fluorescence activated cell sorting to generate humanized monoclonal antibody binding seven subtypes of BoNT/F. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273512. [PMID: 36048906 PMCID: PMC9436041 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Generating specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that neutralize multiple antigen variants is challenging. Here, we present a strategy to generate mAbs that bind seven subtypes of botulinum neurotoxin serotype F (BoNT/F) that differ from each other in amino acid sequence by up to 36%. Previously, we identified 28H4, a mouse mAb with poor cross-reactivity to BoNT/F1, F3, F4, and F6 and with no detectable binding to BoNT/F2, F5, or F7. Using multicolor labeling of the different BoNT/F subtypes and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) of yeast displayed single-chain Fv (scFv) mutant libraries, 28H4 was evolved to a humanized mAb hu6F15.4 that bound each of seven BoNT/F subtypes with high affinity (KD 5.81 pM to 659.78 pM). In contrast, using single antigen FACS sorting, affinity was increased to the subtype used for sorting but with a decrease in affinity for other subtypes. None of the mAb variants showed any binding to other BoNT serotypes or to HEK293 or CHO cell lysates by flow cytometry, thus demonstrating stringent BoNT/F specificity. Multicolor FACS-mediated antibody library screening is thus proposed as a general method to generate multi-specific antibodies to protein subtypes such as toxins or species variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfeng Fan
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Zhengda Sun
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Fraser Conrad
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Weihua Wen
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Lequn Zhao
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Jianlong Lou
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Yu Zhou
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Shauna Farr-Jones
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - James D. Marks
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
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Pirazzini M, Montecucco C, Rossetto O. Toxicology and pharmacology of botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins: an update. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:1521-1539. [PMID: 35333944 PMCID: PMC9095541 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03271-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins cause the neuroparalytic syndromes of tetanus and botulism, respectively, by delivering inside different types of neurons, metalloproteases specifically cleaving the SNARE proteins that are essential for the release of neurotransmitters. Research on their mechanism of action is intensively carried out in order to devise improved therapies based on antibodies and chemical drugs. Recently, major results have been obtained with human monoclonal antibodies and with single chain antibodies that have allowed one to neutralize the metalloprotease activity of botulinum neurotoxin type A1 inside neurons. In addition, a method has been devised to induce a rapid molecular evolution of the metalloprotease domain of botulinum neurotoxin followed by selection driven to re-target the metalloprotease activity versus novel targets with respect to the SNARE proteins. At the same time, an intense and wide spectrum clinical research on novel therapeutics based on botulinum neurotoxins is carried out, which are also reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Pirazzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca di Miologia, CIR-Myo, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Cesare Montecucco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy. .,Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| | - Ornella Rossetto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca di Miologia, CIR-Myo, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy
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