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Braga Emidio N, Cheloha RW. Sortase-mediated labeling: Expanding frontiers in site-specific protein functionalization opens new research avenues. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2024; 80:102443. [PMID: 38503199 PMCID: PMC11164631 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.102443] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
New applications for biomolecules demand novel approaches for their synthesis and modification. Traditional methods for modifying proteins and cells using non-specific labeling chemistry are insufficiently precise to rigorously interrogate the mechanistic biological and physiological questions at the forefront of biomedical science. Site-specific catalytic modification of proteins promises to meet these challenges. Here, we describe recent applications of the enzyme sortase A in facilitating precise biomolecule labeling. We focus on describing new chemistries to broaden the scope of sortase-mediated labeling (sortagging), the development of new probes for imaging via enzymatic labeling, and the modulation of biological systems using probes and reactions mediated by sortase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayara Braga Emidio
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, United States
| | - Ross W Cheloha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, United States.
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Wang F, Zhang Q, Zhang F, Zhang E, Li M, Ma S, Guo J, Yang Z, Zhu J. Adenovirus vector-mediated single chain variable fragments target the nucleocapsid protein of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and protect against viral infection in piglets. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1058327. [PMID: 36761768 PMCID: PMC9902916 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1058327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) mainly infects the intestinal epithelial cells of pigs, causing porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED). In particular, the virus causes severe diarrhea, dehydration, and death in neonatal piglets. Maternal immunity effectively protects neonatal piglets from PEDV infection; however, maternal antibodies can only prevent PEDV attachment and entry into target cells, but have no effects on intracellular viruses. Intracellular antibodies targeting virus-encoded proteins are effective in preventing viral infection. We previously identified four single chain variable fragments (scFvs), ZW1-16, ZW3-21, ZW1-41, and ZW4-16, which specifically targeted the PEDV N protein and significantly inhibited PEDV replication and up-regulated interferon-λ1 (IFN-λ1) expression in host cells. In our current study, the four scFvs were subcloned into replication-defective adenovirus vectors to generate recombinant adenoviruses rAdV-ZW1-16, rAdV-ZW3-21, rAdV-ZW1-41, and rAdV-ZW4-16. ScFvs were successfully expressed in Human Embryonic Kidney 293 (HEK293) cells and intestinal porcine epithelial cell line J2 (IPEC-J2) and were biosafe for piglets as indicated by body temperature and weight, scFv excretion in feces, IFN-γ and interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression in jejunum, and pathological changes in porcine tissue after oral administration. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemical analyses showed that scFvs were expressed in porcine jejunum. The prophylactic effects of rAdV-ZW, a cocktail of the four rAdV-scFvs, on piglet diarrhea caused by PEDV was investigated. Clinical symptoms in piglets orally challenged with PEDV, following a two-time treatment with rAdV-ZW, were significantly reduced when compared with PEDV-infected piglets treated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or rAdV-wild-type. Also, no death and jejunal lesions were observed. ScFv co-localization with the PEDV N protein in vivo was also observed. Next, the expression of pro-inflammatory serum cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and IFN-λ was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which showed that scFvs significantly suppressed PEDV-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and restored PEDV-inhibited IFN-λ expression. Therefore, our study supported a promising role for intracellular scFvs targeting the PEDV N protein to prevent and treat diarrhea in PEDV-infected piglets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengqing Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China,Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Communication Systems and Networks, Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education), School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Qing Zhang, ; Jianguo Zhu,
| | - Fanqing Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - En Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiwei Ma
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianming Guo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhibiao Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianguo Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Qing Zhang, ; Jianguo Zhu,
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Targeted delivery of an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid to Ly6C/G-positive cells abates severity of influenza A symptoms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2211065119. [PMID: 36252038 PMCID: PMC9618054 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211065119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The distribution of Ly6C/G-positive cells in response to an infection of the mouse respiratory tract with influenza A virus was followed noninvasively over time by immuno-positron emission tomography. We converted nanobodies that recognize Ly6C and Ly6G, markers of neutrophils and other myeloid cells, as well as an influenza hemagglutinin-specific nanobody, into 89Zr-labeled PEGylated positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents. The PET images showed strong accumulation of these imaging agents in the lungs of infected mice. Immunohistochemistry of influenza virus-infected mice and control mice, injected with a biotinylated and PEGylated version of the Ly6C/G-specific nanobody, showed the presence of abundant Ly6C/G-positive myeloid cells and positivity for Ly6C/G on bronchial epithelium in influenza virus-infected mice. This is consistent with focal inflammation in the lungs, a finding that correlated well with the immuno-PET results. No such signals were detected in control mice. Having shown by PET the accumulation of the Ly6C/G-specific nanobody in infected lungs, we synthesized conjugates of Ly6C/G-specific nanobodies with dexamethasone to enable targeted delivery of this immunosuppressive corticosteroid to sites of inflammation. Such conjugates reduced the weight loss that accompanies infection, while the equivalent amount of free dexamethasone was without effect. Nanobody-drug conjugates thus enable delivery of drugs to particular cell types at the appropriate anatomic site(s). By avoiding systemic exposure to free dexamethasone, this strategy minimizes its undesirable side effects because of the much lower effective dose of the nanobody-dexamethasone conjugate. The ability to selectively target inflammatory cells may find application in the treatment of other infections or other immune-mediated diseases.
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Positron Emission Tomography Probes for Imaging Cytotoxic Immune Cells. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14102040. [PMID: 36297474 PMCID: PMC9610635 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102040] [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: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of immune cells is a powerful approach for monitoring the dynamics of immune cells in response to immunotherapy. Despite the clinical success of many immunotherapeutic agents, their clinical efficacy is limited to a subgroup of patients. Conventional imaging, as well as analysis of tissue biopsies and blood samples do not reflect the complex interaction between tumour and immune cells. Consequently, PET probes are being developed to capture the dynamics of such interactions, which may improve patient stratification and treatment evaluation. The clinical efficacy of cancer immunotherapy relies on both the infiltration and function of cytotoxic immune cells at the tumour site. Thus, various immune biomarkers have been investigated as potential targets for PET imaging of immune response. Herein, we provide an overview of the most recent developments in PET imaging of immune response, including the radiosynthesis approaches employed in their development.
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Xiong Y, Zhang Y, Li Z, Reza MS, Li X, Tian X, Ai HW. Engineered Amber-Emitting Nano Luciferase and Its Use for Immunobioluminescence Imaging In Vivo. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:14101-14111. [PMID: 35913786 PMCID: PMC9425369 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c02320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The NanoLuc luciferase (NLuc) and its furimazine (FRZ) substrate have revolutionized bioluminescence (BL) assays and imaging. However, the use of the NLuc-FRZ luciferase-luciferin pair for mammalian tissue imaging is hindered by the low tissue penetration of the emitting blue photons. Here, we present the development of an NLuc mutant, QLuc, which catalyzes the oxidation of a synthetic QTZ luciferin for bright and red-shifted emission peaking at ∼585 nm. Compared to other small single-domain NLuc mutants, this amber-light-emitting luciferase exhibited improved performance for imaging deep-tissue targets in live mice. Leveraging this novel bioluminescent reporter, we further pursued in vivo immunobioluminescence imaging (immunoBLI), which used a fusion protein of a single-chain variable antibody fragment (scFv) and QLuc for molecular imaging of tumor-associated antigens in a xenograft mouse model. As one of the most red-shifted NLuc variants, we expect QLuc to find broad applications in noninvasive mammalian imaging. Moreover, the immunoBLI method complements immunofluorescence imaging and immuno-positron emission tomography (immunoPET), serving as a convenient and nonradioactive molecular imaging tool for animal models in basic and preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiong
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Yiyu Zhang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Zefan Li
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Md Shamim Reza
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Xiaodong Tian
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Hui-wang Ai
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- The UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
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Manafi-Farid R, Ataeinia B, Ranjbar S, Jamshidi Araghi Z, Moradi MM, Pirich C, Beheshti M. ImmunoPET: Antibody-Based PET Imaging in Solid Tumors. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:916693. [PMID: 35836956 PMCID: PMC9273828 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.916693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immuno-positron emission tomography (immunoPET) is a molecular imaging modality combining the high sensitivity of PET with the specific targeting ability of monoclonal antibodies. Various radioimmunotracers have been successfully developed to target a broad spectrum of molecules expressed by malignant cells or tumor microenvironments. Only a few are translated into clinical studies and barely into clinical practices. Some drawbacks include slow radioimmunotracer kinetics, high physiologic uptake in lymphoid organs, and heterogeneous activity in tumoral lesions. Measures are taken to overcome the disadvantages, and new tracers are being developed. In this review, we aim to mention the fundamental components of immunoPET imaging, explore the groundbreaking success achieved using this new technique, and review different radioimmunotracers employed in various solid tumors to elaborate on this relatively new imaging modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyhaneh Manafi-Farid
- Research Center for Nuclear Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahar Ataeinia
- Department of Radiology, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shaghayegh Ranjbar
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Zahra Jamshidi Araghi
- Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mobin Moradi
- Research Center for Nuclear Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Christian Pirich
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Mohsen Beheshti
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- *Correspondence: Mohsen Beheshti ; orcid.org/0000-0003-3918-3812
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Ng TSC, Allen HH, Rashidian M, Miller MA. Probing immune infiltration dynamics in cancer by in vivo imaging. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 67:102117. [PMID: 35219177 PMCID: PMC9118268 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies typically aim to stimulate the accumulation and activity of cytotoxic T-cells or pro-inflammatory antigen-presenting cells, reduce immunosuppressive myeloid cells or regulatory T-cells, or elicit some combination of effects thereof. Notwithstanding the encouraging results, immunotherapies such as PD-1/PD-L1-targeted immune checkpoint blockade act heterogeneously across individual patients. It remains challenging to predict and monitor individual responses, especially across multiple sites of metastasis or sites of potential toxicity. To address this need, in vivo imaging of both adaptive and innate immune cell populations has emerged as a tool to quantify spatial leukocyte accumulation in tumors non-invasively. Here we review recent progress in the translational development of probes for in vivo leukocyte imaging, focusing on complementary perspectives provided by imaging of T-cells, phagocytic macrophages, and their responses to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S C Ng
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, 185 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02114, United States; Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Harris H Allen
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Mohammad Rashidian
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Miles A Miller
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, 185 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02114, United States; Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
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Kim I, Srinivasula S, DeGrange P, Long B, Jang H, Carrasquillo JA, Lane HC, Di Mascio M. Quantitative PET imaging of the CD4 pool in nonhuman primates. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2022; 50:14-26. [PMID: 36028577 PMCID: PMC9668939 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-022-05940-4] [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: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Previous SPECT and PET semi-quantitative in vivo imaging studies in monkeys have demonstrated specific uptake of radiolabeled rhesus recombinant anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody fragment CD4R1-F(ab΄)2 in the spleen and clusters of lymph nodes (LNs) but yielded conflicting results of imaging the gut CD4 + T-cell pool. Here, using PET dynamic imaging with kinetic analysis, we performed a fully quantitative CD4 imaging in rhesus macaques. METHODS The biodistributions of [89Zr]Zr-CD4R1-F(ab΄)2 and/or of [89Zr]Zr-ibalizumab were performed with static PET scans up to 144 h (6 days) post-injection in 18 rhesus macaques with peripheral blood CD4 + T cells/μl ranging from ~ 20 to 2400. Fully quantitative analysis with a 4-h dynamic scan, arterial sampling, metabolite evaluation, and model fitting was performed in three immunocompetent monkeys to estimate the binding potential of CD4 receptors in the LNs, spleen, and gut. RESULTS The biodistributions of [89Zr]Zr-CD4R1-F(ab΄)2 and [89Zr]Zr-ibalizumab were similar in lymphoid tissues with a clear delineation of the CD4 pool in the LNs and spleen and a significant difference in lymphoid tissue uptake between immunocompetent and immunocompromised macaques. Consistent with our previous SPECT imaging of [99mTc]Tc-CD4R1-F(ab΄)2, the [89Zr]Zr-CD4R1-F(ab΄)2 and [89Zr]Zr-Ibalizumab uptakes in the gut were low and not different between uninfected and SIV-infected CD4-depleted monkeys. Ex vivo studies of large and small intestines confirmed the in vivo images. CONCLUSION The majority of specific binding to CD4 + tissue was localized to LNs and spleen with minimal uptake in the gut. Binding potential derived from fully quantitative studies revealed that the contribution of the gut is lower than the spleen's contribution to the total body CD4 pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Insook Kim
- grid.418021.e0000 0004 0535 8394AIDS Imaging Research Section, Applied/Developmental Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Sharat Srinivasula
- grid.418021.e0000 0004 0535 8394AIDS Imaging Research Section, Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Paula DeGrange
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667AIDS Imaging Research Section, Integrated Research Facility, NIAID, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Brad Long
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667AIDS Imaging Research Section, Integrated Research Facility, NIAID, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Hyukjin Jang
- grid.418021.e0000 0004 0535 8394AIDS Imaging Research Section, Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Jorge A. Carrasquillo
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Radiology Department, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065 USA ,grid.48336.3a0000 0004 1936 8075Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - H. Clifford Lane
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Michele Di Mascio
- grid.419681.30000 0001 2164 9667AIDS Imaging Research Section, Division of Clinical Research, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
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