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Botelho FD, Franca TCC, LaPlante SR. The Search for Antidotes Against Ricin. Mini Rev Med Chem 2024; 24:1148-1161. [PMID: 38350844 DOI: 10.2174/0113895575270509231121060105] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
The castor plant (Ricinus communis) is primarily known for its seeds, which contain a unique fatty acid called ricinoleic acid with several industrial and commercial applications. Castor seeds also contain ricin, a toxin considered a chemical and biological warfare agent. Despite years of investigation, there is still no effective antidote or vaccine available. However, some progress has been made, and the development of an effective treatment may be on the horizon. To provide an updated overview of this issue, we have conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on the current state of research in the fight against ricin. This review is based on the reported research and aims to address the challenges faced by researchers, as well as highlight the most successful cases achieved thus far. Our goal is to encourage the scientific community to continue their efforts in this critical search.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Diniz Botelho
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Applied to the Chemical and Biological Defense (LMCBD), Military Institute of Engineering, Praça General Tibúrcio 80, 22290-270, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Tanos Celmar Costa Franca
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Applied to the Chemical and Biological Defense (LMCBD), Military Institute of Engineering, Praça General Tibúrcio 80, 22290-270, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Université de Québec, INRS - Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, 531 boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Québec, H7V 1B7, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Steven R LaPlante
- Université de Québec, INRS - Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, 531 boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Québec, H7V 1B7, Canada
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2
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Reducing the Immunogenicity of Pulchellin A-Chain, Ribosome-Inactivating Protein Type 2, by Computational Protein Engineering for Potential New Immunotoxins. J 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/j6010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulchellin is a plant biotoxin categorized as a type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIPs) which potentially kills cells at very low concentrations. Biotoxins serve as targeting immunotoxins (IT), consisting of antibodies conjugated to toxins. ITs have two independent protein components, a human antibody and a toxin with a bacterial or plant source; therefore, they pose unique setbacks in immunogenicity. To overcome this issue, the engineering of epitopes is one of the beneficial methods to elicit an immunological response. Here, we predicted the tertiary structure of the pulchellin A-chain (PAC) using five common powerful servers and adopted the best model after refining. Then, predicted structure using four distinct computational approaches identified conformational B-cell epitopes. This approach identified some amino acids as a potential for lowering immunogenicity by point mutation. All mutations were then applied to generate a model of pulchellin containing all mutations (so-called PAM). Mutants’ immunogenicity was assessed and compared to the wild type as well as other mutant characteristics, including stability and compactness, were computationally examined in addition to immunogenicity. The findings revealed a reduction in immunogenicity in all mutants and significantly in N146V and R149A. Furthermore, all mutants demonstrated remarkable stability and validity in Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulations. During docking and simulations, the most homologous toxin to pulchellin, Abrin-A was applied as a control. In addition, the toxin candidate containing all mutations (PAM) disclosed a high level of stability, making it a potential model for experimental deployment. In conclusion, by eliminating B-cell epitopes, our computational approach provides a potential less immunogenic IT based on PAC.
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3
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Parenteral Exposure of Mice to Ricin Toxin Induces Fatal Hypoglycemia by Cytokine-Mediated Suppression of Hepatic Glucose-6-Phosphatase Expression. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14120820. [PMID: 36548717 PMCID: PMC9786807 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14120820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ricin toxin is an agent of biodefense concern and we have been developing countermeasures for ricin threats. In doing so, we sought biomarkers of ricin toxicosis and found that in mice parenteral injection of ricin toxin causes profound hypoglycemia, in the absence of other clinical laboratory abnormalities. We now seek to identify the mechanisms underlying this hypoglycemia. Within the first hours following injection, while still normoglycemic, lymphopenia and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion were observed, particularly tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The cytokine response evolved over the next day into a complex storm of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Evaluation of pancreatic function and histology demonstrated marked islet hypertrophy involving predominantly β-cells, but only mildly elevated levels of insulin secretion, and diminished hepatic insulin signaling. Drops in blood glucose were observed even after destruction of β-cells with streptozotocin. In the liver, we observed a rapid and persistent decrease in the expression of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) RNA and protein levels, accompanied by a drop in glucose-6-phosphate and increase in glycogen. TNF-α has previously been reported to suppress G6Pase expression. In humans, a genetic deficiency of G6Pase results in glycogen storage disease, type-I (GSD-1), a hallmark of which is potentially fatal hypoglycemia.
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4
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Kempa J, O’Shea-Stone G, Moss CE, Peters T, Marcotte TK, Tripet B, Eilers B, Bothner B, Copié V, Pincus SH. Distinct Metabolic States Are Observed in Hypoglycemia Induced in Mice by Ricin Toxin or by Fasting. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14120815. [PMID: 36548712 PMCID: PMC9782143 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14120815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoglycemia may be induced by a variety of physiologic and pathologic stimuli and can result in life-threatening consequences if untreated. However, hypoglycemia may also play a role in the purported health benefits of intermittent fasting and caloric restriction. Previously, we demonstrated that systemic administration of ricin toxin induced fatal hypoglycemia in mice. Here, we examine the metabolic landscape of the hypoglycemic state induced in the liver of mice by two different stimuli: systemic ricin administration and fasting. Each stimulus produced the same decrease in blood glucose and weight loss. The polar metabolome was studied using 1H NMR, quantifying 59 specific metabolites, and untargeted LC-MS on approximately 5000 features. Results were analyzed by multivariate analyses, using both principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), to identify global metabolic patterns, and by univariate analyses (ANOVA) to assess individual metabolites. The results demonstrated that while there were some similarities in the responses to the two stimuli including decreased glucose, ADP, and glutathione, they elicited distinct metabolic states. The metabolite showing the greatest difference was O-phosphocholine, elevated in ricin-treated animals and known to be affected by the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. Another difference was the alternative fuel source utilized, with fasting-induced hypoglycemia primarily ketotic, while the response to ricin-induced hypoglycemia involves protein and amino acid catabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Kempa
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Galen O’Shea-Stone
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Corinne E. Moss
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Tami Peters
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Tamera K. Marcotte
- Animal Resources Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Brian Tripet
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Brian Eilers
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Brian Bothner
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Valérie Copié
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Correspondence: (V.C.); (S.H.P.)
| | - Seth H. Pincus
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Correspondence: (V.C.); (S.H.P.)
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Peng J, Wu J, Shi N, Xu H, Luo L, Wang J, Li X, Xiao H, Feng J, Li X, Chai L, Qiao C. A Novel Humanized Anti-Abrin A Chain Antibody Inhibits Abrin Toxicity In Vitro and In Vivo. Front Immunol 2022; 13:831536. [PMID: 35185923 PMCID: PMC8855095 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.831536] [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: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abrin, a type-II ribosome inactivating protein from the seed of Abrus precatorius, is classified as a Category B bioterrorism warfare agent. Due to its high toxicity, ingestion by animals or humans will lead to death from multiple organ failure. Currently, no effective agents have been reported to treat abrin poisoning. In this study, a novel anti-abrin neutralizing antibody (S008) was humanized using computer-aided design, which possessed lower immunogenicity. Similar to the parent antibody, a mouse anti-abrin monoclonal antibody, S008 possessed high affinity and showed a protective effect against abrin both in vitro and in vivo, and protected mice that S008 was administered 6 hours after abrin. S008 was found that it did not inhibit entry of abrin into cells, suggesting an intracellular blockade capacity against the toxin. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that S008 is a high affinity anti-abrin antibody with both a neutralizing and protective effect and may be an excellent candidate for clinical treatment of abrin poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Peng
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- State key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaguo Wu
- State key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Ning Shi
- State key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hua Xu
- State key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Longlong Luo
- State key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinying Li
- State key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - He Xiao
- State key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiannan Feng
- State key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Li
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Lihui Chai
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- *Correspondence: Lihui Chai, ; Chunxia Qiao,
| | - Chunxia Qiao
- State key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
- *Correspondence: Lihui Chai, ; Chunxia Qiao,
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A New Method for Extraction and Analysis of Ricin Samples through MALDI-TOF-MS/MS. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11040201. [PMID: 30987210 PMCID: PMC6520692 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11040201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We report for the first time the efficient use of accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) for extraction of ricin to analytical purposes, followed by the combined use of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and MALDI-TOF MS/MS method. That has provided a fast and unambiguous method of ricin identification for in real cases of forensic investigation of suspected samples. Additionally, MALDI-TOF MS was applied to characterize the presence and the toxic activity of ricin in irradiated samples. Samples containing ricin were subjected to ASE, irradiated with different dosages of gamma radiation, and analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS/MS for verification of the intact protein signal. For identification purposes, samples were previously subjected to SDS-PAGE, for purification and separation of the chains, followed by digestion with trypsin, and analysis by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. The results were confirmed by verification of the amino acid sequences of some selected peptides by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. The samples residual toxic activity was evaluated through incubation with a DNA substrate, to simulate the attack by ricin, followed by MALDI-TOF MS/MS analyses.
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Generation of Highly Efficient Equine-Derived Antibodies for Post-Exposure Treatment of Ricin Intoxications by Vaccination with Monomerized Ricin. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10110466. [PMID: 30424519 PMCID: PMC6267474 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10110466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ricin, a highly lethal toxin derived from the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor beans) is considered a potential biological threat agent due to its high availability, ease of production, and to the lack of any approved medical countermeasure against ricin exposures. To date, the use of neutralizing antibodies is the most promising post-exposure treatment for ricin intoxication. The aim of this work was to generate anti-ricin antitoxin that confers high level post-exposure protection against ricin challenge. Due to safety issues regarding the usage of ricin holotoxin as an antigen, we generated an inactivated toxin that would reduce health risks for both the immunizer and the immunized animal. To this end, a monomerized ricin antigen was constructed by reducing highly purified ricin to its monomeric constituents. Preliminary immunizing experiments in rabbits indicated that this monomerized antigen is as effective as the native toxin in terms of neutralizing antibody elicitation and protection of mice against lethal ricin challenges. Characterization of the monomerized antigen demonstrated that the irreversibly detached A and B subunits retain catalytic and lectin activity, respectively, implying that the monomerization process did not significantly affect their overall structure. Toxicity studies revealed that the monomerized ricin displayed a 250-fold decreased activity in a cell culture-based functionality test, while clinical signs were undetectable in mice injected with this antigen. Immunization of a horse with the monomerized toxin was highly effective in elicitation of high titers of neutralizing antibodies. Due to the increased potential of IgG-derived adverse events, anti-ricin F(ab')₂ antitoxin was produced. The F(ab')₂-based antitoxin conferred high protection to intranasally ricin-intoxicated mice; ~60% and ~34% survival, when administered 24 and 48 h post exposure to a lethal dose, respectively. In line with the enhanced protection, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects were measured in the antitoxin treated mice, in comparison to mice that were intoxicated but not treated. Accordingly, this anti-ricin preparation is an excellent candidate for post exposure treatment of ricin intoxications.
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Bazzoli A, Vance DJ, Rudolph MJ, Rong Y, Angalakurthi SK, Toth RT, Middaugh CR, Volkin DB, Weis DD, Karanicolas J, Mantis NJ. Using homology modeling to interrogate binding affinity in neutralization of ricin toxin by a family of single domain antibodies. Proteins 2017; 85:1994-2008. [PMID: 28718923 DOI: 10.1002/prot.25353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In this report we investigated, within a group of closely related single domain camelid antibodies (VH Hs), the relationship between binding affinity and neutralizing activity as it pertains to ricin, a fast-acting toxin and biothreat agent. The V1C7-like VH Hs (V1C7, V2B9, V2E8, and V5C1) are similar in amino acid sequence, but differ in their binding affinities and toxin-neutralizing activities. Using the X-ray crystal structure of V1C7 in complex with ricin's enzymatic subunit (RTA) as a template, Rosetta-based homology modeling coupled with energetic decomposition led us to predict that a single pairwise interaction between Arg29 on V5C1 and Glu67 on RTA was responsible for the difference in ricin toxin binding affinity between V1C7, a weak neutralizer, and V5C1, a moderate neutralizer. This prediction was borne out experimentally: substitution of Arg for Gly at position 29 enhanced V1C7's binding affinity for ricin, whereas the reverse (ie, Gly for Arg at position 29) diminished V5C1's binding affinity by >10 fold. As expected, the V5C1R29G mutant was largely devoid of toxin-neutralizing activity (TNA). However, the TNA of the V1C7G29R mutant was not correspondingly improved, indicating that in the V1C7 family binding affinity alone does not account for differences in antibody function. V1C7 and V5C1, as well as their respective point mutants, recognized indistinguishable epitopes on RTA, at least at the level of sensitivity afforded by hydrogen-deuterium mass spectrometry. The results of this study have implications for engineering therapeutic antibodies because they demonstrate that even subtle differences in epitope specificity can account for important differences in antibody function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bazzoli
- Center for Computational Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045.,Computational Chemical Biology Core, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66047
| | - David J Vance
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, New York, 12208
| | | | - Yinghui Rong
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, New York, 12208
| | - Siva Krishna Angalakurthi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macromolecule and Vaccine Stabilization Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045
| | - Ronald T Toth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macromolecule and Vaccine Stabilization Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045
| | - C Russell Middaugh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macromolecule and Vaccine Stabilization Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045
| | - David B Volkin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macromolecule and Vaccine Stabilization Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045
| | - David D Weis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045
| | - John Karanicolas
- Center for Computational Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045.,Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045.,Program in Molecular Therapeutics, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19111
| | - Nicholas J Mantis
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, New York, 12208
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Rong Y, Van Slyke G, Vance DJ, Westfall J, Ehrbar D, Mantis NJ. Spatial location of neutralizing and non-neutralizing B cell epitopes on domain 1 of ricin toxin's binding subunit. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180999. [PMID: 28700745 PMCID: PMC5507285 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ricin toxin’s binding subunit (RTB) is a galactose-/N-acetylgalactosamine (Gal/GalNac)-specific lectin that mediates uptake and intracellular trafficking of ricin within mammalian cells. Structurally, RTB consists of two globular domains, each divided into three homologous sub-domains (α, β, γ). In this report, we describe five new murine IgG monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against RTB: MH3, 8A1, 8B3, LF1, and LC5. The mAbs have similar binding affinities (KD) for ricin holotoxin, but displayed a wide range of in vitro toxin-neutralizing activities. Competition ELISAs indicate that the two most potent toxin-neutralizing mAbs (MH3, 8A1), as well as one of the moderate toxin-neutralizing mAbs (LF1), recognize distinct epitopes near the low affinity Gal recognition domain in RTB subdomain 1α. Evaluated in a mouse model of systemic ricin challenge, all five mAbs afforded some benefit against intoxication, but only MH3 was protective. However, neither MH3 nor 24B11, another well-characterized mAb against RTB subdomain 1α, could passively protect mice against a mucosal (intranasal) ricin challenge. This is in contrast to SylH3, a previously characterized mAb directed against an epitope near RTB’s high affinity Gal/GalNac recognition element in sub-domain 2γ, which protected animals against systemic and mucosal ricin exposure. SylH3 was significantly more effective than MH3 and 24B11 at blocking ricin attachment to host cell receptors, suggesting that mucosal immunity to ricin is best imparted by antibodies that target RTB’s high affinity Gal/GalNac recognition element in subdomain 2γ, not the low affinity Gal recognition domain in subdomain 1α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghui Rong
- Division of Infectious Disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
| | - Greta Van Slyke
- Division of Infectious Disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
| | - David J. Vance
- Division of Infectious Disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Westfall
- Division of Infectious Disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
| | - Dylan Ehrbar
- Division of Infectious Disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Mantis
- Division of Infectious Disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Rudolph MJ, Vance DJ, Cassidy MS, Rong Y, Mantis NJ. Structural Analysis of Single Domain Antibodies Bound to a Second Neutralizing Hot Spot on Ricin Toxin's Enzymatic Subunit. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:872-883. [PMID: 27903650 PMCID: PMC5247660 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.758102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ricin toxin is a heterodimer consisting of RTA, a ribosome-inactivating protein, and RTB, a lectin that facilitates receptor-mediated uptake into mammalian cells. In previous studies, we demonstrated that toxin-neutralizing antibodies target four spatially distinct hot spots on RTA, which we refer to as epitope clusters I-IV. In this report, we identified and characterized three single domain camelid antibodies (VHH) against cluster II. One of these VHHs, V5E1, ranks as one of the most potent ricin-neutralizing antibodies described to date. We solved the X-ray crystal structures of each of the three VHHs (E1, V1C7, and V5E1) in complex with RTA. V5E1 buries a total of 1,133 Å2 of surface area on RTA and makes primary contacts with α-helix A (residues 18-32), α-helix F (182-194), as well as the F-G loop. V5E1, by virtue of complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3), may also engage with RTB and potentially interfere with the high affinity galactose-recognition element that plays a critical role in toxin attachment to cell surfaces and intracellular trafficking. The two other VHHs, E1 and V1C7, bind epitopes adjacent to V5E1 but display only weak toxin neutralizing activity, thereby providing structural insights into specific residues within cluster II that may be critical contact points for toxin inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Rudolph
- From the New York Structural Biology Center, New York, New York 10027,
| | - David J Vance
- the Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12208, and
| | - Michael S Cassidy
- From the New York Structural Biology Center, New York, New York 10027
| | - Yinghui Rong
- the Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12208, and
| | - Nicholas J Mantis
- the Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12208, and
- the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York 12201
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11
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Tiwari V, Bagaria S, Karande AA. A chimeric protein of abrin and Abrus precatorius agglutinin that neutralizes abrin mediated lethality in mice. Toxicon 2017; 127:122-129. [PMID: 28088476 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2017.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Abrin, a type II ribosome inactivating protein from the Abrus precatorius plant, is extremely toxic. It has been shown to be 75 times more potent than its infamous sister toxin, ricin and their potential use in bio-warfare is a cause of major concern. Although several vaccine candidates are under clinical trials for ricin, none are available against abrin. The present study proposes a chimeric protein, comprising of 1-123 amino acids taken from the A chain of abrin and 124-175 amino acids from Abrus precatorius agglutinin A chain, as a vaccine candidate against abrin intoxication. The design was based on the inclusion of the immunogenic region of the full length protein and the minimal essential folding domains required for inducing neutralizing antibody response. The chimera also contains the epitope for the only two neutralizing antibodies; D6F10 and A7C4, reported against abrin till now. Active immunization with the chimera protected all the mice challenged with 45 X LD50 of abrin. Also, passive transfer of antibodies raised against the chimera rescued all mice challenged with 50 X LD50 of toxin. Hence the chimeric protein appears to be a promising vaccine candidate against abrin induced lethality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Tiwari
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560012, India
| | - Shradha Bagaria
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560012, India
| | - Anjali A Karande
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560012, India.
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12
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Gupta N, Noël R, Goudet A, Hinsinger K, Michau A, Pons V, Abdelkafi H, Secher T, Shima A, Shtanko O, Sakurai Y, Cojean S, Pomel S, Liévin-Le Moal V, Leignel V, Herweg JA, Fischer A, Johannes L, Harrison K, Beard PM, Clayette P, Le Grand R, Rayner JO, Rudel T, Vacus J, Loiseau PM, Davey RA, Oswald E, Cintrat JC, Barbier J, Gillet D. Inhibitors of retrograde trafficking active against ricin and Shiga toxins also protect cells from several viruses, Leishmania and Chlamydiales. Chem Biol Interact 2016; 267:96-103. [PMID: 27712998 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2016.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Medical countermeasures to treat biothreat agent infections require broad-spectrum therapeutics that do not induce agent resistance. A cell-based high-throughput screen (HTS) against ricin toxin combined with hit optimization allowed selection of a family of compounds that meet these requirements. The hit compound Retro-2 and its derivatives have been demonstrated to be safe in vivo in mice even at high doses. Moreover, Retro-2 is an inhibitor of retrograde transport that affects syntaxin-5-dependent toxins and pathogens. As a consequence, it has a broad-spectrum activity that has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo against ricin, Shiga toxin-producing O104:H4 entero-hemorrhagic E. coli and Leishmania sp. and in vitro against Ebola, Marburg and poxviruses and Chlamydiales. An effect is anticipated on other toxins or pathogens that use retrograde trafficking and syntaxin-5. Since Retro-2 targets cell components of the host and not directly the pathogen, no selection of resistant pathogens is expected. These lead compounds need now to be developed as drugs for human use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neetu Gupta
- Institute of Biology and Technology of Saclay (IBITECS), CEA, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Romain Noël
- Institute of Biology and Technology of Saclay (IBITECS), CEA, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Amélie Goudet
- Institute of Biology and Technology of Saclay (IBITECS), CEA, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Karen Hinsinger
- Institute of Biology and Technology of Saclay (IBITECS), CEA, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Aurélien Michau
- Institute of Biology and Technology of Saclay (IBITECS), CEA, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Valérie Pons
- Institute of Biology and Technology of Saclay (IBITECS), CEA, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Hajer Abdelkafi
- Institute of Biology and Technology of Saclay (IBITECS), CEA, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | | | | | - Olena Shtanko
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | | | - Sandrine Cojean
- Antiparasitic Chemotherapy, UMR 8076, CNRS BioCIS, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, F-92290, Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Sébastien Pomel
- Antiparasitic Chemotherapy, UMR 8076, CNRS BioCIS, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, F-92290, Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Vanessa Liévin-Le Moal
- Antiparasitic Chemotherapy, UMR 8076, CNRS BioCIS, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, F-92290, Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Véronique Leignel
- DRUGABILIS (French Research Performer SME), F-92290, Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Jo-Ana Herweg
- University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, Am Hubland, D-97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Annette Fischer
- University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, Am Hubland, D-97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ludger Johannes
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Endocytic Trafficking and Therapeutic Delivery Group, 26 rue d'Ulm, F-75248, Paris Cedex 05, France; CNRS, UMR3666, F-75005, Paris, France; INSERM, U1143, F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Kate Harrison
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Philippa M Beard
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; The Pirbright Institute, Ash Rd, Pirbright, Surrey GH24 0NF, United Kingdom
| | - Pascal Clayette
- ImmunoPharmacology and Biosafety Laboratory, BERTIN Pharma, CEA, F-92265, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Roger Le Grand
- Institute of Emerging Diseases and Innovative Therapies, CEA, U1184, Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, Infectious Disease Models and Innovative Therapies Infrastructure, F-92265, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; INSERM, U1184, F-94276, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; University of Paris South, U1184, F-92265, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Vaccine Research Institute, Henri Mondor Hospital, F-94010, Créteil, France
| | - Jonathan O Rayner
- Infectious Disease Research, Southern Research, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA
| | - Thomas Rudel
- University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, Am Hubland, D-97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Joël Vacus
- DRUGABILIS (French Research Performer SME), F-92290, Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Philippe M Loiseau
- Antiparasitic Chemotherapy, UMR 8076, CNRS BioCIS, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, F-92290, Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Robert A Davey
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | | | - Jean-Christophe Cintrat
- Institute of Biology and Technology of Saclay (IBITECS), CEA, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Julien Barbier
- Institute of Biology and Technology of Saclay (IBITECS), CEA, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif Sur Yvette, France
| | - Daniel Gillet
- Institute of Biology and Technology of Saclay (IBITECS), CEA, LabEx LERMIT, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif Sur Yvette, France.
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Respaud R, Marchand D, Pelat T, Tchou-Wong KM, Roy CJ, Parent C, Cabrera M, Guillemain J, Mac Loughlin R, Levacher E, Fontayne A, Douziech-Eyrolles L, Junqua-Moullet A, Guilleminault L, Thullier P, Guillot-Combe E, Vecellio L, Heuzé-Vourc'h N. Development of a drug delivery system for efficient alveolar delivery of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody to treat pulmonary intoxication to ricin. J Control Release 2016; 234:21-32. [PMID: 27173943 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Revised: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The high toxicity of ricin and its ease of production have made it a major bioterrorism threat worldwide. There is however no efficient and approved treatment for poisoning by ricin inhalation, although there have been major improvements in diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. We describe the development of an anti-ricin neutralizing monoclonal antibody (IgG 43RCA-G1) and a device for its rapid and effective delivery into the lungs for an application in humans. The antibody is a full-length IgG and binds to the ricin A-chain subunit with a high affinity (KD=53pM). Local administration of the antibody into the respiratory tract of mice 6h after pulmonary ricin intoxication allowed the rescue of 100% of intoxicated animals. Specific operational constraints and aerosolization stresses, resulting in protein aggregation and loss of activity, were overcome by formulating the drug as a dry-powder that is solubilized extemporaneously in a stabilizing solution to be nebulized. Inhalation studies in mice showed that this formulation of IgG 43RCA-G1 did not induce pulmonary inflammation. A mesh nebulizer was customized to improve IgG 43RCA-G1 deposition into the alveolar region of human lungs, where ricin aerosol particles mostly accumulate. The drug delivery system also comprises a semi-automatic reconstitution system to facilitate its use and a specific holding chamber to maximize aerosol delivery deep into the lung. In vivo studies in monkeys showed that drug delivery with the device resulted in a high concentration of IgG 43RCA-G1 in the airways for at least 6h after local deposition, which is consistent with the therapeutic window and limited passage into the bloodstream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renaud Respaud
- Université François-Rabelais de Tours, UMR 1100, CHRU de Tours, Service de Pharmacie, F-37032 Tours, France; INSERM, Centre d'Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France
| | - Denis Marchand
- Université François Rabelais, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France; INSERM, Centre d'Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France; Aerodrug, F-37032 Tours, France
| | - Thibaut Pelat
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA-CRSSA); Département de Microbiologie; Unité de biotechnologie des anticorps et des toxines; Brétigny sur Orge, France; BIOTEM, Parc d'activité Bièvre Dauphine, Apprieu, France
| | - Kam-Meng Tchou-Wong
- NYU School of Medicine, Department of Environmental Medicine, 57 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, New York 10987, USA
| | - Chad J Roy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, USA
| | - Christelle Parent
- Université François Rabelais, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France; INSERM, Centre d'Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France
| | - Maria Cabrera
- Université François Rabelais, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France; INSERM, Centre d'Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France
| | - Joël Guillemain
- SESAME, Expertise en toxicologie, Chambray-les-tours, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Laurent Guilleminault
- Université François Rabelais, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France; INSERM, Centre d'Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France
| | - Philippe Thullier
- Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA-CRSSA); Département de Microbiologie; Unité de biotechnologie des anticorps et des toxines; Brétigny sur Orge, France
| | - Emmanuelle Guillot-Combe
- DGA, Direction de la Stratégie (DS), Mission pour la recherche et l'Innovation scientifique (MRIS), France
| | - Laurent Vecellio
- Université François Rabelais, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France; INSERM, Centre d'Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France; Aerodrug, F-37032 Tours, France
| | - Nathalie Heuzé-Vourc'h
- Université François Rabelais, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France; INSERM, Centre d'Etude des Pathologies Respiratoires, UMR 1100, F-37032 Tours, France.
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14
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Fan Y, Moon JJ. Particulate delivery systems for vaccination against bioterrorism agents and emerging infectious pathogens. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 9. [PMID: 27038091 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Bioterrorism agents that can be easily transmitted with high mortality rates and cause debilitating diseases pose major threats to national security and public health. The recent Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa and ongoing Zika virus outbreak in Brazil, now spreading throughout Latin America, are case examples of emerging infectious pathogens that have incited widespread fear and economic and social disruption on a global scale. Prophylactic vaccines would provide effective countermeasures against infectious pathogens and biological warfare agents. However, traditional approaches relying on attenuated or inactivated vaccines have been hampered by their unacceptable levels of reactogenicity and safety issues, whereas subunit antigen-based vaccines suffer from suboptimal immunogenicity and efficacy. In contrast, particulate vaccine delivery systems offer key advantages, including efficient and stable delivery of subunit antigens, co-delivery of adjuvant molecules to bolster immune responses, low reactogenicity due to the use of biocompatible biomaterials, and robust efficiency to elicit humoral and cellular immunity in systemic and mucosal tissues. Thus, vaccine nanoparticles and microparticles are promising platforms for clinical development of biodefense vaccines. In this review, we summarize the current status of research efforts to develop particulate vaccine delivery systems against bioterrorism agents and emerging infectious pathogens. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2017, 9:e1403. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1403 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Fan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - James J Moon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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15
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Moshiri M, Hamid F, Etemad L. Ricin Toxicity: Clinical and Molecular Aspects. Rep Biochem Mol Biol 2016; 4:60-65. [PMID: 27536698 PMCID: PMC4986263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Seeds of the castor bean plant Ricinuscommunis L (CB) contain ricin toxin (RT), one of the most poisonous naturally-occurring substances known. Ricin toxin, a water-soluble glycoprotein that does not partition into the oil extract, is a ribosome-inactivating toxin composed of two chains, labeled A and B. Severity of the toxicity varies depending on the route of exposure to the toxin. Inhalational is the most toxic route, followed by oral ingestion. Orally-ingested RT accumulates in the liver and spleen but other cells are also affected. The main clinical manifestations are also related to the administration route. Oral ingestion of CB or RT results in abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and various types of gastrointestinal bleeding that leading to volume depletion, hypovolemic shock, and renal failure. Inhalation of the toxin presents with non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, diffuse necrotizing pneumonia, interstitial and alveolar inflammation, and edema. Local injection of RT induces indurations at the injection site, swelling of regional lymph nodes, hypotension, and death. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to detect RT in animal tissues and fluids. Ricinine, an alkaloid of CB, can be detected in rat urine within 48 h of RT exposure. Supportive care is the basic treatment and standard biowarfare decontamination protocols are used for RT intoxication. Dexamethasone and difluoromethylornithine might be effective treatments. This review examines the clinical and molecular aspects of ricin toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Moshiri
- Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Hamid
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Varastegan Institute for Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Leila Etemad
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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16
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Wang J, Gao S, Xin W, Kang L, Xu N, Zhang T, Liu W, Wang J. A novel recombinant vaccine protecting mice against abrin intoxication. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 11:1361-7. [PMID: 26086588 PMCID: PMC4514378 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1008879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Abrin toxin (AT) consisting of an A chain and a B chain is a potential agent for bioterrorism and an effective vaccine against AT poisoning is urgently required. In this study, AT B chain (ATB) was successfully expressed in the Escherichia coli (E. coli) and assessed the protection capacity against AT intoxication. The recombinant ATB (rATB) subunit induces a good immune response after 4 immunizations. All BALB/c mice immunized intraperitoneally (i.p.) with the purified rATB protein survived after challenged with 5 × LD50 of AT. Transfusion of sera from immunized mice provided passive protection in naive mice. Furthermore, histological findings showed that immunization with rATB decreased the severity of toxin-related tissue damage. This work indicates that the rATB protein may be a promising vaccine candidate against human exposure to AT.
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Key Words
- AT, abrin toxin
- ATB, abrin toxin B chain
- B chain
- E. coli, Escherichia coli
- ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- LD50, 50% lethal dose
- PBS, phosphate-buffered saline solution
- RT, ricin toxin
- RTB, ricin toxin B chain
- SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
- abrin toxin
- bioterrorism
- i.p, intraperitoneal or intraperitoneally
- immunogen
- pAb, polyclonal antibody
- vaccine candidate
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhong Wang
- a State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity; Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology ; Beijing , PR China
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Clinical and Pathological Findings Associated with Aerosol Exposure of Macaques to Ricin Toxin. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:2121-33. [PMID: 26067369 PMCID: PMC4488692 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7062121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ricin is a potential bioweapon that could be used against civilian and military personnel. Aerosol exposure is the most likely route of contact to ricin toxin that will result in the most severe toxicity. Early recognition of ricin exposure is essential if specific antidotes are to be applied. Initial diagnosis will most likely be syndromic, i.e., fitting clinical and laboratory signs into a pattern which then will guide the choice of more specific diagnostic assays and therapeutic interventions. We have studied the pathology of ricin toxin in rhesus macaques exposed to lethal and sublethal ricin aerosols. Animals exposed to lethal ricin aerosols were followed clinically using telemetry, by clinical laboratory analyses and by post-mortem examination. Animals exposed to lethal aerosolized ricin developed fever associated with thermal instability, tachycardia, and dyspnea. In the peripheral blood a marked neutrophilia (without immature bands) developed at 24 h. This was accompanied by an increase in monocytes, but depletion of lymphocytes. Red cell indices indicated hemoconcentration, as did serum chemistries, with modest increases in sodium and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Serum albumin was strikingly decreased. These observations are consistent with the pathological observations of fluid shifts to the lungs, in the form of hemorrhages, inflammatory exudates, and tissue edema. In macaques exposed to sublethal aerosols of ricin, late pathologic consequences included chronic pulmonary fibrosis, likely mediated by M2 macrophages. Early administration of supportive therapy, specific antidotes after exposure or vaccines prior to exposure have the potential to favorably alter this outcome.
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Diamant E, Torgeman A, Ozeri E, Zichel R. Monoclonal Antibody Combinations that Present Synergistic Neutralizing Activity: A Platform for Next-Generation Anti-Toxin Drugs. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:1854-81. [PMID: 26035486 PMCID: PMC4488679 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7061854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Revised: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are among the fastest-growing therapeutics and are being developed for a broad range of indications, including the neutralization of toxins, bacteria and viruses. Nevertheless, MAbs potency is still relatively low when compared to conventional polyclonal Ab preparations. Moreover, the efficacy of an individual neutralizing MAb may significantly be hampered by the potential absence or modification of its target epitope in a mutant or subtype of the infectious agent. These limitations of individual neutralizing MAbs can be overcome by using oligoclonal combinations of several MAbs with different specificities to the target antigen. Studies conducted in our lab and by others show that such combined MAb preparation may present substantial synergy in its potency over the calculated additive potency of its individual MAb components. Moreover, oligoclonal preparation is expected to be better suited to compensating for reduced efficacy due to epitope variation. In this review, the synergistic neutralization properties of combined oligoclonal Ab preparations are described. The effect of Ab affinity, autologous Fc fraction, and targeting a critical number of epitopes, as well as the unexpected contribution of non-neutralizing clones to the synergistic neutralizing effect are presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eran Diamant
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona 7410001, Israel.
| | - Amram Torgeman
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona 7410001, Israel.
| | - Eyal Ozeri
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona 7410001, Israel.
| | - Ran Zichel
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona 7410001, Israel.
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19
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Kinetic Characterization of a Panel of High-Affinity Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Ricin and Recombinant Re-Formatting for Biosensor Applications. Antibodies (Basel) 2014. [DOI: 10.3390/antib3020215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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20
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Role of Fc in antibody-mediated protection from ricin toxin. Toxins (Basel) 2014; 6:1512-25. [PMID: 24811206 PMCID: PMC4052250 DOI: 10.3390/toxins6051512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We have studied the role of the antibody (Ab) Fc region in mediating protection from ricin toxicity. We compared the in vitro and in vivo effects of intact Ig and of Fab fragments derived from two different neutralizing Ab preparations, one monoclonal, the other polyclonal. Consistent results were obtained from each, showing little difference between Ig and Fab in terms of antigen binding and in vitro neutralization, but with relatively large differences in protection of animals. We also studied whether importing Ab into the cell by Fc receptors enhanced the intracellular neutralization of ricin toxin. We found that the imported Ab was found in the ER and Golgi, a compartment traversed by ricin, as it traffics through the cell, but intracellular Ab did not contribute to the neutralization of ricin. These results indicate that the Fc region of antibody is important for in vivo protection, although the mechanism of enhanced protection by intact Ig does not appear to operate at the single cell level. When using xenogeneic antibodies, the diminished immunogenicity of Fab/F(ab’)2 preparations should be balanced against possible loss of protective efficacy.
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Dong N, Li Z, Li Q, Wu J, Jia P, Wang Y, Gao Z, Han G, Wu Y, Zhou J, Shan J, Li H, Wei W. Absorption, distribution and pathological injury in mice due to ricin poisoning via the alimentary pathway. J Toxicol Pathol 2014; 27:73-80. [PMID: 24791070 PMCID: PMC4000076 DOI: 10.1293/tox.2013-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work was to investigate the potential interactions between intestinal absorbance and ricin poisoning. The Caco-2 cell monolayer and everted intestinal sac (VEIS) models were used. The distribution of ricin in CD-1 mice intoxicated with 0.1 mg/kg of ricin intragastrically was determined by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that ricin could not transfer across the healthy Caco-2 cell monolayer within three hours after poisoning. However, it could pass through the everted rat intestinal wall after 0.5 h of incubation. The toxin in the liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys of mice could be detected as early as 1 h after intoxication. The pathological results were in accordance with the cytotoxicities of ricin in Caco-2, HepG 2, H1299 and MDCK cells, indicating that though no significant symptom in mice could be observed within 3 h after ricin intoxication, important tissues, especially the kidneys, were being injured by the toxin and that the injuries were progressing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Dong
- General Hospital of Beijing Military Command, Beijing 100700, China ; Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Qian Li
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Junhua Wu
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Peiyuan Jia
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yuxia Wang
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Zhongcai Gao
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Gang Han
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yifan Wu
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China ; School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jianping Zhou
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Junjie Shan
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Hua Li
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Wenqing Wei
- General Hospital of Beijing Military Command, Beijing 100700, China
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22
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Wiget PA, Manzano LA, Pruet JM, Gao G, Saito R, Monzingo AF, Jasheway KR, Robertus JD, Anslyn EV. Sulfur incorporation generally improves Ricin inhibition in pterin-appended glycine-phenylalanine dipeptide mimics. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:6799-804. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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23
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Song K, Mize RR, Marrero L, Corti M, Kirk JM, Pincus SH. Antibody to ricin a chain hinders intracellular routing of toxin and protects cells even after toxin has been internalized. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62417. [PMID: 23638075 PMCID: PMC3634765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Accepted: 03/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mechanisms of antibody-mediated neutralization are of much interest. For plant and bacterial A-B toxins, A chain mediates toxicity and B chain binds target cells. It is generally accepted and taught that antibody (Ab) neutralizes by preventing toxin binding to cells. Yet for some toxins, ricin included, anti-A chain Abs afford greater protection than anti-B. The mechanism(s) whereby Abs to the A chain neutralize toxins are not understood. Methodology/Principal Findings We use quantitative confocal imaging, neutralization assays, and other techniques to study how anti-A chain Abs function to protect cells. Without Ab, ricin enters cells and penetrates to the endoplasmic reticulum within 15 min. Within 45–60 min, ricin entering and being expelled from cells reaches equilibrium. These results are consistent with previous observations, and support the validity of our novel methodology. The addition of neutralizing Ab causes ricin accumulation at the cell surface, delays internalization, and postpones retrograde transport of ricin. Ab binds ricin for >6hr as they traffic together through the cell. Ab protects cells even when administered hours after exposure. Conclusions/Key Findings We demonstrate the dynamic nature of the interaction between the host cell and toxin, and how Ab can alter the balance in favor of the cell. Ab blocks ricin’s entry into cells, hinders its intracellular routing, and can protect even after ricin is present in the target organelle, providing evidence that the major site of neutralization is intracellular. These data add toxins to the list of pathogenic agents that can be neutralized intracellularly and explain the in vivo efficacy of delayed administration of anti-toxin Abs. The results encourage the use of post-exposure passive Ab therapy, and show the importance of the A chain as a target of Abs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejing Song
- Research Institute for Children, Children’s Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - R. Ranney Mize
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Luis Marrero
- Imaging Core, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Miriam Corti
- Research Institute for Children, Children’s Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jason M. Kirk
- Carl Zeiss Microimaging, Thornwood, New York, United States of America
| | - Seth H. Pincus
- Research Institute for Children, Children’s Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Saito R, Pruet JM, Manzano LA, Jasheway K, Monzingo AF, Wiget PA, Kamat I, Anslyn EV, Robertus JD. Peptide-conjugated pterins as inhibitors of ricin toxin A. J Med Chem 2012; 56:320-9. [PMID: 23214944 DOI: 10.1021/jm3016393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Several 7-peptide-substituted pterins were synthesized and tested as competitive active-site inhibitors of ricin toxin A (RTA). Focus began on dipeptide conjugates, and these results further guided the construction of several tripeptide conjugates. The binding of these compounds to RTA was studied via a luminescence-based kinetic assay, as well as through X-ray crystallography. Despite the relatively polar, solvent exposed active site, several hydrophobic interactions, most commonly π-interactions not predicted by modeling programs, were identified in all of the best-performing inhibitors. Nearly all of these compounds provide IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Saito
- Department of Chemistry, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi 274-8510, Japan.
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